Best Products > Wearables 106 106 people found this article helpful The 7 Best Smart Glasses of 2023 Our top smart glasses pick are the Ray-Ban Stories By Emmeline Kaser Emmeline Kaser Writer Sarah Lawrence College University of Michigan Emmeline Kaser is a tech writer and former editor for Lifewire. She writes and edits commerce content about consumer technology for Lifewire. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on February 21, 2023 Fact checked by Rich Scherr Fact checked by Rich Scherr Twitter University of Maryland Baltimore County Rich Scherr is a seasoned technology and financial journalist who spent nearly two decades as the editor of Potomac and Bay Area Tech Wire. lifewire's fact checking process We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Tweet Share Email Wearables Audio Camera & Video Car Audio & Accessories Computer & Laptops Computer Components Gaming Gifts Networking Phones & Accessories Smart Home Software Tablets Toys & Games TVs Wearables Smart glasses are set to be the next big thing in technology, but for now, they're an experiment that puts cameras and headphones into what looks like regular sunglasses. Some can even work as simple augmented reality devices, projecting a computer screen into the corner of your eye. If you want to take pictures and video and listen to audio (and you're ok with Facebook's involvement), buy the Ray-Ban Stories. The Rundown Best Overall: Ray-Ban Stories Smart Glasses at Amazon Jump to Review Best Budget: TechKen Sunglasses at Amazon Jump to Review Best for Music: Bose Frames Audio Sunglasses at Amazon Jump to Review Best for Audio: Flows Bandwidth at Amazon Jump to Review Best for Video: Snap Spectacles 3 at Amazon Jump to Review Best Digital Assistant Integration: Amazon Echo Frames at Amazon Jump to Review Best Glasses Attachment: JLab Audio JBuds Frames at Amazon Jump to Review Best Overall Ray-Ban Stories Smart Glasses Amazon View On Amazon View On Macy's View On Nordstrom What We Like Classic Ray-Ban design Relatively simple to use What We Don't Like You need a Facebook account Developed with Facebook, Stories are unique in that they look like regular sunglasses. This is no surprise, given Ray-Ban created them, so they don't scream 'smart glasses' when you put them on, which is good. They are available in three different, Ray-Ban styles—Meteor, Round, and Wayfarer, in five colors (glossy black, blue, brown, olive, or matte black) and six types of lenses (brown gradient, clear, dark blue, dark gray, green, or photochromatic green). Prescription lenses are also available, so it's fair to say Ray-Ban has most people covered. They double as Bluetooth headphones, and you use an app to upload videos and pictures taken with them. Unsurprisingly, you need a Facebook account to do that. To take a picture, there's a capture button on the right arm, and a touch-sensitive surface gives you call, playback, and volume controls. Despite the privacy worries, these are probably the most fully featured smart glasses out there, and while there is no augmented reality display, Facebook has been open in its plan to make one. Best Budget TechKen Sunglasses Amazon View On Amazon What We Like Bluetooth compatible Built-in earbuds Microphone for phone calls What We Don't Like No other smart features Inexpensive build Super high-tech features often come with a high price tag, so if you're looking for something more affordable, you may want to check out these futuristic-looking sunglasses from TechKen. They have built-in Bluetooth headphones extending down from the glasses' arms, making them an excellent option for exercising and other outdoor activities. While regular wireless earbuds can run the risk of falling out, these are attached directly to the sunglasses, so you can keep the music playing without fear of losing an expensive earbud. The adjustable headphones can be moved forward and back for a comfortable fit. They also have a built-in microphone to take calls when the glasses are connected to your phone. Button controls on the frame allow you to adjust the volume, play and pause music, and answer calls. Best for Music Bose Frames Audio Sunglasses 4.2 Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Bose.com What We Like Stylish design options Good sound quality Some AR features available What We Don't Like No volume controls Poor noise isolation Bose Frames Review The Bose Frames are another entry in the combined sunglasses-and-headphones category, and they boast the best audio quality of any device on this list. They also look the most like regular sunglasses. If the style is a top priority, Bose offers five different audio sunglasses designs: the rectangular Alto, the round Rondo, the sporty Tempo, the square Tenor, and the cat-eyed Soprano. Choosing your look is half the fun. The Frames have the speakers built into arms and tucked right behind the wearer’s ears. Even though there are no in-ear headphones, the design of the glasses prevents the sound from leaking to the people around you. This lets you enjoy your music while remaining fully aware of your surroundings (and without disturbing your neighbors). Our reviewer noted that the audio does have the excellent warm quality that the Bose brand is known for. The only downside: it can get drowned out by the noise in your environment. So if you’re commuting or planning to listen somewhere loud, your music might be hard to hear. The Bose Frames also come with the Bose AR platform, which is still in its early stages but shows some promise for engaging AR audio experiences. The glasses already have built-in gyroscopes and motion tracking that makes them well-suited to augmented reality app integration. Tested by Lifewire We spent time with the Rondo style, and while there are refined touches, there’s a somewhat fragile feel to the frames. Though each of the arms has mini speakers strategically placed inside them, there’s no substantial weight to the sunglasses. This is a plus for comfortable wear, but we also found that the frames walked a fine line of feeling and looking a little cheap. While they’re not at all bulky or hefty in the hands, we did notice that wearing them for over an hour did start to feel heavy on the face. We experienced some discomfort particularly in the nose bridge area where the frames pressed into the skin. We also wore these on a short 1-mile jog and noticed a bit of slipping and sliding halfway through the run. In terms of overall lens quality, we appreciated how rugged they were. They picked up smudges, but scratching