I tested the best AR and MR galsses: Here's how the Meta Ray-Bans stack up

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ZDNET's reviewers walk weeks to months investigating each merchandise oregon work connected this list, utilizing them for some mundane tasks to much performance-intensive work. We purpose to springiness you a presumption into however each enactment could acceptable into your beingness and workflow, and the pros and cons of their assorted features.

Augmented Reality (AR) and Mixed Reality (MR) technologies are rapidly evolving, bringing breathtaking possibilities for some aged and caller users. While Virtual Reality (VR) headsets immerse you successful virtual environments, AR and MR glasses connection a much comfy alternate that lets you enactment connected to the satellite astir you.

These devices heighten your surroundings via integer overlays, blending the existent with the digital. Certain models tin thatch you astir the satellite by delivering real-time accusation and allowing you to cheque sports scores, among different things. Another large payment of AR glasses is their affordability.

What is the champion brace of AR glasses close now?

Many companies, some large and small, are capitalizing connected this increasing inclination by launching their ain brace of astute glasses. ZDNET experts trial aggregate models, putting them done their paces to springiness you the champion proposal connected what to buy. Within this category, the champion is the Meta Ray Ban Smart Glasses for their large design, multimodal AI assistant, and easy-to-use camera. ZDNET Contributing Writer Matthew Miller enjoyed utilizing the device to "capture video that's hard to grounds accurately with a camera oregon smartphone." He adjacent prefers utilizing the glasses for calls implicit his AirPods Pro.

Also: The champion powerfulness banks you tin buy

Best AR and MR glasses of 2025

Why we similar it: Meta's Ray-Ban Smart Glasses taking the apical spot should travel arsenic nary astonishment to those acquainted with the device. It is the premier brace of AR glasses for however easy and people they tin acceptable into a user's regular life. They're stylish and comfy to wear, adjacent with each the tech packed inside. Capturing moments is effortless acknowledgment to the easy-to-use 12MP ultrawide camera. The built-in speakers present clear, natural-sounding audio cleanable for euphony and calls.

The Ray-Ban Smart Glasses are highly customizable, disposable successful antithetic frames, lens options, and sizes. Meta has besides introduced aggregate privateness improvements, specified arsenic making the LED indicator much noticeable. And the slimmer charging lawsuit is the cherry connected top.

Who it's for: These glasses are cleanable for radical who privation an easy, discreet mode to seizure photos oregon grounds videos without pulling retired a smartphone. I besides urge them to contented creators who unrecorded watercourse connected societal media platforms oregon Twitch. Professionals attending manufacture events similar CES tin usage them for hands-free documentation.

Review: Meta Ray-Ban Smart Glasses

Who should look elsewhere: Don't expect a GoPro-level acquisition oregon flawless AI performance. The Ray-Ban Smart Glasses tin lone grounds "1080p videos astatine 1440 x 1920 resolution." As for artificial intelligence, the Meta AI "nails the essentials" but struggles with delivering concise responses, and there's nary mode of pausing the output. Additionally, the camera struggles successful low-light conditions, making it unreliable for evening outings.

Meta Ray-Ban Smart Glasses specs: Weight: up to 50.8g | Dimensions: 53.22 x 49.3 x 152.2 mm | Audio: Two custom-built unfastened receptor speakers | Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, USB-C | Microphone: Five-mic setup | Camera: 12MP ultra-wide

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Why we similar it: Unlike the Meta Ray-Bans, which purpose to marque a statement, the Amazon Echo Frames travel a antithetic philosophy: subtlety. They're not arsenic flashy arsenic the fig 1 pick, arsenic these devices prioritize practicality, blending into mundane beingness by looking similar a mean brace of achromatic glasses. As a result, the instrumentality offers a discreet mode to acquisition an enhanced satellite without drafting attention. They are truthful low-profile that the TSA didn't erstwhile halt ZDNET's Managing Reviews Editor Kerry Wan portion helium was wearing them done airdrome security.

On committee Amazon's Echo Frames is the company's dependable assistant, Alexa. AI integration is seamless with Alexa, allowing users to power astute location devices, instrumentality calls, and perceive to podcasts oregon notifications without needing their telephone successful hand.

Review: Amazon Echo Frames (3rd Gen)

Who it's for: First-time astute glasses buyers, particularly those intimidated by high-end options, volition find this gadget overmuch much approachable and practical. I urge the Echo Frames for radical who privation a low-profile, hands-free mode to interact with Alexa and power their astute home. Similarly, the instrumentality is perfect for anyone looking to bask audio contented portion staying afloat alert of their surroundings.

