Can AI glasses replace your smartphone? For 24 hours, I put the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses to the test as my only device. No phone. No screen. Just these futuristic glasses equipped with AI, speakers, cameras, and microphones.
These are among the most popular AI glasses you can buy right now. But can they really replace your smartphone or are they just a cool gimmick? Here’s what I learned after wearing them non-stop for a full day.
👉 Check out the Ray-Ban Meta Glasses and styles here
First Impressions – What Can These Glasses Actually Do?
At first glance, these glasses have impressive features:
- Five microphones for clear audio
- Bone-conduction speakers to keep you aware of your surroundings
- A built-in AI assistant (powered by ChatGPT)
- Ability to call, text, take photos, record videos, live stream, and more
- No screen—but is that really a downside?
To find out, I hit the streets and asked people:
❓ Do you think AI glasses will ever replace smartphones?
Surprisingly, most people thought “yes”, and were excited about where AI is heading—even if they weren’t fully familiar with the tech yet.
Living Without a Phone for a Day
For the next 24 hours, these glasses were my lifeline. Here’s how they stacked up:
✅ Texts, Calls, and Podcasts
- I texted friends using just my voice
- Made calls easily
- Put on my favorite podcast while walking through the city
All hands-free, all seamless.
✅ The AI Cheat Code
One of the coolest features?
I used the glasses to summarize pages from a book—all without pulling out my phone or laptop.
✅ My Favorite Feature: Describing the World Around Me
- I asked Meta to describe what it saw and even write a poem about a yellow taxi passing by.
- Later, it helped me write song lyrics on the fly!
I finished the song way faster than I would have on my own.
How It Changed My Day
Without social media or constant notifications, I was way more present in the world around me.
It felt refreshing—almost like a digital detox but without losing core functionality like calling, texting, and listening to music.
⏰ Timer as an Alarm
Fun fact: while Meta can’t set an alarm yet, you can use a timer workaround to wake up on time.
An Unexpected Twist
Later that evening, an emergency took me to the hospital with a family member.
Even during stressful moments, not having a phone glued to my hand was grounding.
I was fully present, spending quality time without distractions.
The Verdict – Can These Glasses Replace a Phone?
🟢 Yes… but also no.
For now, these glasses can replace 80-90% of what you use your phone for:
- Calls & texts
- Music & podcasts
- AI assistance & translations
- Instant photo/video capture
But they aren’t quite a full replacement—yet. They’re more of an enhancement for someone who wants fewer distractions and more hands-free control.
Who Are They Really For?
If you:
- Already wear glasses
- Want to minimize screen time
- Love experimenting with cutting-edge tech
- Need a personal AI assistant everywhere you go
These could be perfect.
While future AR glasses with displays will likely be more mainstream, Ray-Ban Metas are for minimalists and tech lovers who want to experience a new way to interact with the world.
Final Thoughts
✅ Incredible for mental health
✅ Feels futuristic, but very practical
✅ Way more immersive and freeing than expected
👉 Check out these AI glasses and explore the styles here
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The TechWanderer 