We've all heard about the rise of VR headsets such as the HTC Vive, Meta Oculus line, and the Apple Vision PRO. They are bulky headsets that provide an immersive experience for whatever type of activity you are doing. We saw a lot of Apple people walking around with the headsets on, and it seemed very clumsy to an outsider looking in.
However those are the only options that we have when it comes to technology you wear on your face! Bringing to you XR and AR headsets/glasses!
These are almost as thin as real sunglasses, and some of them are actually. Now I think there are a few levels to it, so I wanted to explain to you as if you are hearing about it for the first time. Most of you are, and so if you know what they are feel free to skip ahead!
To me the categories are like this:
Bluetooth > AI Smart AR Glasses > XR Screen Glasses > Other (as there are some that cross the category lines). Then you would just get into VR headsets after that.
The First Products
People have used glasses for a long time, so that we can see the world better. Whether they were for people with impaired vision, or simply to block out the sunlight from blinding our eyes.
Now those glasses are enhanced. I honestly think the godfather of this space is of course the Google Glass.
However they came out a decade too soon, and people didn't quite know what to do with them. I got to try them out once, and I thought they were so cool. Now that we have even smaller technology, and the rise of AI. These glasses are getting to be really powerful.
Now the next big name in the space would be the Meta Raybans, which were essentially a livestreaming tool mostly.
They were the first to really use a camera, and you could make either a 30 second clip, take a photo, or livestream using them.
This is where we started, and oh how the floodgates have opened!
The Basic Enhanced Glasses
Ranging from glorified cheap bluetooth listening glasses, that may have a voice component, to the more refined camera Meta RayBans.
For example I bought these, coming at the end of the month, out of curiosity. At my current place of work you can have an earbud, but only one and I can't do lopsided listening. However these bluetooth glasses sync with your phone, and can play music, or even activate assistant (we will see). They also have photochromic lenses, so they change to sunglasses in sunlight.
There are a bunch of these cheap glasses on the market, whether it is on Tiktok Shop, TEMU, or Amazon. I found that these seemed like the best size to color ratio, given that you would more than likely want to wear them often or without people knowing per se.
All of which seem pretty normal, so it really gets into the hidden nature of it. I wish though there were glasses meant for recording. Perhaps an DJI Osmo Wear 1 or something haha.
While I would also put the Meta Raybans in this category as well, I think they may also get an update, or perhaps product refresh. That will allow you to give commands like Hey Meta, or something like that. Perhaps it is a whole new product I am not sure, but also don't trust Meta for the life of me with my data so moving on.
Amazon Echo Frames
I guess a more name branded option of this level of glasses? Very little info.
Smart AI Glasses
This is where the real innovation is happening, and I'll do my best to keep this section filled with all the tech I come across! If you are a Smart Glasses brand, and you want me to add your link here then please contact me. I'm also open to doing a video review of your glasses as well.
I'm going to start off with my favorite so far, and those are the Loomos!
Another huge difference with these are the integrated GPT features, as other smart glasses tend to have different ways of using AI, or having their own.
Besides the pretty large branding, the style is rather minimalist, and I really like the see-through shell.... Unless that is just for the marketing materials, then that would be really sad.
Next up is the Solos Smart Glasses
Jake Lovett Tilbury, London
The main differences with these are the styles, and the focus on translating or AI stuff it can do.
Vuzix Z100
Supposedly these have a little screen that shows the HUD.
Halliday Global
The first one I've seen so far that is taking the Kickstarter approach.
"The world's first Proactive AI Glasses with Invisible Display"
Even Realities G1
These also I think have a small screen in them for HUD.
The problem with these syncing with ChatGPT is the cost of the AI model. Since you probably have to have a premium membership with that service, or even an alternative one for other glasses down the line like Gemini or Claude.
I would be really curious to see if you could set up your own AI server, using a local LLM or something, then sync it up with the glasses. I think the first brand to even allow that feature would be a huge deal.
I have been outmatched by another blogger. He created a really nice framework, and I thought I'd share.
Fred Simard - CEO RE-AK
The only one I was really missing was the heads up display category, hence why I said some of the products do kind of merge between categories. As the HUD based ones are usually just more visual versions of the smart AI glasses to be honest.
Augmented Reality and Screen Based Glasses
Now the HUD based glasses are also AR, but moving on from them are the more interactive products.
These are more used in place of an actual monitor or the bulky VR headets. They do have some caveats though, usually needing a usb-c cable connected to whatever device you are displaying. As they are not self contained units like the Apple Vision PRO, which is a good thing in this case.
As then you can choose whatever HDMI or usb-c connection you want. Do note that they may require a dongle to connect to HDMI.
Additionally, they are either powered from your device, like Steamdeck or Switch, and/or via a charging bank. Then if you want to connect your switch, then you of course you need a switch dongle (even a portable one takes up space). Thus you become sort of this dongle monster if you really want to have a strong setup that will last you a few hours.
Now there are a few different products on the market. I'm going to focus on the various brands themselves. I'll link to whatever comparisons I can at the bottom of the blog. Although they all have screens here, and usually some sort of tiny speakers next to your ears.
A lot of them have some way to block light, whether it is an attachable lens to the front, or simply adjusting the glasses' tint.
Some of them also have blocks that come with them, that are either brains for the motion tracking and screen positioning, or even on top of that Android OS based devices. So that you don't have to bring another device with you. But let's be honest here we would rather use Samsung Dex or a Google TV dongle over an integrated Android experience with lackluster specs.
RayNeo X2
Rokid AR Spatial
Coming in at a higher price, but allows you to have multiple screens. As well as, you have more spatial control with the dongle. Tons of adjustments too for if you have various vision needs.
February 27, 2024
XREAL One Pro
I hear about these products the most. Either for the price, or their size on your face. Usually all good things too, but I think these are the worst when it comes to how many accessories you need to have a full system.
The android device, or the standalone dongle unit, I think both have the ability to control the screens.
Each device on this list is different on how the screens play when you move your head around. Using a brain device like this, allows for them to stay still or change sizes, while you use the unit.
VITURE
Another commonly talked about device. This picture even has a the top of a dock, that is meant for playing with the switch.
To me the most important things are whether or not the screens are good (including text quality), and then whether or not you can move the screens (virtually) around. After than the importance of not having too many cables connecting devices.
That is probably the biggest issue plaguing these devices.
Meta Orion
Now I think all of these brands have a few different models, at least 2, and so you may have to compare and contrast. Maybe an earlier one will suit you better for cost, but newer ones often have better screens and motion tracking.
In the end it is all about how you want to use these various glasses. I could see myself using the Loomos level of glasses simply for music and recording. Just the ease of using them compared to the dumber bluetooth level glasses I think would make it worth it.
Then the VITURE or XREAL AR level glasses are game changer for not only portable productivity, but perhaps even at home. Why have expensive screens, plural, if you could have one device split into multiple virtual screens?
Things to think about, and I can't wait to try these!
Adding VR, and unique Ideas
How you USE these glasses and products, is completely up to you. I found a really cool video of a guy who took a MacBook with a broken screen, and combined it with an Apple Vision PRO. Creating a VR combo in heaven.
Other people are using these AR glasses to do the same thing, but at a much cheaper (AND much smaller size) way. Such as this guy.
I heard a couple years ago that AR tech or VR tech, would replace our need for screens. As a techie myself I completely ignored that concept, or even accepted it as a possible idea in the realm of reality.
However even I'm considering replacing my screen now with one of these if it works out well enough.
Here are some other resources:
https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-smart-glasses
Conor Allison
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Thomas URBAIN
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