Who should look elsewhere: Some mightiness find the Echo Frame excessively basal for regular use. It doesn't person immoderate ocular overlays oregon supply immersive audio. As pointed retired successful his review, ZDNET's Managing Reviews Editor Kerry Wan states, "the glasses are large for vocal-only audio tracks and passable for thing multi-layered." What's more, the on-device fastener controls tin beryllium confusing to navigate.

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Why we like it: Although the Viture Pro XR is connected this database arsenic the champion AR glasses for travel, you could besides reason that they're champion for regular productivity. They connection a ample 135-inch virtual show moving a silky creaseless 120Hz refresh rate. If that's not enough, this instrumentality provides a monolithic 120% boost successful brightness compared to the erstwhile procreation -- each portion keeping the aforesaid comfy design. According to ZDNET Contributing Writer Matthew Miller, " audio output from the Viture Pro glasses is solid, acknowledgment to [the company's] concern with [audio brand] Harman."

Sound comes from the speakers connected the broadside frame, pointing straight into your ears. People adjacent volition hardly beryllium capable to perceive the contented playing. Other notable features see on-screen measurement and brightness controls, integrated myopia dials, and vastly improved airy blocking.

Review: Viture Pro XR

Who it's for: People who question frequently, enactment remotely, oregon conscionable privation an immersive cinematic acquisition volition get a batch retired of the Viture Pro XR. Business radical volition admit the enactment for aggregate displays. Gamers tin hook up their Nintendo Switch to the astute glasses and bask smooth, action-packed gameplay.

Who should look elsewhere: At $459, the Viture Pro XR is simply a premium concern that mightiness not entreaty to casual users oregon those looking for basal smartglasses. The instrumentality is already precise susceptible connected its own, but definite features and usage cases necessitate other hardware. For example, to link the glasses to a Nintendo Switch, you volition request the Viture Pro Mobile Dock, which costs $129.

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Why we similar it: If your precedence is getting the champion amusement experience, past the RayNeo Air 2s are decidedly for you. The glasses present a bright, expansive 200-inch virtual display, the biggest connected this list. A surface that size is cleanable for watching movies and gaming. The Air 2s sits astatine the halfway of an immersive multimedia ecosystem populated by galore companion accessories.

You person the Pocket TV, a portable streaming instrumentality for Google TV, YouTube, Peacock, and others. Then there's the JoyDock, which enables compatibility with the Nintendo Switch and gives the console a 2nd root of power. It's not conscionable constricted to the Switch, either. With the close adapter, you tin link the RayNeo Air 2s to an Android device, an iPhone, a PlayStation 5, oregon a Steam Deck, conscionable to sanction a few.

I should besides constituent retired that the glasses are beauteous comfy to wear, their controls are casual to understand, and the 4 speakers supply "support for spatial 3D audio." Additionally, the speakers enactment Whisper Mode 2.0 to supply crystal-clear dependable portion limiting the magnitude of audio leaking out.

Review: RayNeo Air 2s

Who it's for: To echo what I said earlier, the RayNeo Air 2s is simply a bully prime for radical who privation to usage XR glasses for gaming oregon casual media consumption. It's cleanable for travelers who privation to footwear backmost and bask a movie without draining their smartphone batteries.

Now is simply a bully clip to prime up a brace arsenic they're connected merchantability astatine RayNeo's authoritative website for $299, a $100 discount.

Who should look elsewhere: People wanting a premium acquisition should skip these glasses. The RayNeo Air 2s are large astatine what they provide, but don't connection overmuch else. They deficiency the awesome features that different models possess, similar light-blocking electrochromic lenses oregon integrated myopia adjustment.

RayNeo Air 2s specs: Weight: 76g | Dimensions: N/A | Audio: Dynamic Quad-speaker setup | Connectivity: Bluetooth, DisplayPort for Android, Lightning for iPhone | Resolution: 1080p per oculus astatine 120Hz | Virtual surface size: 201 inches

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Why we similar it: The Even Realties G1 astute glasses present subtle, utile augmented world without drafting attention. In his review, ZDNET Contributing Writer Prakhar Khanna praised the device's signifier factor, pointing retired however his ain friends couldn't adjacent archer helium was wearing an physics gadget. This is an lawsuit wherever "tech takes a backseat and manner sits successful the front."

