The Best Spy Glasses, According to Tech Experts
Our editors independently select the products we recommend. We may earn a commission on items bought through our links.
Over the past few years, smart glasses have become the latest darling of the tech world. Google Glass, the tech giant’s ill-fated attempt to enter the space is over a decade old, but the technology has evolved to become functional and, equally importantly, not humiliating to wear.
Today's Top Deals
As the name suggests, smart glasses transform traditional eyewear into multifunctional smart devices, enabling activities such as music playback, photography, and gaming. However, not all smart glasses are created equal, as the array of features varies from model to model.
While some are attempting to rival the capabilities of smartphones or computers, others prioritize simplicity. This wide variety can be overwhelming for someone unfamiliar with smart glasses, especially considering their high cost.
Even though smart glasses are expensive, investing a few hundred dollars into a pair may finally be worth it. The new pairs that have hit the market in the last few years represent a significant leap forward and buyers can now consider smart glasses stylists and sophisticated digital accessories. Smart glasses have officially arrived and the key is figuring out which pair is the best of the bunch.
What the Experts Say
While smart glasses may be one of the most exciting products in the tech market right now, they remain fairly new. And considering their high price tag, it’s fair to wonder: Do smart glasses really live up to the hype as the future of tech gear? And what features should be prioritized while shopping for a pair?
To help answer these questions, SPY spoke with several tech and gear experts, including Lance Ulanoff, TechRadar’s Editor-at-Large, Mike Elgan, a columnist at Computer World covering technology, and Alan Truly, a computing and tech journalist at Digital Trends.
Elgan made it clear that he believes that smart glasses are not a fad, as he told SPY that eventually “smart glasses will replace smartphones as the main device that most people use most of the time.”
With that vote of confidence, what kind of features should be prioritized in the search for smart glasses? According to Elgan, it boils down to one question: “How many well-functioning features can be squeezed into ordinary-looking glasses at a reasonable cost and without too much battery drain?”
Truly echoed a similar sentiment, telling SPY that there is no one-size-fits all option, but recommended that anyone looking to buy a pair consider “cost, comfort, appearance, and features” before making a purchase. Ulanoff recommended you “think about your use case” when assessing which smart glasses to buy.
“The life-casters among us might choose Meta’s Ray-Ban Stories, which can capture what you see,” Ulanoff explained. “If you’re imagining a world altered by technology, then you might be interested in the relatively few and not-ready-for-primetime AR glasses.”
BEST OVERALL
Ray-Ban Meta Glasses
Buy Now On Amazon
Buy at ray-ban
Smart glasses have rightfully earned a reputation for making anyone who wears them look ridiculous. Ray-Ban’s Meta Glasses are a substantial step towards rehabbing that stereotype.
They’re available in three different styles: Meteor, Round, and Wayfarer. Regardless of the chosen style, the sleek frames look fantastic, to the point where it’s unlikely anyone would even realize they were smart glasses.
Beyond just looking great, the Meta Glasses come with high-quality speakers and a 12 megapixel camera that allows the wearer to take photos, record videos, and even live-stream on social media. Plus, Meta’s AI assistant is incredibly functional.
These smart glasses lack some of the technological abilities of other products and the relatively short battery life (around 3 hours) is an issue. However, they offer a user-friendly experience that’s currently the best one can get for $299.
Both Elgan and Ulanoff named the Meta Glasses as the best smart glasses on the market, with Ulanoff noting they are “the standout for both looking normal, having onboard intelligence and good audio, and the ability to capture and share what you see.
BEST VISUAL
Rokid Max AR Glasses
Buy Now
Rokid Max AR Glasses manage to maximize the visual capability of smart glasses and offer an unrivaled immersive experience.
The glasses have two Micro-OLED screens inside the lenses that provide a crystal clear 215-inch display that is perfect for watching movies, gaming, or even just browsing online. The AR Glasses also come with top-notch speakers that provide clear audio, something that other smart glasses have struggled with.
The biggest knock against these is that they have no actual internal storage or battery, instead forcing the glasses to connect to a smart device to use them. While the visual experience is unmatched, the glasses do not actually provide much in terms of augmented reality, though that remains the case for nearly all smart glasses.
