Ray-Ban and Facebook have linked up to create a range of high-tech smart glasses – bringing forward a new way to stay off our phones and be present while enjoying life post-lockdown.

The collaboration, Ray-Ban Stories, features a line-up of glasses that allow wearers to “capture, share, and listen through their most authentic moments” without having to pick up their iPhone. 

Featuring lightweight versions of Ray-Ban’s iconic Wayfarer, Round, and Meteor designs in shiny and matte black, olive, blue, and brown, the glasses let users take photos and videos using the camera on the front of the frames, listen to audio and media from any app on their phones, and take hands-free calls. Each feature can be used with simple taps or through the glasses’ Facebook assistant feature by saying voice commands (such as “Hey Facebook, take a photo”).

Facebook has also launched a companion app, Facebook View, where users can upload, edit, and share content from the smart glasses to apps such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Whatsapp, TikTok, and Snapchat.

Otherwise, in a virtual launch announcement on Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg noted that the glasses include a number of safety features, including encryption of data, a light that turns on when the camera is recording, and microphones that are not able to record when the glasses are off. This way, the glasses can be enjoyed without having to worry about privacy.

“Ray-Ban stories are an important step towards a future where phones are no longer a central part of our lives,” stated Zuckerberg. “You won’t have to choose between interacting with the device or interacting with the world around you.”

The collaboration is available from today (Sept 9) at ray-ban.com, with prices starting at $299 (£299).