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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Meta is rolling out its Nov. firmware update across Ray-Ban and Oakley smart glasses.
- The patch includes longer, better-stabilized video recording.
- You can also sync Garmin stats with video captures.
It’s no secret that the most surprising upside of owning a pair of Meta Ray-Bans has been the software support, which, over the course of two years, has introduced new camera capabilities, AI features, and other improvements to the world’s most popular smart glasses.
The latest November firmware update (v19.2) may be the most significant one yet, as it brings enhanced Garmin integration and more flexible video-recording options for both new and older models.
Also: Who should buy Meta Ray-Bans in 2025? After months of testing, my verdict is two-fold
The Garmin feature, including the ability to ask Meta AI for live health statistics, was previously exclusive to the Meta Oakley glasses, which are geared toward sports enthusiasts and athletes. Now, even owners of the original Meta Ray-Bans can get in on the action.
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Meta is also giving users the ability to record videos in 1080p resolution at 60 frames per second. That means your footage should have a much smoother appearance, with fluid visuals and less stuttering. And if you want to take it a step further, that same footage can be dialed down (typically at 0.7 or 0.8 speed) for a dramatic slow-motion effect.
Personally, I’m most excited to test the new video stabilization levels, which are designed to remove jitters from recordings while keeping things leveled through software processing and cropping. Essentially, your videos should appear less shaky, especially if you’re jogging or moving quickly, at the expense of a smaller field of view. This is similar to how smartphones electronically stabilize footage, and that’s always been fairly effective.
For what it’s worth, Meta provides the option to auto-select stabilization levels, allowing your glasses to automatically adjust the smoothening based on your level of activity during recording.
Also: I tested the Oakley Meta Vanguard on a 5-mile walk – here’s how it beat my Ray-Bans
Some other new updates include an extended five-minute recording length (up from three minutes) and capture enhancements, such as auto-leveling and auto-cropping, when the glasses camera is obstructed by objects like hats or hair. That last bit is fairly useful, as users with longer hair or who wear caps can often find their footage compromised.
The latest November update is rolling out to all Meta Ray-Ban and Oakley smart glasses this week, so I’d recommend updating both your Meta AI app and the software settings within to access the newest features. At the time of writing, the update appears to be launching only in the US, so international users may want to wait a bit before changes take effect.
