Meta Ray-Ban frames may have a durability issue, user reports suggest

It seems there might be some hardware issues that could be plaguing Meta Ray-Ban glasses. I have found several recent reports on Reddit about frames breaking in almost identical ways. While not widespread, the similar nature of these breaks raises questions about potential manufacturing issues.

The most troubling pattern I spotted involves frames snapping at the hinge area where the arm connects to the main frame. These aren’t tales of extreme sports gone wrong or accidental drops. Users are reporting breaks during routine activities like putting on their glasses or simply opening them from the case.

Take this recent account from a frustrated father who bought the glasses as a Father’s Day gift. He discovered his frames completely separated after just three days of ownership. The adhesive holding internal components apparently failed, severing the camera cable in the process.

Another user shared a similar experience after purchasing their glasses from Walmart. Within two hours of unboxing, the left side snapped off while simply unfolding the frames. The break occurred during the most basic function of the device.

A few users have even shared video evidence. Check out the two Reddit embeds below:

What’s particularly striking is how many of these failures occur on the left side of the frame. Multiple users have commented on this specific pattern, suggesting it might not be random mechanical failure but rather a systematic weakness in the manufacturing process.

The timing of these reports is also noteworthy. Several users in the comments under these posts have theorized that newer production batches might be experiencing quality control problems. I also found users discussing whether environmental factors like humidity or heat might be affecting the adhesive used in recent manufacturing runs.

The community response reveals a sharp divide. Many users are quick to defend their glasses, reporting zero issues even under demanding conditions. One user mentioned wearing their pair on 30 rollercoasters without problems, while another works around industrial chemicals and has used them for over a year without issues.

However, the recent surge in break reports has left many longtime users puzzled. Several commented that they’d never seen this pattern before, with one noting they hadn’t encountered any similar posts until recently. Now reports are popping up frequently.

The divide seems to correlate with when people bought their glasses. Users who purchased their second-generation Ray-Ban Meta glasses in recent months are reporting the most problems, while those with older units appear largely unaffected. This timing suggests that if there is a manufacturing defect, it’s likely affecting newer production batches rather than all units.

What makes this situation particularly frustrating for consumers is the warranty response. Several users have shared experiences where companies point to the lack of additional protection plans as reasons to deny coverage, even when the failures occur within weeks of purchase.

That said, it’s unclear if these are just some niche situations or if it could be the start of a wave of reports. I’ll keep an eye out for any further developments and will update the article if there’s something to share.