Today, we’ll be comparing the new RayBan Stories Smart glasses versus the new Bose
Frames Tenor- to figure out who these are actually for.
We’ll be comparing how the audio sounds on both, along with other factors like the
design, style and functionality.
We bought a pair of Ray Ban’s new wayfarer smart glasses in the black frames, picking
the Matte black color.
They offer 6 different color options to choose from including different lenses on each, with
prescription lenses being an add-on option as well.
For the Bose Frames, we bought the Tenor, which is the more squared style out of the
3.
They have other styles like the Soprano and the Tempo, and the Tenor’s we picked are
only available in the shiny finish.
We would’ve preferred a matte option like the RayBan’s, however, you can customize
the lenses and you also have the option for prescription lenses as well.
Looking at the design between the Ray Ban’s and the Bose, right away you’ll notice that
the arms on the RayBan’s are thinner and look more like regular glasses.
Meanwhile the Bose Frames look way thicker in the arms.
However, this is because the Bose Frames feature bigger speakers in those chunky arms, and
that’s where they make a difference, in the audio.
When testing them on the same song, the Frames have a cleaner sound with much more bass - compared
to the Ray Ban’s it’s a noticeable difference in audio quality.
Since Bose is a company that makes speakers, you can expect to have that distinct Bose
sound.
But when it comes to testing the microphones, we were actually surprised to find that the
RayBan’s had better microphones and sound isolation than the Frames.
We did a test while riding a bike and pedaling, while taking a phone call on both the Ray
Ban’s and Frames- here’s how it sounded.
Controlling the audio, both the Bose and the RayBan’s have a touch sensitive control
on the right arm, so you can swipe to change volume, tap to play, pause and answer calls
or skip tracks.
Now, looking at the front of these glasses is where things get a lot different.
While the Bose Frames are just audio glasses, the Ray Ban’s have dual 5 megapixel cameras
on the front, for taking photos or videos on the fly.
And you might be wondering: why have cameras on your glasses?
We did a poll on our Instagram and found 67% thought the RayBan’s looked sleek, and when
we asked about the cameras, it was an even 50% that found the Cameras creepy, while the
other half thought they could be useful.
Testing them in the real world, they definitely can be useful in situations that aren’t
creepy- like going on a skateboard ride with your friends, or on a hike with your dog.
You can quickly capture 30 second clips of your experiences in the moment, hands free.
Being able to capture it a lot quicker than the time it takes to whip out your phone.
The resolution of the videos comes out in square format, because it’s intended for
posting on social media.
But, you do have the ability to crop in for landscape with a 16:9 ratio.
The image quality isn’t bad, but it definitely won’t be as good as your phone or most other
cameras out there.
To download the photos and videos, you use an app called Facebook View, where you can
do quick adjustments to the video and either share them directly to Instagram or Facebook,
or download them to your device.
Looking at other specs like charging and cases, the RayBan’s come in a sleek leather case
that doubles as both storage and also recharging the glasses with a built-in battery, a USB-C
plug, and an LED light on the front.
For battery life, the glasses can last up to 6 hours of moderate usage, and 3 hours
with continuous audio streaming, while the case can fully re-charge your glasses up to
3 times on a single charge.
Meanwhile the Bose Frames come in a simple case that doesn’t feature any charging,
so to charge them you need to use the included magnet charger.
But the upside is the battery life for the Frames last up to 5.5 hours, which is significantly
more than the RayBan’s.
So, if you’re looking for smart glasses primarily for listening to music, don’t
mind a little chunky on the side arms, and have no need for cameras, the Frames are the
clear choice for you.
But if you’re a content creator, social media creative, or someone often in a situation
where you want to film and capture spontaneous moments--then the Ray Ban’s can be a fun
way to capture from a new perspective.
Let us know your thoughts on Smart Glasses in the comments below- do you think they will
become popular?
And if you enjoyed this comparison and want to support our channel, be sure to subscribe
for more new tech and gadgets.