Welcome to the future, where your eyewear is smarter than your average smartphone! Yes, you heard that right. Smart glasses are no longer just a figment of sci-fi movies; they’re here, and they might just be the coolest thing since sliced bread—or at least since the invention of the selfie stick. Our tech team has put on their thinking caps (and their stylish frames) to test out the best smart glasses on the market. So, without further ado, let’s dive into our top six picks!
Smart glasses are eyewear that includes electronic components and can do more than just correct your vision or protect your eyes. As you can imagine, that covers a wide array of devices that can do completely different things. It’s a complicated enough category that I wrote an entire guide to the different kinds of smart glasses. To keep it short, we can sort smart glasses into a few specific types, with some overlap. AI smart glasses like the Ray-Ban Meta usually have speakers, microphones, and cameras built into the frames and can provide instant access to an AI assistant to answer questions and perform tasks. They can also usually play music and take calls, too. Waveguide smart glasses are AI glasses with displays integrated into the lenses that display visual information. Most, like the Meta Ray-Ban Display and Even Realities G2, have a variety of uses like displaying notifications, live captioning and translating speech, and even providing navigation directions. Some are much more focused on a specific task, like the Captify Pro, which is built entirely around captioning and translating. That display-equipped sub-category is still evolving, though, and has a lot of wrinkles to iron out in features and usability. Then there are prism display smart glasses like the Viture Beast and X by XReal a01+, which are often called AR smart glasses. They use bulky prism lenses to project a larger, more colorful, and higher-resolution image into your eyes, giving the effect of sitting in a huge theater. This lets you watch a movie, play a game, or even work as if you had a big monitor or TV in front of you, even when you’re sitting in a coffee shop or on a plane. These usually aren’t AI-powered or even wirelessly connect to anything, and basically work like USB-C monitors you put on your face. I’ve found them very useful, though, and they’re a regular part of my daily gear. There are some rarer types of smart glasses as well, like Chamelo’s Music Shield and Dusk glasses. They use liquid-crystal lenses to provide an adjustable tint, switching from transparent to sunglasses mode with a tap or via an app. The Chamelo Aura goes a step further by using multiple tinted liquid-crystal films to let you cycle through different lens colors. Some prism display smart glasses use similar technology to darken their exterior lenses and block out distractions. While they have strong connections to computers and video games, blue-light-blocking glasses aren’t actually smart glasses. They don’t have any electronics inside and simply rely on lens coatings to reduce exposure to blue light and reduce eye strain. They can be soothing but are not smart in the vein we’re talking about here.
1. Ray-Ban Stories
Let’s start with the classics. Ray-Ban has teamed up with Facebook (or Meta, if you want to sound fancy) to create the Ray-Ban Stories. These beauties allow you to take photos and videos hands-free while looking effortlessly cool—because if you can’t look good while capturing your life’s moments, what’s the point? They come equipped with dual 5MP cameras, and you can easily share your adventures with just a tap. Just be careful not to turn into that person who documents every single meal. We don’t need another avocado toast on our feeds!
2. Snap Spectacles 3
Snap’s Spectacles 3 are like the hipster cousin of smart glasses. With dual HD cameras, they can capture 3D photos and videos, which is pretty neat if you want to make your friends feel like they’re part of a virtual reality experience. Plus, they come in some pretty stylish designs, because let’s face it, nobody wants to wear something that looks like it’s from the 80s. Just be prepared for the occasional side-eye when you pull them out in public.
3. Vuzix Blade
If you’re looking for something a bit more practical, the Vuzix Blade is like the Swiss Army knife of smart glasses. They offer a see-through display that overlays important information right in your field of vision. Imagine being able to check your emails while pretending to pay attention in a meeting! Just make sure your boss doesn’t catch you. The only downside? They might not win any beauty contests, but hey, function over fashion, right?
4. Nreal Light
These glasses are what you’d get if Google Glass and a trendy pair of shades had a baby. The Nreal Light glasses offer an augmented reality experience that’s surprisingly lightweight and comfortable. You can stream videos, play games, and even navigate maps, all while looking like you just stepped off a fashion runway. Just be prepared for some confused looks when you start interacting with holograms in public.
5. Xiaomi Smart Glasses
Xiaomi is known for its budget-friendly tech, and their Smart Glasses are no exception. With a sleek design and a lightweight build, these glasses pack a punch with features like navigation, notifications, and even a translation function. You could be reading a menu in a foreign language without ever having to whip out your phone. Just don’t expect them to make you fluent overnight—unfortunately, there’s no smart glass that can replace actual language lessons yet.
6. Amazon Echo Frames
Last but not least, we have the Amazon Echo Frames. These are perfect for the Alexa fans out there who want to take their voice assistant on the go. With built-in microphones and speakers, you can ask Alexa to play your favorite song, check the weather, or even order more toilet paper (because who doesn’t need that?). They may not have the coolest design, but they certainly come in handy when you’re too lazy to reach for your phone.
In conclusion, smart glasses are not just a passing fad; they’re a glimpse into the future of technology and fashion. Whether you’re a tech enthusiast or just someone who enjoys a good pair of shades, these six options are worth considering. Just remember to use them responsibly—nobody wants to be that person who films everything at the family dinner. Happy smart-glassing!
Inspired by: “The 6 Best Smart Glasses, Tested By Our Tech Team” (r/technology)