The Best Smart Glasses of 2024
Our top pick for smart glasses is Ray-Ban Stories
Emmeline Castle Emmeline Castle Emmeline Kaser is a technology writer and former editor of Lifewire. She writes and edits business content on consumer technology for Lifewire. lifewire's Editorial Guidelines updated on February 29, 2024 Rich Sher
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Classic Ray-Ban design
It is relatively simple to use
Requires Facebook or Instagram account
Developed in conjunction with Meta (Facebook), Stories are unique in that they look just like regular sunglasses. This isn't surprising since Ray-Ban created them so they don't scream "smart glasses" when you put them on, which is nice.
They come in three different Ray-Ban styles - Shooting Star, Round and Wayfarer - in five colors (gloss black, blue, brown, olive or matte black) and six types of lenses (brown gradient, clear, Dark blue, dark) gray, green or photochromic green). Prescription lenses are also available, so it's fair to say that Ray-Ban will suit most people.
They double as Bluetooth headphones, and you can use an app to upload videos and photos taken with them. Not surprisingly, you'll need a Facebook or Instagram account to do this.
To take photos, there's a capture button on the right arm, and a touch-sensitive surface gives you call, playback, and volume controls.
Despite privacy concerns, these are the most full-featured smart glasses yet, and while they don't have an augmented reality display, Meta has discussed making one.
Bluetooth compatible
Built-in earplugs
Microphone for calls
No other smart features
cheap build
Ultra-high-tech features often come with a hefty price tag, so if you're looking for something more affordable, you should check out these futuristic-looking sunglasses from TechKen. They feature built-in Bluetooth headphones that extend down from the arms, making them a great choice for workouts and other outdoor activities.
While regular wireless earbuds may pose a risk of falling out, these attach directly to your sunglasses, so you can continue playing music without worrying about losing your expensive earbuds.
The adjustable earphones can move forward and backward for a comfortable fit. They also have a built-in microphone that can answer calls when the glasses are connected to your phone. Button controls on the frame let you adjust volume, play and pause music, and answer calls.
Attach to your existing glasses
Affordable
Built-in playback controls
bulky
If you have prescription frames or a go-to pair of sunglasses that you can never replace, JLab Audio JBuds Frames attach to any eyeglass frame for instant wireless sound. They also include microphones for phone calls. The open audio design plays music that can only be heard when your ears are open, making it a great option for those who want to be aware of their surroundings or who find traditional headphones uncomfortable to wear. Use two accessories for a more immersive audio experience, or switch to just one.
The design is a bit bulky, but the JBuds Frame makes up for it, delivering over 8 hours of playback per charge. It also uses the latest Bluetooth 5.1 technology to pair with your smartphone, providing a stable, lag-free connection.
Smart glasses have quickly become one of the fastest-growing products in consumer technology. These futuristic devices offer everything from augmented reality to hands-free calling, allowing you to enjoy many of the same features as your smartphone without having to rely on a screen. Whether it is for increasing productivity, digesting digital content/services or any related activity, one can differentiate between the dozens of smart glasses available in the market by studying their connectivity, display, control, battery life, and comfort/durability.
Connectivity
Almost all smart glasses support Bluetooth. Bluetooth connectivity allows them to sync across all your favorite devices, including Windows, MacOS, iPhone and Android. Some even work with other operating systems, such as the Stream Deck, Nintendo Switch, and Asus ROG Ally. Please pay attention to smartphone compatibility, as smart glasses mainly support newer versions (such as Android 8.1+ or iOS 13 or higher).
display and control
Choose smart glasses with adjustable focus and a clear, bright display. Other features include a high nose bridge for improved nose comfort, a lightweight design and the highest possible resolution, including an OLED display with 4K resolution and a larger field of view for better immersion in pass-through and augmented reality experiences middle.
Battery Life
At the very least, look for smart glasses that can play media continuously for up to four hours at a reasonably high volume (say, 80%). Some products, like Amazon's Echo Frames, offer up to six hours of media playback. Meanwhile, charging time should last up to 75 minutes (from 0% to 100%) using the auxiliary cable or the supplied charging case.
Comfort/durability
To be as comfortable as possible, the smart glasses we recommend come with adjustable frames, pads, and headphones in a variety of sizes. Look for a lightweight design and balanced weight distribution for comfortable wear over long periods of time. Bonus points include padded nose pads, hypoallergenic temples, ventilation channels to dissipate heat from your eyes/face, and an anti-glare coating to reduce eye fatigue.
Extra features
Today, smart glasses come with tons of extra features, like the ability to adjust outward-facing lens color, 12-megapixel cameras, and built-in voice assistants. The pricier smart glasses also better extend the field of view to 200 inches, which is better for watching movies or sports games.
FAQMany smart glasses are equipped with cameras and microphones that can capture high-quality point-of-view video, which can be a valuable training tool in many industries. Glasses with displays on the lenses could overlay the real world with digital information, augmenting real-world activities with the direction of the wearer's eyes or other useful information.
Open audio technology delivers sound to your ears without blocking or covering them like traditional headphones. This is accomplished by strategically placed speakers that sit next to your ear canal instead of inside it, allowing you to hear the sound but not the person next to you. Another method is to use bone conduction, which sends audio vibrations directly to the inner ear through the bones in the skull.
Smart glasses vary greatly in price. A pair of must-have smart glasses that only offer Bluetooth audio should cost no more than standard Bluetooth headphones or wireless earbuds.
