Meta's smart glasses now have the capability to filter human voices in noisy environments.

      Meta's latest feature for smart glasses effectively reduces background noise while enhancing human voices, improving communication in noisy environments.

      Smart glasses, such as those from Meta Ray-Ban, are not ideally designed for conversations in crowded areas. The primary issue is that their microphone and speaker systems are not as advanced as dedicated earbuds, like AirPods. Fortunately, a software-based solution is addressing the difficulties of conversing in busy surroundings for users of Meta's smart glasses.

      What does it do?

      This feature, known as Conversation focus, is currently being rolled out to users who signed up for the Early Access program to test new functionalities. It essentially zeroes in on a specific audio source while filtering out surrounding noise.

      According to the company's support page, “Conversation focus amplifies the voices of people you are facing for improved communication in noisy settings.” Users simply need to voice a command, such as “Hey Meta, start conversation focus,” to activate the feature.

      Generally, it is claimed that once activated, the voices of people in front of you will be amplified. Meta notes that this function works best when the distance between individuals is less than 1.8 metres.

      Manage your expectations

      Conversation focus operates at two levels—standard and boosted. In the boosted mode, voice amplification becomes more pronounced, making it ideal for particularly loud environments. Users can modify the level of amplification by sliding their fingers across the touchpad on the side arms.

      However, there are some limitations. Meta clarifies that it is not intended for "extremely loud environments." Additionally, if you activate another feature requiring mic access, such as the onboard assistant, conversation focus will be temporarily disabled.

      This feature is available for Ray-Ban Meta and Oakley Meta HSTN smart glasses in the US and Canada, but it is restricted to early access users. The rollout of this feature was initially reported by UploadVR. If conversation focus sounds reminiscent, it's because AirPods offer a similar feature called Conversation Awareness.

      Nadeem is a technology and science journalist at Digital Trends.

      Xreal has introduced its new entry-level AR glasses, boasting improved visuals at a lower price point.

      The new Xreal 1S, launched at CES 2026, builds on last year’s Xreal One with several significant enhancements and a $50 price reduction. While the exterior remains mostly unchanged, the resolution has been upgraded from 1080p to 1200p, and brightness has increased from 600 to 700 nits. The field of view and aspect ratio have also improved, expanding from 50 degrees and 16:9 to 52 degrees and 16:10.

      In other news, Luna has unveiled the Luna Band, a health tracker that avoids overwhelming users with data.

      Luna, an emerging name in health technology, has just revealed the Luna Band. Unlike typical fitness trackers that burden you with excessive charts and statistics, this wearable device is designed for immediate use, providing real-time, voice-guided coaching that instructs you on what to do in the moment instead of merely reflecting on past activities. The device was showcased just before CES 2026 and is currently being demonstrated in Las Vegas after its unveiling at Pepcom.

      While many current wearables excel at gathering data, they often fall short in interpreting its relevance for daily routines.

      Additionally, the stylish Vocci smart ring aims to capture life through audio recordings.

      Smart rings are rapidly evolving beyond health and wellness tracking. While brands like Samsung and Oura focus on biosensing, newer entrants like 7Ring are turning smart rings into contactless payment tools. At CES 2026, Gyges Labs is presenting a smart ring designed as an AI-powered note-taking device.