These glasses deficiency a camera and speakers, sporting lone a acceptable of microphones and a glance-up display. The surface provides clear, greenish integer substance with a 640 x 200-pixel solution that doesn't intrude connected a user's eyesight. The Even Realities G1 has six cardinal features, which see close unrecorded translation and turn-by-turn navigation, each "without needing to cheque your phone". This is conscionable the commencement for these glasses arsenic they person accordant updates.

Review: Even Realities G1

Who it's for: This introduction is simply a bully prime for travelers and adjacent cyclists who worth discreet astute glasses that supply glance-based information. The navigation diagnostic isn't distracting, truthful you tin support your eyes connected the road. The teleprompter relation is adjuvant for presentations arsenic it tin show your publication connected the screen. And no, the assemblage volition not beryllium capable to notice. Information connected the Even Realities G1 "can beryllium seen lone astatine an angle."

Who should look elsewhere? The Even Realities G1 is the astir costly enactment connected this list, starting astatine $599. And that doesn't origin successful add-ons similar medicine lenses ($150) oregon clip-on shades ($100). Also, they don't supply the astir fulfilling mixed world experience. Many of the features request further polishing.

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The champion AR glasses are the Meta Ray-Ban Smart Glasses for their comfy design, almighty audio system, and multimodal AI. It isn't the lone enactment to consider. If you're considering getting thing else, the array beneath compares the champion devices according to price, weight, and connectivity options.

AR glasses	Price	Weight	Connectivity
Meta Ray-Ban Smart Glasses	$299	51g	Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, USB-C
Amazon Echo Frames (3rd Gen)	$270	37.6g	Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB-C
Viture Pro XR	$409	77g	Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.2, USB-C
RayNeo Air 2s	$299	76g	USB-C and Lightning Port via adapter
Even Realities G1	$599	44g	Bluetooth 5.2, USB-C

AR and MR glasses are large crossed aggregate areas, but immoderate are amended than others successful definite scenarios. Some excel successful gaming, portion others tin assistance you larn astir the satellite astir you. For these reasons, you request to cognize what you're looking for successful a brace of either AR oregon MR glasses. You don't privation to bargain a instrumentality that won't conscionable your needs. Here's however to fig retired which exemplary is the champion for you:

Choose these AR glasses...	If you want...
Meta Ray-Ban Smart Glasses	The champion wide option. Lightweight and comfy to wear, Meta's Ray-Ban glasses travel with respective AI-powered features.
Amazon Echo Frames	The champion entry-level option. Amazon's Echo Frames service arsenic an hold of Alexa and tin person commands via built-in microphones.
Virture Pro XR	The champion question option. This brace sports a lightweight plan and integrated myopia dials to assistance trim oculus fatigue implicit agelong periods.
RayNeo Air 2s	The champion multimedia option. RayNeo's instrumentality tin task a 201-inch virtual surface that runs astatine a refresh complaint of 120Hz.
Even Realities G1	The champion AR glasses for navigation. These glasses supply wide turn-by-turn navigation that isn't distracting.

Augmented and mixed world tin heighten your surroundings successful antithetic ways. AR tech helps radical successful their lives by acting arsenic a idiosyncratic adjunct of sorts. They tin supply penetration into the taxable arsenic good arsenic grounds videos from your unsocial perspective. MX devices bash thing akin though they tin besides immerse you into a backstage integer space. Whichever 1 you prefer, they stock respective factors that indispensable beryllium considered earlier purchase.

Design: Design is arguably the astir important origin erstwhile choosing 1 of these devices. It doesn't substance however galore neat features a brace has. If the AR glasses aren't comfy to wear, past it's not worthy purchasing. For this, we paid attraction to lightweight models that acceptable comfortably. The RayNeo Air 2s is champion successful this class arsenic it has a flexible plan and excels successful ergonomics.
Use case: How you program to usage a brace of AR oregon MR glasses is important due to the fact that it straight affects what you buy. Are they for amusement oregon gaming? Then you're champion disconnected with the MR glasses because, arsenic we've established earlier, they present an immersive experience. Do you privation thing that assists you successful your day-to-day life? Then, the Amazon Echo Frames are recommended arsenic they connection speedy entree to Alexa and your astute location gadgets.
Software compatibility: How good a brace of AR/MR glasses integrates into a tech ecosystem determines their usability and affects what apps they person entree to. The RayNeo Air 2s is compatible with a wide scope of devices, including, but not constricted to, iPhones, gaming consoles, MacBooks, and iPads. Those Ray-Ban astute glasses bash peculiarly good with Meta's societal media platforms. You tin upload straight to them done the headset.
Interactivity: AR and MR glasses interact with the satellite successful antithetic ways. The erstwhile operates by receiving dependable oregon motion commands. You straight pass Alexa oregon Meta's adjunct precisely what to do. Some instrumentality a antithetic attack relying connected outer hardware. The XREAL Beam Pro looks similar a smartphone, but it's really a media hub that connects to MR glasses and delivers a VR-like experience.

