Meta recently introduced its new Ray-Ban Display smart glasses, a device that combines design, technology, and accessibility in a portable format. These glasses not only allow access to contextual information directly from the lens, but have also proven to be a useful tool for people with visual impairments, according to some testimonials. Are you interested in them? We’ll tell you how much they cost, and then you decide if they’re worth the price.

The Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses start at $799 and include both the glasses and the Meta Neural Band, a bracelet that allows you to control digital functions through micromuscle movements.

While for many the cost may seem high, for users like Emeline Lakrout, a legally blind athlete who uses them in her daily life, she says the value is in what the device allows her to do: read menus, identify objects, receive directions, and navigate the city more independently.

“They make my life easier,” said the young New Yorker in an interview with CBS MoneyWatch. “They make everything faster and allow me to get more done during the day because I get less tired.”

Thanks to features like optical character recognition (OCR) and compatibility with the Be My Eyes app, the glasses help blind or low-vision users better interact with their surroundings.

From a technological perspective, the glasses offer a high-resolution display on the right lens, advanced voice commands, built-in speakers, a zoom camera, microphones, and connectivity with multiple apps like WhatsApp, Instagram, Outlook, and Spotify. All of this without having to take your phone out of your pocket.

Of course, not everything is perfect. The New Yorker who runs marathons and climbs noted that when using some functions, such as reading menus in restaurants, the battery drains quickly, forcing her to recharge the device frequently.

On the other hand, there are tasks that AI still cannot perform accurately, such as recognizing prices or interpreting certain complex commands.Still, the fact that Meta is collaborating with blind people to improve the product is a significant step forward, according to Mark Riccobono, president of the National Federation of the Blind.

“It works well for some things and not so well for others,” Riccobono said. “Meta has shown interest in improving the technology, making it more accurate and more meaningful to the experience of blind people.”

This type of technology doesn’t replace human skills, but it does provide support and expand the possibilities for autonomy, especially for those who face physical or sensory barriers in their daily lives. By integrating smart features in an accessible way, the Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses not only represent a technological innovation, but also a step towards more effective inclusion in the digital and physical world.

Those considering purchasing them should consider not only the price, but also the practical value they could bring to their daily routine, especially if they are looking for more independence, convenience, or connection without constantly relying on their phone.