AR Eyewear
AR smart glasses overlay computer-generated information on the user’s view of real-world scenes. They can also be used to retrieve data from other devices.
These features make them useful for a variety of applications. For example, they can help remote engineers support workers in austere or hazardous environments. They can also provide instant subtitles in theaters and directional arrows to help tourists navigate cities.
1. Rokid Air AR Glasses
The Rokid Air is a pair of glasses that can be used to enjoy augmented reality. These AR glasses have been built to be portable and lightweight. They are also stylish and customizable for comfort. They are designed to be compatible with almost any smartphone, tablet, or laptop. The glasses connect to these devices using a USB-C cable. They then display their mirrored screen as holograms in front of the user’s eyes.
The glasses feature a 43-degree field of view and a high contrast ratio. They are also myopia-friendly and have focus adjustment knobs that allow users to adjust their glasses for comfortable use. The Rokid Air has a long battery life and can be easily charged.
The Rokid Air is a versatile and well-designed pair of smart glasses that is worth checking out. It’s also one of the more affordable options in this category. However, it’s important to note that the Rokid Air is still a relatively new product. As such, there may be some bugs that need to be fixed over time.
2. Rokid Max AR Glasses
Rokid’s 2021 portable augmented reality glasses have been a big hit in China, where they made their debut, and the company’s latest version, called Max, is out now. It’s a sleeker, lighter and more sophisticated device that can put a 215-inch virtual display in front of your eyes.
It uses a pair of Micro-OLED displays inside that show images to the user through a system known as bird bath optics, which should reduce eye strain. The screens are not pointed directly at the wearer, but are instead pointed down and reflected back with a clever system that’s been tested for safety by TUV Rheinland.
Unlike many other AR glasses, the Max has an onboard sensor suite that includes an enhanced 9-axis ar eyewear IMU and 3DoF head tracking. The device also supports HDCP, meaning that users should be able to watch movies and TV shows from streaming services without issue.
Using the Max is a simple affair, with the device able to automatically mirror the screen of most modern smartphones as soon as it’s connected via USB-C. There’s an optional wireless adapter that can be added to the mix for more freedom, though it’ll obviously add to the cost.
3. Nreal Air AR Glasses
Nreal Air AR Glasses are a stylish, portable pair of augmented reality glasses that essentially act as a virtual multi-monitor setup. They’re designed to enable users to enjoy virtual screens up to 201 inches in size as part of a shared virtual watch party or Metaverse-lite experience.
They’re also capable of acting as a fixed external display for compatible smartphones, laptops and gaming consoles. Plugged into a Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, for instance, they can instantly launch Android’s DeX desktop mode. The Air also works with USB-C devices, including iPhones (though you’ll need to pick up the company’s $59 Apple Lightning Digital AV Adapter).
To use Nreal Air, just download the Nebula app and pair it with your smartphone or other compatible device. ar eyewear From there, you can either choose to mirror your phone’s display or enter MR Space mode where you can access a selection of apps and services in virtual windows. The lack of compelling mixed-reality apps on Android is a big issue, but it’s something that the company hopes to address with its own work and developer programs.
4. Ray-Ban Stories AR Glasses
Unlike some other smart glasses that look distinctly high-tech, the Ray-Ban Stories, built by parent company EssilorLuxottica, are designed to be indistinguishable from regular eyewear. In a nod to consumer demand, the Stories have two 5-megapixel cameras on each frame that allow you to take photos and short videos (up to 30 seconds) without needing a phone nearby.
Moreover, the augmented reality-enabled lenses can also zoom to show more detail on nearby objects. They’re equipped with Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and a speaker that lines up over your ears so you can listen to music or take calls without needing headphones.
However, the Ray-Ban Stories require an active Facebook account to work, as they’re powered by the company’s new Facebook View app. To connect to the app, you have to slide a switch on the left hinge until the light on the front of the frames blinks blue. Then, you can follow the setup process in the app to use the glasses. You can also transfer the content from the camera to your smartphone via the app.
5. Echo Frames 2 AR Glasses
After ironing out some of the Day One Edition’s wrinkles, Amazon released a second-gen version of its Echo Frames smart glasses. These frames have the potential to take voice-activated technology to new places, combining the convenience of wireless headphones with a smartwatch’s instant notifications in an accessory many people wear all the time.
The frames look like normal sunglasses from the front, tucking away all of the techy hardware behind their sturdy frames. That makes them fairly unnoticeable as a wearable, although they do lack style options that could make them stand out more.
Like other Echo devices, the Frames let you set alarms and reminders, control your smart home gadgets, listen to music or podcasts, and make calls — all without having to pull out your phone or find a way to use your smartphone’s hands-free features. The frames also have small speakers to act as open-ear headphones, and the sides of the arms have touch and swipe sensors.
They come with clear non-prescription lenses in black, quartz gray, and Pacific blue, though you can take them to an optician to have them fitted for prescriptions. Amazon says the frames are eligible for out-of-network vision insurance reimbursement through providers including VSP and Eye Med.
