Meta’s Ray-Ban Smart Glasses Hit India—With a Catch

The AI-powered wearables arrive May 19, but lack local language support

Meta is bringing its Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses to India on May 19, 2025, marking a major push into one of the world’s fastest-growing tech markets. Priced starting at ₹29,990 (~$353), the glasses blend fashion and function with built-in Meta AI, but their omission of Indian language support raises eyebrows. Preorders are live on Ray-Ban’s website, with physical availability at retail stores upon launch.

“This is about merging augmented reality with everyday life,” says a Meta spokesperson. “India’s tech-savvy consumers are ready for wearables that do more.”

The glasses promise real-time translation, hands-free messaging, and call assistance—features powered by an onboard AI that works offline for English, French, Italian, and Spanish. Yet Hindi, Tamil, and other regional languages are conspicuously absent, a gap Meta says it’s “evaluating for future updates.” For now, Indian users must rely on English for translations, a limitation that could curb adoption.

Music integration, however, is fully localized. Spotify, Amazon Music, Shazam, and Apple Music will sync with the glasses in India, letting users control playback via voice commands. The design mirrors classic Ray-Ban aesthetics, with discreet cameras and speakers embedded in frames. Since their 2023 global debut, roughly 2 million units have sold—a figure Meta hopes to boost with India’s massive consumer base.

Analysts are split on the glasses’ prospects. “The price is competitive, but the AI’s language gap is a miss,” says tech analyst Priya Mehta. Meanwhile, early adopters are already debating whether the tech justifies the cost. One thing’s clear: Meta’s betting big on India’s wearable future—glitches and all.