What are the best AR glasses?

Question/Seeking Advice
1

I am looking for advice on finding the best AR glasses. I have done some research, but I’m not sure which ones are good.

I want a pair that looks casual and does not attract attention since some are too obvious. I’m not too concerned about sound quality, but as a broke student, price matters to me.

I would also like good battery life and image quality. Can you help?

1 Like
2

You seem to be asking for a device that is not readily available right now. You must choose between form factor and function in terms of importance. More precisely, if you value form factor above all else (as your opening query suggests), having a clearer idea of your intended purpose for the glasses will be crucial in helping you go through the many options. So, could you perhaps elaborate on what you hope to do with them?

In the interim, allow me to present your options:

Separate, incredibly light devices:

Vuzix Ultralite (for more information on those particulars, see my other response in this topic) - basic, tiny field of view monocular display; - lacks any sensors (camera, microphone, etc.)
Tales of Ray-Ban: No screen, but! This will be a very fascinating device (visual search everywhere you go) when they enable the usage of the on-device camera with voice interface to Meta AI (multimodal input - anticipated Q2 2024). Nice live-streaming feature as well. You won’t even be able to tell that you’re wearing “AR” glasses.

Lightweight 3DoF devices that are tethered in the “sunglass style”:
XReal Air, Air 2, and Air 2 Pro are some of the better choices. You can utilize a suitable mobile phone or the inexpensive Xreal Beam attachment to support Steam Deck, PCs, Macs, and other devices. You might have to wait a little while to get the remaining two gadgets outside of China; otherwise, you might stick with the original Air.
Rokid Max: Although Rokid’s product is similar to Xreal (also known as NReal), it may have less software support. Rokid has been a formidable competitor.

Middleweight, functional 6DoF devices:

Lenovo Think Reality A3 - connected to a smartphone (which needs to support Snapdragon Spaces). Much more highly functioning than any of the other mentioned devices, boasting an exceptional display. more expensive, heavier, and provides more. An expanding middleware standard called Qualcomm Snapdragon Spaces allows you to run a ton of awesome apps.

Many more gadgets in this category are expected to be released, most likely at CES 2024 in January. You may want to hold off on deciding if this is the kind of device you’re interested in until then if you’re not in a rush.

3

Hey Wayne, here are a few AR glasses you might consider:

  1. Nreal Air: Lightweight and designed for everyday use, these AR glasses are reasonably priced.
  2. Rokid Air: Also lightweight and designed for everyday use, they offer a 1920x1080 resolution and are relatively affordable.
  3. Magic Leap 1: While more expensive, these glasses provide superior image quality and a wider field of view compared to Nreal Air or Rokid Air. However, they are bulkier and have a shorter battery life.

For a broke student, options 1 or 2 are more recommended. Hope this helps!

4

I realize my request might be a bit ambitious, but here’s what I’m looking for in smart glasses:

  1. Wireless Streaming Display: I’d like a display that can stream wirelessly, ideally integrating with my existing devices (a Google Pixel 6 and a Chromebook).
  2. Subtle Design: The glasses need to be discreet enough for school, looking like regular glasses (not sunglasses), though a bit bulkier is fine as long as the lenses aren’t tinted.
  3. Additional Features: Good audio quality and cameras would be great bonuses.
  4. Connectivity: It would be beneficial if the glasses could connect to consoles, both wirelessly and with a wired connection.

I primarily want to use them in class to increase the number of monitors I have available, and at work for live translation features so I can understand customers speaking in their native languages. Because of this, they must look like normal glasses.

I’m willing to wait for the technology to develop further, which will also give me time to save up for them.

5

Personally I use Viture Pro XR Glasses and Rokid Max, each has some of the features you need

6

some AR glasses to consider, keeping your budget in mind:

  • Rokid Air:
    • Pros: Relatively affordable, decent image quality, lightweight design.
    • Cons: Battery life could be better, limited app availability.
  • Nreal Air:
    • Pros: Lightweight, somewhat casual design, decent battery life.
    • Cons: More expensive than Rokid Air, requires a compatible smartphone.
  • Xiaomi Wireless AR Glass Discovery Edition:
    • Pros: Affordable, lightweight, casual design.
    • Cons: Early stage technology, limited information available, might require a compatible Xiaomi phone.
7

The best AR glasses haven’t been invented yet; you’d need a time machine to get them. In 2059, they invent a pair of contact lenses with a full field of view and photorealistic vision. If you want decent AR gear, that’s the year you need to travel to.