was a non-issue. We found the placement of the single button, on the right arm just near the temple, to be intuitive and easy to interact with. Even though there is no ear tip or bone conduction technology, we were impressed with how crisp, warm, and close the listening experience was. Keep in mind audio quality isn’t as great when there’s a lot of background noise, however. We paired the Bose Frames to an iPhone 6 and noticed that only nine apps were available to us. We tested a travel-related app called NAVIGuide that provides step-by-step voice directions. This worked well and saved us from having to repeatedly look at our phone for directions. — Yoona Wagener, Product Tester Lifewire / Yoona Wagener The 8 Best Wireless Earbuds of 2023 Best for Audio Flows Bandwidth Amazon View On Amazon View On Getinflows.com What We Like Stylish design options Good sound quality Bone conduction speakers What We Don't Like No other smart features If you mainly want to listen to music with your smart glasses, the Flows are a stylish mid-range option that looks like regular sunglasses and has all the perks of Bluetooth headphones. They have an open-ear design that uses tiny bone conduction speakers on the arms of the glasses. They channel audio directly to your inner ear so that you can hear your music and surroundings. Like other audio sunglasses on the market, the Flows also have a built-in microphone so that you can answer calls with a connected smartphone. The Bluetooth 5.0 technology also makes for a steadier and stronger connection. These glasses are available in two styles: the round Taylor’s and the more-rectangular Bruno’s. Choose from three different lens colors for an extra cost. Both types have a five-hour battery life and can fully charge in one to two hours. Best for Video Snap Spectacles 3 Amazon View On Amazon What We Like Unique design 3D photography High-fidelity audio recording What We Don't Like Expensive 3D photos are fun. but not easy to view For smart glasses made by a social media company, Snapchat’s Snap Spectacles 3 are as fun and fashionable as you’d expect. They’re also surprisingly high-tech. Featuring two HD cameras and four microphones, these glasses can capture 3D photos and 60 fps video with high-fidelity audio. The lenses are situated on the two top corners of the frames. When they snap accompanying photos from these slightly different angles, the images are combined to create a striking three-dimensional effect. The Spectacles connect to your phone via Bluetooth, so you can instantly upload your media to the Snapchat app or anywhere else. Snapchat offers a fun AR filter suite that integrates seamlessly with Spectacles video for another layer of exciting effects. The Spectacles have a charging case and can quick-charge to 50 percent in just 15 minutes. Their eye-catching design is available in black and a muted rose gold tone. Best Digital Assistant Integration Amazon Echo Frames Amazon View On Amazon View On Best Buy What We Like Alexa voice control Automatic volume adjustments Microphone can be turned off What We Don't Like Middling battery life The new Amazon Echo Frames bring the convenience of Alexa to your glasses. Connect them to your smartphone via Bluetooth and get all-day access to your virtual assistant. Say “Alexa,” and the built-in microphones will immediately start listening. Ask it questions, queue up your favorite music and podcasts, and get notifications from your phone directly in your ear. Like other smart glasses on this list, the Echo Frames use an open-ear audio design with tiny speakers embedded in the frames. You can hear what’s coming from them, but the people around you can’t. If notifications in your ear sound like too much, these glasses have the option for “VIP filtering” that only alerts you to messages from a specific list of people (and the rest wait for you on your phone). You also can turn off Alexa with the touch of a button if you don’t want the ambient microphone on all the time. It can be a bit of a drain on the battery. Amazon claims you can get about two hours of playback and Alexa interaction if the glasses are on for a full 14-hour day or four hours if you’re listening to music. The main takeaway is that these are designed as Alexa devices rather than glasses with built-in headphones. The Echo Frames are available in Classic Black, Modern Tortoise, Pacific Blue, and Quartz Gray. The 9 Best Smart Home Devices of 2023 Best Glasses Attachment JLab Audio JBuds Frames Wireless Audio Amazon View On Amazon View On Jlab.com What We Like Attaches to your existing glasses Affordable Built-in playback controls What We Don't Like Bulky If you have prescription frames or a go-to pair of sunglasses you could never replace, the JLab Audio JBuds Frames attach to any glasses frames for instant wireless sound. They also include a microphone for phone calls. The open audio design plays music that only you can hear while leaving your ears open and uncovered—an excellent option for those who want to stay aware of their surroundings or who find traditional headphones uncomfortable to wear. Use both attachments for a more immersive audio experience, or switch to just one. The design is a little bulky, but the JBuds Frames make up for it with over eight hours of playback per charge. It also uses the latest Bluetooth 5.1 technology to pair to your smartphone with a stable, lag-free connection. FAQ What are smart glasses used for? Many smart glasses are fitted with cameras and microphones that allow for high-quality point-of-view video, which can be an invaluable training tool in many industries. Glasses with displays on the lenses allow digital information to overlay the real world, augmenting real-world activity with directions or other helpful information right in front of the wearer’s eyes. What is open-ear audio? Open-ear audio technology delivers sound to your ears without blocking or covering them like traditional headphones. This can be achieved through strategically placed speakers that rest right next to the ear canal rather than in it, making the sound audible to you but not to the people next to you. Another method is to use bone conduction, which sends the audio vibrations directly to the inner ear through the bones in your skull. How much do smart glasses cost? The price of smart glasses can vary widely. A basic pair of smart glasses that only provides Bluetooth audio shouldn't cost more than the standard pair of Bluetooth headphones or wireless earbuds. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit