The best smart glasses in 2024: Rokid, TCL, XReal & more
FreepikAre you looking to get a pair of AR glasses? Fret not. We’ve listed some of the best smart glasses you can buy in 2024.
If last year is anything to go by, 2024 is the year that smart glasses go mainstream. Triggered by the arrival of Apple’s Vision Pro mixed reality headset, these AR/XR-powered glasses are expected to get much more popular this year.
Unlike the bulky VR/AR/MR headsets, smart glasses are compact and stylish smart wearable gadgets. While the VR headsets can double up as a computer, smart glasses depend on a PC or a smartphone. These glasses can help project a massive personal theatre while on the go and let you work discreetly in a crowded public place like an airport.
That said, many wearable glasses can only stream music and let you respond to calls via Bluetooth. These do not cut into the smart glasses category and are merely sunglasses with a pair of earbuds embedded in them.
In this list of the best smart glasses, we’ve shortlisted wearables that can do much more than stream music and are compact enough to be kept inside your pocket. Here are some of the most interesting smart wearables you can buy in 2024.
- Rokid Max AR glasses
- Xreal Air 2 AR glasses
- TCL RayNeo Air 2
- Snap Spectacles 3
- Amazon Echo Frames
- Ray-Ban Stories
1. Rokid Max AR glasses
Key specs
- Screen: OLED
- Resolution: 1920×1080 pixel RGB per eye with sRGB 106% color gamut
- Brightness: Up to 600 nits
- Contrast ratio: 100,000:1
- Field-of-View: 50-degrees
- Refresh rate: 120Hz
- Projected image: 215-inch
- Diopter Adjustment: 0.00D to -6.00D
- Two open-ear speakers
- Dual microphone array, Dual HD Directional Speakers
- 3DoF head tracking
The Rokid Max AR glasses were introduced sometime back, and along with its companion, the Rokid Station, it is one of the best AR glasses you can buy right now.
Talk about casting your smartphone, laptop, or Steam Deck’s display; the Rokid Max can do everything. It offers you a 215-inch full HD screen to enjoy your favorite content. You can watch movies, TV shows, play games, or even work on the go.
While the Rokid Station offers storage and battery and can power the Rokid Max, it is an additional accessory that can let you enjoy a massive Android TV on the go. It also has smart features similar to the other AR glasses; however, in our review, we felt AR is probably the weakest part of Rokid Max AR glasses. Everywhere else, they shine.
2. Xreal Air 2 AR glasses
Key specs
- Screen: MicroOLED
- Resolution: 1920×1080 per-eye
- Brightness: Up to 500 nits
- Contrast ratio: 100,000:1
- Field-of-View: 46-degrees
- Refresh rate: 120Hz
- Projected image: 130-inches
- Features: Speakers, USB-C output,
- Weight: 72g
The Xreal Air 2 is an iterative update over the original Xreal AR glasses. The Xreal Air 2 can become a standalone personal multimedia device with a Beam media controller.
The Air 2 retains the sunglasses design we saw in the first-generation smart glasses. However, in our review, the Air 2 could have been better had the company ironed out the issues in the first-generation device.
If you wear prescription lenses, you’ll still be required to get lens inserts, which could spoil the overall experience. If you’re open to spending $400 and still living with some compromises, the Xreal Air 2 can be a worthwhile upgrade over the predecessor.
3. TCL RayNeo Air 2
Key specs
- Screen: MicroOLED
- Resolution: 1920×1080 per-eye
- Brightness: Up to 600 nits
- Contrast ratio: 100,000:1
- Field-of-View: 46-degrees
- Refresh rate: 120Hz
- Projected image: 201-inches
- Features: Speakers, USB-C output,
- Weight: 76g
The RayNeo Air 2 is also a second-generation smart glasses from TCL. At 76 grams, the RayNeo Air 2 is slightly heavier than your regular sunglasses. The weight, or lack of it, makes the Air 2 ideal for content consumption, gaming, and getting work done.
In our review, we felt that the AR features were still at the budding stage and could not utilize the glasses’ potential fully.
Playing games on a massive personal theatre-like screen is one use case of these glasses in case you have one of the compatible handheld gaming consoles.
4. Snap Spectacles 3
Key specs
- 4GB flash storage
- Four-microphone audio array
- Built-in GPS and GLONASS
- Two HD cameras
- Weighs 56.5 g
- Bluetooth 5.0
Snap’s Spectacles is designed with specific features and use cases in mind. Rather than AR glasses, think of a couple of sports cameras mounted at eye level to offer your content a unique perspective and help you create content for Snapchat on the go.
You don’t get any high-resolution display, no content projection in front of the eyes, or AR projection over real-world objects, but you get a pair of smart-looking sunglasses that can help you capture “3D Snaps” without much fuss.
You get 4GB of inbuilt storage that is capable of storing up to 100 3D Snaps videos or over 1000 3D photos. Though these third-generation Spectacles are a vastly improved product, thanks to their premium pricing, it’s still a novelty with limited usage.
5. Amazon Echo Frames (2 Gen)
Key specs
- Four micro speakers (2 in each temple), two beamforming microphones
- IPX4 splash resistant
- two beamforming microphones
- Weighs 34 g
- Bluetooth 5.0
The second-generation Amazon Echo Frames look like a pair of standard sunglasses but with slightly thicker temples housing all the tech, including battery, speakers, and microphones.
These smart sunglasses let you stream your favorite music, answer calls, control your smart home devices, and take Alexa with you. These glasses could be ideal for listening to podcasts or responding to calls while driving to the office. It’s also suitable for a person who uses Alexa smart assistant regularly as these glasses function as an extension to the application.
However, with a limited use case and a high price, these Alexa-powered smart glasses are meant for a curious few.
6. Ray-Ban Stories
Key specs
- 4GB flash storage
- 2x speaker open-air speakers
- Two 5MP cameras
- Weighs 49 g
- Bluetooth 5.0
Ray-Ban Stories are Facebook or Meta’s answer to Snap’s Spectacles. These almost smart sunglasses come with 5MP cameras and a few down-firing open-air speakers for listening to music, podcasts, or calls. If you’re lazy enough to tap on the touch-sensitive control panel, you can ask the Facebook assistant to take videos or capture images.
Ray-Ban made these glasses come in Wayfarer, Round, and Meteor. While Ray-Ban Stories is way better than Snap’s Spectacles in design and features, its integration with Facebook may not be ideal for many. Also, you’ll miss getting real innovative features like AR, content projection, and more at this price point.
7. Viture One XR
Key specs
- Screen: 120-inch Micro OLED
- Resolution: 1920×1080 per-eye
- Brightness: 1800 nit
- Contrast ratio: 5000:1
- Field-of-View: 43 degrees
- Refresh rate: 60Hz
- Features: USB-C to magnetic connector
The Viture One XR smart glasses are designed to easily connect with any device you see fit – whether that be your Android phone, Steam Deck, or Nintendo Switch. The high-powered glasses connect easily with a USB-C cable, and in seconds the device of your choosing will be projected to a 120-inch micro OLED display, elevating your favorite games to new levels of immersion.
In our review we praised the 1920 x 1080 projected display for its smooth performance thanks to its 60H refresh rate, but had mixed feelings about the comfort of the frames.
The Viture One XR glasses come with their own carrying case, and an array of nose-pads to help eliminate any discomfort and allow for more space between you and the projected screen. Alternatively, a whole range of accessories are available with the glasses.
From aesthetically designed lens shade covers, and a mobile dock for your Steam Deck to help with the extra power consumption. These add-ons available to purchase separately only make the Viture One XR glasses even more worthwhile.
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