It is also worth noting that these glasses do look a little goofy, so if style is a priority, perhaps avoid this particular pair. For nearly $400, the AR Glasses do not come cheap but the quality provided cannot be denied.
FOR THE AMAZON LOVER
Amazon Echo Frames (3rd Gen)
Buy Now On Amazon
As a pair of smart glasses, Amazon Echo Frames offer a fairly standard experience in terms of technology, including open-ear audio. The glasses are stylish and comfortable but they don’t quite match the quality of Ray Bans Meta-Glasses in terms of aesthetics.
Despite all of this, the Echo Frames stand out for one obvious: Alexa. Amazon’s virtual assistant has become an essential part of countless people’s lives in the last few years, and now she’s at the constant beck and call within these frames. Users can request a song, make a call, and even control their Smart Home remotely.
“If you’re hoping for some onboard intelligence, then you should think about Echo Frames, which brings with it Alexa,” Ulanoff told SPY.
And even though Echo Frames may not have all of the features other smart glasses have, they are relatively affordable ($229.99).
BEST PRICE
Razer Anzu Smart Glasses
Buy Now On Amazon
For anyone who is looking for smart glasses that won’t break the bank, Razer Anzu’s Smart Glasses are an affordable and functional alternative.
The Razer Anzu Smart Glasses may not have all of the features that more expensive smart glasses offer but they still come with hands-free calling, built-in speakers that remove the need for headphones, and a longer 5-hour battery life than most of the pricey competitors.
There is no visual element to these smart glasses but the audio experience is genuinely solid and the stripped-down features make the glasses feel comfortable and look modern. For only $42.99, those looking to save can still get the smart glasses experience for a reasonable price.
FOR FITNESS FANATICS
Engo Eyewear Engo 2
Buy Now
Designed specifically for athletes, Engo 2 are lightweight, water-resistant, and, most importantly, can display real-time data to someone on a run or bike ride, letting them know how far they’ve gone, how fast they’ve been going, heart rate, and any other stats they may be curious about.
Engo 2 are nearly identical to popular sports sunglasses that any cyclist or runner can be seen wearing. And no matter how long a workout is, the wearer won’t have to worry about these glasses dying on them, as they come with a 12-hour battery life.
For just under $300, Engo 2 might not appeal to everyone but for anyone obsessed with all things fitness, these are the ideal smart glasses.
Frequently Asked Questions About Smart Glasses
What Are Smart Glasses?
As technology has developed, defining what smart glasses are has been more difficult than one might expect. Ulanoff defined them as “wearable intelligence.”
“Like smartwatches, they’re something you can wear every day and use in their most primitive form (eyesight correction) but also choose to level up by accessing native intelligence where and when you want and need it,” Ulanoff said.
Meanwhile, Elgan believes it’s rather simple but also quite complex: “Smart glasses are AI glasses, and the category is about to take the world by storm. And it will change.”
Are Smart Glasses Different From Camera Glasses?
Yes and no, but mostly yes. Camera glasses are pretty simple to define, as they are just glasses that have a camera that can be used to take photos or record videos. But with the emergence of smart glasses, the definition has become a bit murkier.
Essentially, camera glasses are a subcategory of smart glasses. So while plenty of smart glasses don’t have camera capabilities, pretty much all camera glasses would likely qualify as smart glasses as well.
How Much Do Smart Glasses Typically Cost?
It can range but usually shoppers can expect to spend $300-500 on a quality pair.
There are cheaper smart glasses that can be bought for under $100 but those have very limited features. The more advanced pairs will typically start at around $300 and go up from there. But how much is spent has more to do with what someone wants from a pair of smart glasses.
“No one has a perfect package so it’s hard to identify what’s right for each person,” Truly said. “It’s a very personal choice.”
Are Smart Glasses Always Going to Look So Goofy?
It’s a fair question. Remember Google Glass? For a while, it did seem that one of the requirements of smart glasses was that they had to make the wearer look at least 15% dorkier every time they put them on. However, according to Elgan, that is already changing and will continue to improve.
“We’re beyond the point where consumers will accept weird-looking techie glasses,” he said. “They have to look like ordinary prescription glasses or sunglasses.”
Proceed to Checkout
More Top Deals from SPY
Best of SPY
