Smart glasses are gaining popularity – Here are the best smart glasses available right now

Your phone and watch used to be just to call your friends and family and tell the time, now see all the amazing things your smartphone and smartwatch can do. The same goes for your glasses. The glasses were originally used to help correct your vision or block the sun on a clear day. Smart glasses can now play music, provide you with health information, navigation when you are traveling and receive notifications from your phone.

But smart glasses are not necessarily new. Remember Google Glass? Google Glass should be the next big innovation in wearable technology. Well, it didn’t go exactly as planned. Google launched Google Glass in 2013 and was discontinued just two years later for mass consumer use, although it is still relevant to business. It turns out that people don’t want glasses that look like something out of Johnny Mnemonic.

Moving forward to 2021, we’re starting to see smart glasses that have useful technology and insights, but also look stylish (for the most part – there are still a few outliers in the style department). But what benefits do these wearables offer? Are they worth the price?

What smart glasses do

Today, you will find a variety of different technologies that make up smart glasses. Some smart glasses, like Bose Frames, offer the ability to listen to high quality music without the need for headphones. While others, like Amazon Echo Frames, provide access to Amazon Alexa without the need for your phone or other devices, in addition to allowing you to listen (don’t see) your notifications, receive calls and play music, all without the need for another device.

You may be thinking, well, do any of them have visual technology? Smart glasses like the Everysight Raptor were created for cyclists and drivers. Information like the speed you are going, the distance traveled and your heart rate are displayed on your lenses, in the same way that a heads-up display works for your car.

Others have augmented reality or AR, which is somewhat similar to virtual reality. Instead of immersing you in a completely different world like virtual reality headsets, AR adds elements of virtual reality that can be seen in the real world, much like this giant crow flying before the start of the Baltimore Ravens game (even though that crow was seen only on TV, not by the fans who watched the game). This technology can improve gaming experiences and has untapped potential in the business world.

The future of smart glasses

Smart glasses have come a long way in terms of style and technology since 2013, but there is still a long way to go. Today, many of the smart glasses available are from start-ups or smaller retailers. According to Wareable, tech giants like Facebook are trying to enter the smart eyewear arena in 2023, and it is rumored that Apple will also be in the mix. And we’ve only seen the beginning of what Amazon and Google have to offer in the smart glasses space. Great technology is emerging and we anticipate that the technology will get better and better this decade.

The best smart glasses on sale in 2021

If you go to Amazon, you will find many “smart glasses” that are cheap or don’t offer any smart technology that is worth considering. The space for smart glasses technology is not necessarily new, but there are still a ton of options for first users.

Below you will find our recommended and trusted options for the best smart glasses currently available.

1. Bose frames

Bose frames are where style and technology combine in a great looking package. You can hear loud and clear music, and the audio quality is also excellent, but it still allows you to be fully aware of your surroundings, making them ideal for travelers, cyclists and runners. But they are fashionable enough to be your sunglasses every day. They can transmit about 3.5 hours of music on a single charge and integrate seamlessly with your phone’s virtual voice assistant.

Buy: Bose Frames $ 199.00

2. Echo Frames (2nd generation)

You no longer need to be near your Amazon Echo or Dot to have Alexa’s power at your disposal. Just say “Hey Alexa, give me my to-do list today” and Alexa will tell you – and only you – what you have in mind for the day. In addition, you can listen to music, podcasts and control other devices connected to Alexa from anywhere. You can even answer calls on your phone without having to pick it up. These specifications last about four hours when listening to uninterrupted audio or about two hours when focusing on talk time.

Buy: Echo Frames (2nd generation) $ 249.99

3. Vuzix Blade

It would be difficult to find more technology inside a pair of smart glasses now. These smart glasses have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, integrated speakers and AR features. Not to mention that you can record 1080p video thanks to a front camera. They are also Alexa enabled and can receive all notifications from your phone. One caveat: they are more expensive than some premium smartphones.

4. Glasses 3

Snapchat addicts will love Spectacles 3. You won’t have to pick up your smartphone when you’re inspired by an instant story. These specifications are armed with two HD cameras and four microphones to capture high quality video that can be transferred to your Snapchat account. You should be able to record and upload about 70 videos per charge.

Buy: 3 $ 799.99 glasses

5. Everysight Raptor

We wouldn’t necessarily call these specifications elegant, but those who want a great view on their travels and exercises will appreciate the screen on the lens. Digital viewfinders are non-intrusive and the fully extended lenses completely protect your eyes from oncoming debris when you are cycling or on the go. But, like the Vuzix Blade, you certainly pay for all the technology on board.

6. Vue Classic

A smoother implementation of smart technology, Vue Classic will notify you with a subtle LED when you receive a call. But that is not all. These stylish specifications also count your steps, calories burned and the distance covered during the day. There are also speakers built into the frames so you can listen to music during the day. They are not very heavy on technology, but they are arguably some of the most stylish in the group.

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