Smart glasses have progressed from science fiction fantasy to practical everyday accessory. With advanced capabilities that go well beyond vision correction, today‘s smart glasses can transform how you interact with digital content and access information on the go.
I‘ve compiled this definitive guide to highlight the top 7 smart glasses models you should consider buying in 2024. For each pair, I‘ll summarize the key features and examine the pros and cons to help you determine if they are the right fit.
How Do Smart Glasses Work?
Before diving into the top models, let‘s briefly overview what makes smart glasses "smart" and how the core technologies come together to enable key functions:
Connectivity – Bluetooth allows the glasses to pair with your smartphone and access features like apps, voice assistants, cameras, microphones and more. Some models also have WiFi connectivity.
Control – Smart glasses are controlled through touch gestures on the frames, compatible apps or voice commands. Controls vary by model but common actions include changing volume, skipping tracks, taking pictures/video and activating assistants.
Audio – Miniaturized speakers and microphones allow you to listen to audio privately without blocking ambient sounds. You can take calls, listen to music/podcasts, interact with voice assistants and more.
Displays – Some smart glasses have small displays integrated directly into the lenses or projected onto the lenses to enable augmented reality, show notifications, display maps/directions and other visual overlays.
Cameras – Front or world-facing cameras on certain models allow you to take photos and video from a first-person visual perspective without needing to hold your phone.
Sensors – Motion sensors, GPS and other capabilities can track fitness data and environmental context for some models geared towards athletes and mixed reality functionality.
Now let‘s explore the top 7 smart glasses spanning a range of designs, features and usage scenarios.
#1 Best Overall: XREAL Air AR Glasses
The XREAL Air AR Glasses are my choice for best overall thanks to their versatile functionality and cutting-edge augmented reality capabilities.
Key Features:
- 130" spatial augmented reality display
- Seamless integration with smartphones, consoles and PCs
- Air Casting, Virtual Desktop and AR Space modes
- Accurate to <1 pixel to prevent distortion
- Open-ear audio design
- Touch controls
Ideal For: The XREAL Air Smart Glasses are a phenomenal choice for mixed reality gaming, movies and next-generation computing experiences. Gamers can connect to Xbox, PlayStation or Nintendo Switch and see the game environment projected at scale onto any surroundings. For PC users, the Virtual Desktop mode turns any space into a giant multi-monitor workstation.
Whether you‘re questing across epic fantasy landscapes, strategizing how to capture objectives in a multiplayer battle arena or maximizing productivity with extra screen real estate, the XREAL Air takes immersion to new heights.
Pros:
- Best-in-class augmented reality imagery and accuracy
- Works seamlessly across smartphones, consoles and computers
- Cutting-edge functionality for next-gen mixed reality experiences
Cons:
- Currently only compatible with Android devices
- No front-facing camera for first-person photo/video
- Significant investment for the top-end model
Price: $599
Buy the XREAL Air AR Glasses on Amazon
#2 Most Affordable: OhO Sunshine Bluetooth Sunglasses
If you want smart glasses capabilities on a budget, the OhO Sunshine Bluetooth Sunglasses deliver solid value and practical utility.
Key Features:
- Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity
- Open-ear audio design
- Voice control for virtual assistants and calls
- Media controls to play/pause, skip tracks, adjust volume
- Sweatproof/splashproof
Ideal For: The OhO Sunshine Smart Sunglasses allow you to access smartphone features like music, podcasts and calls completely hands-free. Just connect to your device via Bluetooth and you can listen privately or take calls by speaking out loud. Touch gesture controls mounted subtly on the frames make it easy to manage audio playback.
Designed for active use, these smart sunglasses are sweatproof and splashproof. Take them with you on runs, bike rides, to the beach or anywhere you want to access audio entertainment hands-free.
Pros:
- Very affordable pricing
- Practical, sweatproof design for active lifestyles
- Good battery life
- Seamless Bluetooth connectivity
Cons:
- Audio volume could be louder
- No fancy features like augmented reality
Price: $31.99
Buy the OhO Sunshine Bluetooth Sunglasses on Amazon
#3 Best for Taking Calls: Razer Anzu Smart Glasses
If taking calls is your top priority, the Razer Anzu Smart Glasses deliver a best-in-class calling and conferencing experience.
Key Features:
- Dual omnidirectional microphones
- Low-latency Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity
- Touch controls
- Voice assistant support
- Blue light filtering
- 99% UVA/UVB eye protection
Ideal For: Professionals or anyone who needs to take calls throughout the day will appreciate the Anzu‘s fantastic microphone clarity and audio synchronization. You can hear the person on the other end of the call perfectly thanks to special antennas integrated into the frames. And when you speak, the mics ensure your voice transmits clearly.
Beyond calls, these glasses allow you to access music, podcasts and more completely hands-free. Touch controls integrated subtly into the frames make it easy to manage audio, activate assistants and more.
Pros:
- Best-in-class call and voice conferencing quality
- Touch controls simplify access to key features
- Filters blue light and provides full UVA/UVB protection
Cons:
- Some complaints touch controls have a learning curve
- Lack advanced features like augmented reality
Price: $199.99
Buy the Razer Anzu Smart Glasses on Amazon
#4 Best for Social Media: Ray-Ban Stories
The iconic Ray-Ban Stories smart glasses allow you to capture photos and video to share instantly on social media through a slick mobile app.
Key Features:
- Dual 5MP cameras
- 2592×1944 photo resolution
- 720p HD video recording
- Polarized and gradient lens options
- Open-ear speakers & 3 mics for calls
- Snappable LED light indicator when recording
Ideal For: If you‘re active on social media or simply want an easier way to take photos without pulling out your phone, the Ray-Ban Stories are a fashionable option. The dual cameras mounted on the front of the frames allow you to shoot from a first-person visual perspective. You can even snap pics or record 30-60 seconds of video through vocal commands.
Transfer your captures automatically to the View app on your iPhone or Android device to edit and upload to Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok or messaging apps.
Pros:
- Fashionable, iconic Ray-Ban styling
- Dedicated cameras deliver great images/video
- Makes capturing and sharing social content seamless
Cons:
- Mediocre battery life
- Facebook integration raises some privacy concerns
- Expensive investment for the features
Price: $299
#5 Best for Music: WGP Smart Audio Glasses
Serious music aficionados need to check out the WGP Smart Audio Glasses. They deliver phenomenal, crystal-clear sound quality for private listening.
Key Features:
- Open-ear audio design
- Bluetooth 5.0
- Hi-Fi stereo sound
- 7 hours battery life
- Touch controls
- IP67 sweatproof/waterproof
Ideal For: Thanks to top-notch components like upgraded Bluetooth antenna design and enlarged speaker drivers, these smart glasses pump out dynamic, nuanced audio you can truly appreciate.
Listen to tunes, podcasts and audiobooks through services like Spotify, Apple Music and more. Control playback via subtle yet responsive touch interfaces on the arms. Customize components and style by swapping stems and lens frames with other options from WGP.
Take these glasses anywhere – the sweatproof/waterproof design ensures they‘ll hold up on adventures.
Pros:
- Incredible Hi-Fi audio production
- Touch controls simplify access
- 7 hours of battery life
- Waterproof/sweatproof protection
Cons:
- Speaker sound leaks at higher volumes
- Touch controls have a learning curve
Price: $179
Buy the WGP Smart Audio Glasses on Amazon
#6 Best for Office Work: DOVIICO Smart Glasses
The DOVIICO Smart Glasses defend your eyes from digital eye strain with blue light filtering lenses perfect for office professionals.
Key Features:
- Blocks 90% of harmful blue light
- Polarized UV protection
- Open-ear audio for music & calls
- Voice control of Alexa and Siri
- 5 hours battery life
- Prescription lens compatible
Ideal For: Professionals who stare at screens all day need relief for their eyes, and that‘s exactly what these smart glasses provide. The lenses have a subtle blue light reflective coating that cuts down on eye fatigue. Whether you‘re designing presentations, writing code or tackling your inbox, your eyes will thank you.
When it‘s time for a break, you can access music and podcasts hands-free through voice commands or touch gestures on the arms. Take calls without breaking focus – the mic ensures you transmit clearly while open-ear audio lets you monitor your surroundings.
Pros:
- Blue light and UV filters protect eyes
- Alexa/Siri voice control integration
- Audio capabilities for music and calls
Cons:
- Audio volume could be louder
- No advanced features like AR
Price: $69.99
Buy the DOVIICO Smart Glasses on Amazon
#7 Best for Athletes: Bose Frames Tempo
Serious athletes need hands-free access to music to push through the toughest training sessions. The Bose Frames Tempo deliver awesome audio performance in a sweatproof package.
Key Features:
- OpenAudio design lets situational sound in
- 8 hours battery life
- Touch/voice controls
- Sweat/weather resistance
- Polarized lenses & nose pads
Ideal For: Runners, cyclists, weightlifters and other athletes need tunes to find motivation when training gets tough. But standard headphones that fully block ambient noise can be dangerous when exercising in public areas.
The Frames Tempo solve this through a unique open-ear audio design. Listen to music, podcasts or take calls overlaid naturally on top of surrounding sounds. So you can still hear traffic, people and other cues that keep you safe.
With 8 hours of battery life, they last through marathon training sessions. Sweat and weather resistance ensure they won‘t fail no matter the conditions. Touch or voice control music so your pace never breaks.
Pros:
- Situational audio awareness ideal for workouts
- 8 hours battery life outlasts long training
- Sweatproof/weatherproof rugged design
- Voice control further enables hands-free use
Cons:
- Touch controls require familiarization
- Expensive investment for athletes
Price: $249
Buy the Bose Frames Tempo on Amazon
What To Consider When Buying Smart Glasses
With many models now available, keep these key factors in mind when choosing smart glasses:
Compatibility
Verify that the glasses will work properly with your smartphone‘s operating system before buying. Some only pair with iPhones or Android devices. Limited compatibility can undermine the entire functionality.
Additionally, glasses with augmented reality features may only fully function when using the manufacturer‘s proprietary software and apps.
Vision Correction
If you normally wear prescription eyeglasses, look into options to integrate correction into smart glasses – such as attachable lenses or custom fitting services through an optometrist.
Comfort & Fit
Try frames on in person if possible and walk around while wearing to gauge comfort over extended durations. Look for stable yet flexible constructions designed not to slip. Weight should be evenly balanced without pressure points.
Everyone‘s head, nose bridge and temples are shaped differently. So guaranteeing universal perfection is impossible. But brands are getting better at accommodating diverse physiognomies.
Prioritize glasses engineered intentionally for long-term wearability to ensure you actually use them. Discomfort commonly causes expensive models to end up gathering dust instead of enabling amazing hands-free experiences.
Privacy
Understand that everything captured while wearing smart glasses with cameras, microphones or other sensors can be stored, accessed and monitored. Toggle privacy settings cautiously and research manufacturer policies regarding data usage.
For example, Facebook‘s integration with Ray-Ban Stories raised concerns over how captured data might inform ad targeting or profiling.
Experiencing Life Through Smart Glasses
Trying smart glasses for the first time can literally feel like perceiving the world through new eyes enhanced by additional layers of digital information streaming seamlessly into view.
Augmented windows present maps, data overlays and rich multimedia. Concealed speakers whisper audio privately yet clearly. Sleek frames bundle powerful technologies compactly around your field of view.
Smart capabilities that once demanded fumbling with smartphones materialize instantly available via finger swipes along concealed touch interfaces or a simple voice command like “Ok Glass, take a picture!”
It’s a sneak peek at a future paradigm where access to information and experiences no longer requires consciously shifting attention between the tangible present and glass portals buzzing impatiently with digital demands.
Instead, the virtual pervades our world to become indistinguishable. Knowledge, opportunities to capture moments, entertainment to pass idle moments and connections requiring no physical gatherings surround us as endless invisible threads we can grasp instantly with almost careless ease.
Yet rather than diminishing reality’s resonance, smart glasses have the potential to reenchant it with revelatory new dimensions. Even mundane moments can gleam anew awash in hitherto hidden energies.
Bottom Line
I hope this guide gives you clarity regarding the smart glasses landscape and models capable of optimizing your needs in 2024 and beyond. Let me know if you have any other questions!
