Meta Glasses Nova (Gen 3) Review: Not Much New

On a recent call with my insurance provider that lasted over an hour, a fire alarm in my apartment blared, overwhelming the voice on the other line. Wearing my new Meta Nova smart glasses, I managed to exit the building, despite the helpful human on the call sounding worried and concerned. It appeared they had not heard the sirens, only my panicked exclamation of "OH JESUS WHAT IS HAPPENING?" The six-mic system of Meta's new smart glasses proved effective in filtering out background noise during the call.

Despite the lack of revolutionary upgrades, Meta's new Gen 3 glasses offer improved battery life, boasting nine hours compared to the previous generation's eight. They also feature an enhanced microphone array, identical to the Meta Glasses launched in June. The glasses come with a dedicated button for the AI assistant and maintain a slim, lightweight design available in various colors and frames. The camera-equipped models have the same 12-MP cameras capable of capturing 3K video as the Gen 2 models.

Wearing Meta-designed, non-Ray-Ban-branded Meta Nova glasses, I found them to look decent on my face after some initial skepticism. The camera housing appears smaller on the Gen 3 models, potentially making them appear less conspicuous at first glance. However, interacting with the AI assistant and capturing photos and videos with a single button press remains consistent with previous models.

Meta's Conversation Focus mode, designed to assist hard-of-hearing individuals, only works in early access for Ray-Ban and Oakley smart glasses, and is not available on the Meta-designed frames. Similarly, the integration with Meta's Muse AI, expected later this year, is not present in the Meta-designed glasses. While I'm intrigued by the potential of Muse AI, I recognize its purpose may be better suited for surveillance rather than user assistance.

Unsurprisingly, the AI assistant on Meta's glasses remains subpar, failing to accurately provide details when asked about the features of the glasses I was wearing. From a functionality standpoint, the Gen 3 glasses perform as promised. They capture high-quality photos and videos while displaying an indicator light that has been fortified against tampering.

The frames are comfortable, and the software is competent, despite the higher price point. Ultimately, potential buyers should consider whether the benefits of the Gen 3 glasses outweigh their cost, as the Gen 2 models offer similar functionality at a lower price.