Latest info connected AR and MR glasses successful 2025

Multiple brands showed disconnected their caller wearable devices astatine CES 2025. We saw the Halliday AI smartglasses, which supply akin functionality to the Meta Ray-Bans, albeit successful a slimmer signifier factor. These person a "unique on-screen show that projects textual information" successful existent time, from translations to incoming texts and notifications.

Also: CES 2025: The 8 astir precocious astute glasses we tried - and were impressed by

There was besides the Nuance Audio, a brace of "smart glasses with built-in proceeding aids." They location six microphones crossed their frame, which propulsion successful extracurricular sound, amplify it, and output the boosted dependable done the speakers. Notable marque Xreal demonstrated its One Pro model, which utilizes a "proprietary spatial computing chip" successful bid to present a vibrant virtual show astatine a refresh complaint of 120Hz.

Many of the astute glasses that we saw astatine CES 2025 haven't been officially released yet, but for the Rokid AR. This instrumentality delivers a immense 300-inch virtual surface with a opposition ratio of 100,000:1.

Smartglasses person predominant updates, improving wide show and addressing immoderate lingering bugs. Most updates are thing of note, but sometimes the devices get a caller feature. In precocious April 2025, the Meta Ray-Ban smartglasses gained unrecorded translation. This allows the brace to construe circumstantial languages successful existent clip done the glasses. At the clip of this writing, the diagnostic lone "supports English, French, Italian, and Spanish."

Also: Your Meta Ray-Bans conscionable got a large update for escaped - and it feels similar subject fiction

It depends connected your priorities. Lenovo laptops are durable. They are reliable machines focused connected helping businesspeople implicit their work. The ThinkPad series, successful particular, is bully for that benignant of usage case. However, 1 happening you'll announcement astir Lenovo hardware is it tin beryllium rather expensive. On the different hand, Dell is much budget-friendly and whitethorn beryllium the amended prime if you're abbreviated connected cash.

It tin beryllium hard to archer the quality betwixt the 2 presumption due to the fact that they're often utilized interchangeably but determination are chiseled differences betwixt them. Smart glasses person simpler functionality. They purpose to heighten the satellite by providing accusation that overlaps with the surrounding environment, specified arsenic giving details astir a landmark. It's similar having a assistance surface with you astatine each times. AR tech actively changes the satellite by displaying overlays oregon giving entree to an AI assistant.

The Meta Ray-Bans toed the enactment betwixt astute glasses and AR glasses. On the surface, they look to beryllium thing much than astute glasses with a fewer other tricks. However, you recognize they connection truthful overmuch more. You tin bask antithetic media types, grounds videos, and construe different languages successful real-time.

XR stands for Extended Reality, and it is besides utilized interchangeably with mixed world oregon augmented reality, which leads to a batch of confusion.

XR is an umbrella word that encompasses a wide scope of technologies similar virtual reality, AR, and MR. It is simply a benignant of tech susceptible of overlaying accusation digitally implicit a real-world environment. The grade depends connected the tech itself. VR, arsenic you already know, wholly engulfs you successful a integer space. AR injects a fewer pieces of accusation into your view. MR sits successful the middle, providing immoderate overlays.

Yes, AR glasses are harmless to usage for the astir part. No studies person shown that they origin imperishable oculus damage, blurred vision, oregon lowered extent perception. However, broadside effects bash exist. According to a recent study by the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf successful Hamburg, Germany, subjects reported experiencing headaches, aching eyes, and fatigue aft wearing AR glasses.

This isn't a occupation exclusive to AR glasses. Symptoms similar the ones conscionable mentioned often hap to radical who look astatine monitors and screens for hours connected end. Medical professionals person adjacent dubbed it Computer Vision Syndrome. Eye strain tin beryllium easy fixed by taking predominant breaks and reducing brightness levels.