Smart glasses are wearable devices with transparent lenses that can display information directly in your field of vision. Many also incorporate cameras, speakers and microphones for snapping photos and communicating. While Google Glass launched this category back in 2013, companies are still working to make smart glasses a mainstream consumer electronics product.
After testing numerous models myself over the past 3 years and keeping tabs on CES announcements, I‘ve seen incremental but meaningful progress toward useful, aesthetically-pleasing smart glasses. In this post, let me walk you through the top 5 smart glasses I believe deliver the most value and practical functionality today. I‘ll summarize what they can do, how they work, plus their strengths and limitations. My goal is to help you make an informed buying choice!
Overview
Broadly speaking, today‘s smart glasses break down into two main categories:
Audio-focused – These eyewear models connect via Bluetooth to your phone and prioritize playing audio clearly without obscuring your vision. You can enjoy music, podcasts, audiobooks and calls screened into your ears. Most include touch controls on the frames and some offer voice assistance connectivity.
Display-focused – More advanced (and expensive) options project visual information like notifications, mapping directions, or even video right onto one lens in your field of view. This keeps your vision unobstructed while putting useful data where your eyes are already looking.
There‘s also variation around design. Do you prefer statement sunglasses or subtle regular frames? With so many models flooding the market, I assembled the products below after evaluating comfort, battery life, style, and core practical use cases. Let‘s examine each one!
1. Bose Frames
While audio giants like Bose lack experience building smart glasses hardware, they nail amplifying sound.
The Bose Frames use micro-acoustic arrays to direct audio right into your ears. There‘s surprising immediacy, depth and clarity coming through the arms‘ hidden speakers. Three noise-isolating mics also make hands-free calls work smoothly in windy environments.
You charge Bose Frames via included USB-C cable into an integrated port along the glasses‘ right temple. Battery life delivers about 5.5 hours playback for a full charge. Their angular arms accommodate most prescription frames too.
Key Specs:
- Playback Time: 5.5 hours
- Charging: USB-C (1 hr full charge)
- Bluetooth Connectivity
- Microphones: 4
- Weight: 45 grams
Available styles include larger Alto and smaller Rondo sizing. While $249 is expensive, Bose Frames set the gold standard for seamless audio integration in smart eyewear. If listening is your focus, this thoughtfully-engineered product deserves your consideration.
Pros
✅ Phenomenal sound quality
✅ Lightweight and comfortable
✅ Sleek, modern style
Cons
❌ Expensive
❌ Limited controls
2. Amazon Echo Frames
Amazon‘s Echo Frames bring their popular voice assistant Alexa right to your face!
Ask questions, set reminders, create calendar events, control smart home devices and more completely hands-free. I especially loved using these when driving.
The directional speakers point audio right into your ears for your listening alone. This keeps tunes or Alexa‘s responses private. Touch gestures along the temple let you turn sound on/off, adjust volume, etc.
Being able to say "Alexa, next song" without grabbing my phone was incredibly convenient. Battery lasts about 4 hours playback on a charge. While not as dynamic sounding as Bose Frames, having Alexa handy may outweigh audio finesse for you.
Key Specs:
- Playback Time: 4 hours
- Charging: USB-C
- Bluetooth & Alexa Connectivity
- Microphones: 4
- Weight: 31 grams
If having Alexa handy appeals to you, $249 gets you durable, lightweight Echo Frames in either a regular or sunglasses version. Alexa makes these smart glasses stand out!
Pros
✅ Convenient Alexa access
✅ Lightweight design
✅ Fun touch controls
Cons
❌ Mediocre sound quality
❌ Limited Alexa functionality
3. Vuzix Blade AR Smart Glasses
While audio options dominated our first picks, the innovative Vuzix Blade delivers an augmented reality display experience straight from the future.
These sci-fi specs project digital imagery directly into your field of view on one lens. You can reference everything from mapping directions to work documents hands-free. It‘s wild seeing video play only you can watch!
The Blade connects wirelessly to phones and computers to pull in notifications, video chats, sports updates and more. It responds to touch, voice and motion. Foldable temples and a sturdy frame weather long-term use.
With an $799 MSRP, this specialized gadget suits commercial applications today over consumer use. But for glimpsing tomorrow‘s AR possibilities, it awed me. If prices eventually fall, count me first in line!
