Smart glasses are common in science fiction. The wearer puts on the glasses and a heads-up display appears showing important details of what they are looking at. Maybe the glasses display messages or help them hack the mega-corporation.
Google Glass made headlines for the same reason, although the original version of the glasses was not well received. Luckily for everyone who grew up on science fiction, smart glasses are very real – and in this article, we’ll share the best smart glasses on the market today.
What are smart glasses?
Smart glasses are more than just lenses. They have small computers that process information and display the results in real time so that only the user can see them. This may include information about an incoming call, GPS route to a destination, or even subtitles for the hearing impaired.
You can also see smart glasses called AR glasses or augmented reality glasses. Mixed reality is another similar term. With the power of computer processing, these glasses can provide information and enhance daily life through integrated integrations that smartphones cannot match.
Of course, not all smart glasses are designed to provide an augmented reality experience. Some work more like Fitbit and track important health statistics. In this guide, we’ll go over examples of all the best smart glasses available.
North Focals
Most smart glasses are not something that one considers attractive; in fact, many of them are just disgusting. Remember Snapchat’s Spectacles? North Focals aren’t ugly at all. These glasses have an attractive look and blend beautifully with traditional styles. More importantly, they support a wide variety of recipes.
The owners control the North Focals with a loop, an inconspicuous ring with a four-way joystick. North Focals displays everything from text messages to calendar appointments.
When you book an Uber, you will receive a projection on the lens that lets you know the driver’s name and license plate. You can even use the glasses as a presentation teleprompter. Focals also has built-in Alexa from Amazon, which provides smart device control and access to all the Alexa skills you can dream of.
While Focals is a popular option, North recently announced Focals 2.0, which is slated for release in 2020. The new version of smart glasses will have an improved display and weigh 40% less.
Vuzix Blade
The Vuzix Blade is undoubtedly a powerful pair of smart glasses, but they are not as stylish as the North Focals. The Blades have a decidedly tech look, but still fit in well enough with the modern style that the wearer doesn’t draw too much attention to themselves. More importantly, Blade is incredibly powerful. The main appeal? Netflix and other streaming videos.
According to the specs, the Vuzix Blade is like watching a 32-inch TV from 8 feet away. Of course, this affects the battery life. The Blade lasts about two hours when watching a movie on Netflix, but only 35 minutes when using the built-in video for recording.
The board has space for storing a micro-SD card. Alexa is also built into the Blade today and allows users the same level of control as if they were using an Echo device at home.
If you want a pair of Vuzix Blade smart glasses, they’ll set you back $ 800 on Amazon, but they are Prime compliant.
Google Glass Project 2
Google Glass is one of the original smart glasses that ever graced the market, but Glass Enterprise 2 is far from the 2015 version that led to the phrase “glass holesâ€.
Glass Enterprise 2 is focused on enterprise solutions, but available to everyone. To purchase one of the latest versions of Google Glass, you will need to set up a customization with one of the authorized Google retailers, including the required software.
These are powerful and flexible smart glasses, but they might not be the best choice for the average user. If you want to use smart glasses for business purposes, Google might hook you, but outside of that hoop that you have to jump over to get a pair makes the task a little daunting.
Bose Frames
Bose Frames are the sunglasses of the future. Sleek and stylish, they look like beach houses like everywhere else, but their classic design hides a lot of power inside.
Bose Frames don’t have some of the bells and whistles of other smart glasses, but they do a great job of sounding. The smart glasses have an open-ear sound design that allows wearers to stay on top of everything that is happening around them while enjoying their favorite tunes (and not forcing anyone to listen to them!)
Bose Frames have a built-in microphone for use during calls and for interacting with your phone’s virtual assistant. Frames rely on a Bluetooth connection to your mobile device as they don’t support Wi-Fi. Bose Frames work with both iOS and Android devices. You can even opt for a specific frame color if the traditional look of black sunglasses doesn’t suit you.
If you’re in the market for smart glasses, Bose frames are a great starting point. They have fewer features, but at $ 200, they are significantly more affordable than the competition.
Do you use smart glasses? What do you think of the best smart glasses? Are these enlarged lenses a technology of the future or just a fashion statement? Let us know in the comments below!
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