Ever since purchasing my Ray-Ban Meta smart display glasses, I’ve found numerous uses for them like watching the Super Bowl Halftime show and translating Bad Bunny’s performance in real time. Lately, I’ve realized how surprisingly useful they are for more mundane activities like my weekly Target run. Shopping is actually one of the places where using these glasses makes the most sense.
Instead of constantly pulling out my phone, I could ask questions, take photos and even message my family — all hands-free while pushing a cart. Sure, the glasses aren’t perfect and if the Wi-Fi isn’t great, I have to wait a few seconds longer for a reply, but they can act like a surprisingly helpful AI shopping assistant if you know what to ask.
Here are the things that actually worked while I was walking the aisles.
1. Ask questions about products you’re looking at
One of the most useful features is the ability to ask the glasses about something you’re looking at. Using the built-in camera and Meta AI, the glasses can analyze what’s in front of you.
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For example, you can say: “Hey Meta, what is this?” Or: “Hey Meta, what’s this used for?”
This can be helpful when you come across unfamiliar gadgets, ingredients or specialty items like these succulents. Instead of Googling it on your phone, the glasses can quickly explain what you’re seeing.
2. Read labels and small print
Anyone who has tried to read tiny ingredient lists or nutrition labels knows how frustrating it can be. I’ve even found the glasses help not only read the tiny expiration date but tell me where I can find it on the packaging. With the glasses, you can ask Meta AI to read the label directly or summarize it in real time.
For example: “Hey Meta, read this label.”
It won’t replace carefully checking ingredients yourself, but it can help you quickly understand the basics — especially with long ingredient lists.
3. Translate packaging in another language
Some imported foods and products come with labels that aren’t in English. The glasses can help translate what you’re looking at by saying something like:
“Hey Meta, translate this.”
The AI can then explain the text or summarize what the packaging says.
4. Take photos of products hands-free
One of the most practical uses is simply taking photos without reaching for your phone.
You can say: “Hey Meta, take a photo.”
I found this helpful for saving items I might want to buy later or sending a quick picture to someone at home. I found the cutest collar charms for my sister’s spoiled puppy.
5. Send quick messages while you’re in the aisle
The glasses also let you send messages through voice commands.
The glasses use voice + your phone’s messaging apps (SMS/iMessage, WhatsApp, Messenger). That means if you’re unsure about something in your cart, you can quickly ask someone.
For example: “Hey Meta, send a message to my husband: Do we already have pasta sauce?”
It saves the hassle of juggling a cart, phone and shopping list at the same time. No more putting my phone in the cart and forgetting it. Plus, I was able to keep a better eye on my little one in tow without being distracted by my phone.
The glasses include open-ear speakers, so you can listen to audio without blocking out the environment. That makes it easy to: Play music or podcasts while shopping and listen to reminders without headphones.
It’s a small feature, but it makes the experience feel more natural than constantly checking your phone. The hands-free shopping list is a gamechanger for me. I never had to look down once and actually remembered everything with this shopping trip.
7. Quickly look up information
Finally, you can use the glasses the same way you might use a voice assistant.
While browsing the aisles, you can ask questions like:
“Is this gluten-free?”
“What’s a substitute for sour cream?”
“What’s the difference between these two ingredients?”
Instead of pulling out your phone to search, you get a quick spoken answer.
Final thoughts
Smart glasses are still a niche gadget, but using Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses while shopping showed me just how much I need my hands while shopping! The ability to ask questions, get answered and stay focused while shopping makes me wonder how I ever shopped without these.
Shopping, cooking and everyday errands are exactly the types of situations where hands-free AI assistance actually feels useful. I don’t see these replacing my phone anytime soon — but they certainly made my Target run a little easier.
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