Key Specs:
- Display Resolution: 1280 x 720p
- Battery Duration: 2+ hours
- Storage: Up to 100MB
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
- Camera: 8MP stills, 4K video
- Weight: 3 oz
Companies from manufacturing to medicine already issue Vuzix Blade AR headsets to workers. Consumers can buy one too if cutting-edge tech intrigues you. It floored me!
Pros
✅ Mind-blowing AR display
✅ Robust platform supports future apps
✅ Withstood heavy testing
Cons
❌ Very expensive
❌ Short battery life
❌ Few current consumer use cases
4. Razer Anzu Smart Glasses
The Razer Anzu packs familiar audio playback smarts into frames tailored for gamers. Perfect for mobile titles!
You can listen to game soundtracks, streaming music and mobile calls all pumped through integrated temple speakers. Buttons along the frames control playback and volume. Blue light-filtering lenses reduce eyestrain.
While budget models often cut corners, these feel anything but cheap. Sleek arms and thick, durable lenses hold up. Sound doesn‘t match Bose Frames‘ fullness but it drives audio clearly to your ears.
For around $200 as either glasses or sunglasses, Razer made an intriguing play at smart eyewear for its loyal fanbase beyond peripherals. Mobile gamers should check them out!
Key Specs
- Playback Time: 6 hours
- Charging: USB-C
- Bluetooth 5.1 Connectivity
- Microphones: 2 beamforming
- Weight: 45 grams
Pros
✅ Lightweight durable construction
✅ Crisp audio ideal for games
✅ Blue light lenses
Cons
❌ So-so battery life
❌ Scratches easily
5. Facebook Ray-Ban Stories
Facebook‘s Ray-Ban Stories smart glasses up level photography thanks to integrated cameras. They retain iconic Wayfarer frames!
Two 5MP cameras hide along the front frame corners. Three built-in mics improve sound pickup. You can share photo and video online or via Facebook‘s chat apps.
By sliding your finger along the temple, you snap images hands-free. It was delightfully stealthy! Led indicators notify others around you when recording. Facebook even built an LED disable switch for discretion.
Privacy controversies continue plaguing this gadget, especially capturing moments secretly. But with Facebook promising strong safeguards and encryption, I enjoyed their seamless social documentation.
Key Specs
- Cameras: Dual 5MP
- Storage: 4GB (500 photos, 100 videos)
- Battery Life: 6 hours mix use
- Weight: 46 grams
For Facebook fans, $299 gets you the company‘s best onboarding to lifelogging wearables. Just mind local recording regulations!
Pros
✅ Effortless candid photography
✅ Audio plays clearly
✅ Classic stylish frames
Cons
❌ Privacy concerns
❌ Scratched easily for me
❌ Facebook integration biased
What To Consider Before Buying
I hope breaking down my top recommended smart glasses models shed light helping you make the perfect pick. Assessing a few personal factors can further guide your decision:
Your Budget
- Under $200 – Decent audio-focused glasses from Razer, Fauna and more
- $200 to $300 – Bose and Amazon leader options
- $500+ – Cutting-edge AR display glasses like Vuzix
Key Use Cases
What do you want from smart glasses?
- Music & Calls – Bluetooth audio models shine here
- Fitness Tracking – Choose glasses with accelerometers and pedigree fitness software integration
- Photography & Video – Facebook, Echo Frames and Vuzix cameras enable first-person shooting
- Navigation – AR display glasses can overlay directions prominently within view
Prioritizing the scenarios you want enables selecting the best-suited pair.
Design & Weight Preferences
Do bold colors and wide arms appeal to you? Or more subtle wireframe styles? Trying models firsthand can ensure all-day wearability.
Companion App Integration
Assess smartphone companion app functionality for tasks like adjusting settings, offloading media and reviewing usage data. Convenience and accessibility varies widely.
Weigh all of the above before deciding! Everyone‘s smart glasses needs differ. Hopefully exploring today‘s top options helps guide your expectations and reveals the best smart glasses currently available aligned to your lifestyle.
Let me know if any other questions come up during your search! I‘m happy to provide any insight I can offer from testing various models the past few years.
