Envision Glasses versus or in addition to Meta glasses

By Eden Kizer, 26 September, 2024

Forum
Assistive Technology

Hi. I got my Envision Glasses last week, mostly because of what i heard about Metas not sharing certain info with us. However, I have some questions. One, can we use any free offers with Aira either with Envision or Meta/ Two, do any of you have both? I like the idea of one, being able to read a book, having scenes described without barriers of what it thinks it can do. But at the same time, love the idea of the mainstream for Metas. I'd love someone who has seen and worked at least somewhat with both to give you a down and dirty comparison. I do not have to decide between them. I'm definitely keeping the Envision. Just wondering if I should add meta.

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Comments

By Jason P on Sunday, November 10, 2024 - 23:05

Greetings and salutations, I hope everybody is well. After my use of the Envision glasses, I was quite disappointed in it. I know for me, I’m going to sell my Envision classes and switch over to the Ray-Ban‘s, I think the functionality will be better suited for my needs. So if anybody is interested in a pair of envision glasses, let me know.

By Brian on Sunday, November 10, 2024 - 23:05

Hi Eden,

Just remember, with whatever device you decide to stick with, that these devices are two completely separate beasts. While both have similar functionality, Envision were designed for the visually impaired, whereas Meta Ray-Bans were not. In fact, if it were not for the AI feature, they would be nothing more than a fancy camera you wear on your face.

Having said that, the Meta are definitely trendy eyewear, and make taking photos with a camera a breeze for us blind folks. 😉

By Stephen on Sunday, November 10, 2024 - 23:05

Isn’t that pretty much with the Envision glasses are as well with the AI? Also, wasn’t there something about visual interpreting of some sort coming to the Ray-Ban‘s? The only difference is one look hideous, and the other pair look actually really good.

By Brian on Sunday, November 10, 2024 - 23:05

There is reportedly a whole lot more functionality for the visually impaired via the Envision glasses, then there are via the Meta Ray-Bans. However, yes the Metas look really nice, like every day ole sunglasses. While the envision glasses, reportedly, make you look like an insect. 🪲🤷‍♂️

By Lee on Sunday, November 10, 2024 - 23:05

Actually, the metal band and the Smith optics maybe are borgesque, but the lux frames are tidy, neat and don't look bad at all.

By Stephen on Sunday, November 10, 2024 - 23:05

As someone who has used both, definitely prefer the Ray-Ban’s. Not sure how the Envision glasses are as of late however it’s definitely not worth the US$3000-US$4000. There is not a thing I can’t do on the Ray-Ban‘s vs the envision glasses.

By Stephen on Sunday, November 10, 2024 - 23:05

They look pretty bad lol. You definitely get a lot of interesting Looks when you wear them. It’s that look when you go into public that says without saying you look more disabled than you actually are.

By Brian on Sunday, November 10, 2024 - 23:05

Yeah, I love my Metas as well. Especially since I paid less than $100 for mine. 😇

By Lee on Sunday, December 1, 2024 - 23:05

Well as of this week they have introduced a beta of the envision ally app onto their glasses. Whilst this is a first trial it may well have a lot of potential. What is good is that you can start up ally then mute it leaving it in the background. Then, when you need something just unmute and ask without reopening the app.

By charles on Sunday, December 1, 2024 - 23:05

I recently bought a pair of the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses for $299 on Amazon. That's 2 HUNDRED 99. The Envision glasses are much much more costly. Why? Because they are made specifically!! for!! the!! blind!!! Immediately when this is true, the price skyrockets. The Ray-Ban glasses are not made for the blind. Immediately, a far lower cost. I have heard that the Envision glasses have connection problems quite often, and you must have either a WiFi connection or use a hot spot on your phone. The Ray-Bans connect through BlueTooth. Both have Ai, mikes and speakers in the glasses. I think that both can take pictures and videos using their camera. Ray-bans use a 12 megapixel wide angle lense located in the top left corner of the frame. What about the Envisions? The software in both the Ray-Bans and the accompanying app, Meta View, are always being updated, and new features are being added and improved. With the Ray-bans, there is no subscription fee. Same with the app, no subscription fee. How qabout the Envisions? What will the Envisions do that the Ray-bans won't do that makes them 10 times the cost?

By Brian on Sunday, December 1, 2024 - 23:05

I think you nailed it. Tech design for the blind is 10 times more than tech designed for the general masses.

By Missy Hoppe on Monday, March 31, 2025 - 12:05

I know this thread is ancient now, but i just took the plunge and invested in the Meta glasses. Two very good friends, who I have always trusted when it comes to tech purchases, have both recommended these glasses now, so even if I'm not keen on giving money to Meta, I realized that it was a no-brainer decision. I really like the Envision Ally app, though, and can imagine how having access to my ally on glasses could be very handy. Still, it's not worth paying 10 times the price. With taxes and everything, my meta glasses were $408. I know that by the time all is said and done, I would have paid close to $4,000 for the envision glasses. So, as nice as it might be to have access to Ally on the meta glasses, it's not worth such a major price tag. I know it's wishful thinking and will probably never happen, but it would be really awesome if Envision would add Ally to the Meta glasses instead of charging a small fortune for their own glasses; seems that collaborating with Meta might have been a more beneficial idea than producing their own smart glasses, but what do I know? Hoping that I will like the Meta glasses as much as my friends do.

By Ash Rein on Monday, March 31, 2025 - 17:05

Ultimately, I wasn’t really impressed by the Meta Ray-Ban glasses. The AI got a lot of things wrong. People could not see anything clearly when I was using the B my eyes app. It all came out as very grainy and pixelated. We couldn’t find any address numbers on the street or even useful doors. And I found them to be relatively very uncomfortable because of their weight.

I am interested in the echo vision glasses. And I think they’re coming out in September or October. Moreover, I’m interested to see what the next generation Ray-Ban glasses will be like. There’s also the Google glasses that are supposedly coming and eventually, there will be apple glasses. I’m not in any specific rush to have the technology yet. On paper, it’s amazing. They’re just needs to be a little bit more patience and it’ll work itself out