When someone says “smart glasses,” your brain probably jumps to something dorky or futuristic, like something out of a sci-fi movie, or those chunky Google Glass prototypes from a decade ago. But Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses? They’re nothing like that. In fact, they look just like, well, the classic Ray-Bans. And maybe that classic wayfarer look is why these smart glasses have been able to fly under the radar so far while gaining so much popularity. You could say they have been somewhat of a silent killer.

Now, after being available globally for a while, the smart glasses have finally arrived in India. Priced at Rs 29,900, the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses will be available for purchase starting May 19, although pre-orders have already opened.

Here’s the thing: for many of us, especially tech nerds and journalists, this launch has been a long time coming. We’ve been waiting to get our hands on these smart glasses (since 2023) but couldn’t, simply because they weren’t available in India. And if you’re even slightly interested in tech, chances are, long before the news came about the glasses launching in India, you already know all about it.

Without splashy events or dramatic ad campaigns, the Ray-Ban Meta glasses have slowly but surely been winning people over. Even in India, Meta has kept things low-key, making all announcements through press releases and blog posts. It’s a soft launch, if you will.

And it’s not like this is some sort of side hustle for Meta. AI is at the centre of all things Meta, and it’s kind of a hero product for the company. And the RayBan AI glasses aren’t just regular sunglasses with a hidden camera, they are Meta’s big bet on wearable AI. You can take photos and videos hands-free, livestream to Instagram, listen to music through open-ear speakers, and even talk to Meta AI right from your face. Imagine walking through a market, saying, “Hey Meta, what’s this fruit called?” and getting an answer without touching your phone. It’s part fashion accessory, part personal assistant.

Really cool, no doubt. But what is fascinating here is how quietly these glasses have grown in popularity. The Ray-Ban Meta glasses have been building a fan base in the background. Early adopters have been raving about how convenient they are, especially for creators, travellers, and anyone who hates digging into their pocket every time a notification buzzes.

Their stealthy success might be down to their design. Ray-Ban is already a trusted name in eyewear. By teaming up with them, Meta avoided the “tech gadget” look of a device like an Apple Vision Pro and instead delivered something stylish and familiar. You wouldn’t even know someone was wearing smart glasses unless they told you. And in the age of privacy concerns and social media fatigue, that subtlety might just be their biggest superpower.

Of course, there are still questions. Will people feel comfortable wearing glasses that can record? Will battery life be enough? Will AI on your face feel useful or just a gimmick? Those answers will depend on how Meta keeps evolving the product, and how open Indian consumers are to trying something new.

But one thing’s for sure: these aren’t your average shades. And even if they’re not making loud headlines yet, they might just quietly become the next big thing in wearables.