The Best Smart Glasses for Every Type of Person
Everyone’s talking about artificial intelligence, but smart glasses are slowly entering the mainstream market in 2025. With MetaTrader , Apple , and Google vying for dominance, and hardware finally becoming powerful enough to be practical rather than just useless gadgets, smart glasses are transforming from clunky computers for techies into something potentially useful for everyone.
If you’re thinking about buying one, the variety of styles, features, and prices can be overwhelming, so I’ve put together this guide to help you find the perfect pair.
What can smart glasses do?
The term “smart glasses” is too broad to be useful. It applies to everything from sunglasses with artificial intelligence to glasses with augmented reality, so it’s worth considering what you want to use them for before purchasing.
Roughly speaking, smart glasses can be divided into the following categories, although most of them span multiple classifications:
Smart glasses with audio technology
Essentially, these are earbuds built into glasses. They typically look like “regular” glasses and are designed for playing music, taking calls, and often interacting with artificial intelligence. They don’t have screens or augmented reality.
Who they’re for: Anyone who wants to answer calls on speakerphone or listen to podcasts without the hassle of headphones. Example: Reebok smart audio glasses.
Smart glasses with a camera
These photography glasses allow you to take high-quality photos and videos with virtually invisible cameras. They’re like a lightweight Go Pro camera.
Who they’re for : For those who want to capture life on the fly and/or record a concert without taking out their phone. Example: Ray-Ban Metas .
Smart glasses with a display first and foremost
Glasses designed for video or augmented reality display high-definition video and/or digital information such as directions, messages, videos, or even 3D animations directly into your field of view.
Best for: Fans of cutting-edge technology and frequent travelers. Example: XReal One Pro .
Vision First Smart Glasses
The goal of vision-focused glasses isn’t to listen to podcasts, but to improve vision. Vision-focused smart glasses aren’t available in the US yet, but the future could bring enhanced eye capabilities similar to cybernetic ones, from automatic zoom to automatic adjustment of bifocals.
Who are they for : For people who need glasses to see better.
So, those are the basics. Here are my picks for the best smart glasses in each category.
The Best Smartglasses for Most People: Ray-Ban Meta
I’ve tested a variety of smart glasses for Lifehacker, from high-tech augmented reality glasses like the XReal One Pro to fun new releases like the Chamelo Music Shield , but the smart glasses I wear every day are the Ray-Ban Metas. They look good, are comfortable, and do everything I want from smart glasses. They play music, take photos and videos, stream content, and provide access to an AI agent—all without any issues. I haven’t had a chance to try the Ray-Ban Display Metas yet, but I think the Ray-Ban Metas are the most useful smart glasses of 2025. Read more in my full review .
Best Smartglasses with Display: Xreal One Pro
The XReal One Pro smart glasses let you watch movies, play games, and answer emails right from your glasses. Simply connect them to any device that supports USB-C video, and you’re ready to go. The display is impressive—equivalent to a large 1080p TV—and they have a built-in chip for basic augmented reality. However, these aren’t everyday glasses. They’re uncomfortable to wear around town, and they require a second device to work. But if you’re heading out on a long plane trip or need a separate display for your computer, the XReal glasses are a great option. Read my full review for more details .
Best Everyday Movie Watching Glasses: Even Realities G1 Smart Glasses
You can’t watch videos or play games with them, but the Even Realities G1 smart glasses are wearable every day. They feature a heads-up display (HUD): looking up reveals a monochrome screen displaying a map, news feed, and other information. They also feature built-in artificial intelligence, which can be accessed instantly without anyone’s knowledge, opening up a whole host of possibilities, both ethical and unethical. Unlike other augmented reality glasses, the G1 are lightweight and designed for everyday wear. Read more in my full review .
Best Sports Smartglasses: Bleequp Rangers
The $379 Bleequp Rangers glasses don’t feature an AI voice assistant or display, but if you want to document your runs or bike rides, these lightweight sports glasses capture 16-megapixel photos and HD videos, and also support audio calling, turn-by-turn navigation, and walkie-talkie. It’s everything you need on a long ride, and the optional battery provides up to four hours of recording. Read more in my full review .
Best Audio-Only/Fashion Smartglasses: Chamelo Music Shield
I’m not sure the Chamelo Music Shield qualifies as “smart glasses,” but they’re so cool I couldn’t resist checking them out. They don’t have AI, a camera, or a built-in display, but they play music, and the lenses change from light to dark with a swipe of your finger, so you can choose the perfect shade for your lighting conditions or match them to your outfit—but most importantly, impress your friends with your stylish and unique glasses. Read my full review for more details.
Upcoming smart glasses worth keeping an eye on
If you’re waiting for the next generation of smart glasses to arrive before jumping into the pool, here are some interesting models currently in development.
Apple Smart Glasses
Nothing has been officially announced, but rumors have swirled about Apple’s plans to release a line of smart glasses instead of continuing to develop virtual reality devices like the Apple Vision Pro. Apple’s first smart glasses are expected to launch in 2026. They’ll be similar to the Meta smart glasses, but better—perhaps better because they say “Apple” on them, or perhaps they genuinely are better . We won’t know for sure until there’s an official announcement.
Google Android XR Glasses
Google appears to have recovered from its Google Glass fiasco and plans to release Android-based smart glasses with a camera, Gemini AI support, and an optional transparent microdisplay that will project information—messages, navigation, and real-time translation—directly onto the lenses. The company has already released the Android XR operating system , and the glasses are expected to go on sale in 2026.
Samsung HAEAN Project
Samsung’s upcoming smart glasses haven’t been announced yet, but the rumors are intriguing. Unlike the recently released Samsung Galaxy VR , HAEAN (if true) isn’t a large virtual reality headset. It’s a pair of glasses you can wear in public without feeling silly. Rumor has it they’re powered by Samsung’s proprietary XR chip and are integrated with Galaxy AI. Apparently, the ultimate goal is to create wearable devices with voice control and AI, focused on comfort.
IXI Smart Glasses with Autofocus
It’s too early to say whether this Finnish startup’s claims will prove hollow, but IXI recently raised $36.5 million from investors to develop smart glasses that discreetly and automatically correct farsightedness, rather than simply taking photos, listening to podcasts, or anything else. Lenses with automatic focus adjustment would be a real breakthrough, as the next step would be glasses that improve 20/20 vision—perhaps allowing distance vision or instantaneous, microscope-like image capture. There’s no release date for these either, but “in the distant future” seems logical.