Explore the cutting-edge world of augmented reality with the Best AR Glasses to Look Out in 2024 and Beyond. Discover futuristic features and advancements that redefine the way we perceive reality.
Welcome to the future of augmented reality! As technology continues to evolve, so do the possibilities offered by AR glasses. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll navigate through the Best AR Glasses to Look Out in 2024 and Beyond, providing insights, expert opinions, and a roadmap to the next generation of immersive experiences.
In the past few years, augmented reality glasses and computers have come a long way. We’re still a long way from AR glasses that are small and powerful enough to wear like regular glasses. Still, smart glasses technology that can do AR is getting better and better. Let’s take a closer look at the best AR glasses on the market right now and break down their most important features and functions.
The AR market will likely be worth more than $97 billion by 2028. With Apple’s Vision Pro headset set to hit stores in early 2024, tech companies around the world are becoming more interested in augmented reality glasses and headsets. There is a real arms race going on in the world of AR tech.
CES 2024 is where the future of AR glasses will be shown. No longer are they just fancy separate screens for your eyes; the growth tracks of VR headsets and AR glasses are finally starting to meet, which will make the Apple Vision Pro and Meta Quest 3 sweat.
At the time of this writing, AI had been talked about 236 times by companies speaking and displaying at the show. This is the second most important change coming to consumer tech. And three sets of specs have laid out what is possible now and in the future. These are the best AR glasses that were shown at CES 2024.
What Do AR Glasses Do?
AR glasses put information that is relevant to the situation on top of what you see. This could be texts, directions, your heart rate, or other custom data fields that you have set up on your phone or watch.
It creates a sense of absorption that goes beyond the real world with the added graphic details. So, a lot of people who study the metaverse think that fully integrated AR glasses are one of the things that the metaverse needs in order to become the new face of the linked world. However, AR headsets are still big and not as light as glasses, and even those don’t give people the smooth and beautiful experience they want yet.
And even though we have yet to see real augmented reality smart glasses, many companies have tried to make them over the years. A lot of these gadgets use HUD (heads-up display) technology, which doesn’t actually show you a 3D picture but just text on the lens.
But even this method, when paired with a sleek design, can make AR glasses useful tools that can be used in many work situations. In this case, Gartner says that by 2025, half of all workers will be doing field service work with a gadget that can do augmented reality. As the market goes down, training and hiring in AR could also save a lot of money.
Best AR Glasses to Look Out in 2024
1. Apple Glasses: The Much-Anticipated AR Screen
When Apple bought the AR startup Metaio in 2015, rumors about the company making AR glasses first started to spread. At that time, there were a lot of news stories about the invention of Apple Glasses. But when Apple started talking about it more seriously in 2019-2020, that’s when the real fun started.
When iOS 14 came out, Apple Glasses became a real story. There were hints of Project Starboard and reports of a glass.
Apple Glasses will look like regular glasses, but they will have a built-in screen that can be controlled by hand movements. The prototype has a thick but classy frame that looks like high-end designer sunglasses.
DigiTimes, a newspaper from Taiwan, says that Apple has already moved on to the second part of development. However, it could be a few more years before the product is available to the public. Many rumors about the features and specs of Apple Glasses have been spread on the internet by many different sources:
- Comes with metal or plastic frames
- Both lenses have a TrueVision display
- Commands that are handled by gestures and work with the Apple Watch
- It works on Starboard and RealityOS
- The choice to add prescription glasses
Possible features and uses have also been added to the discussion pool:
- Use LiDAR and ARKit to place and interact with simulated objects in the real world.
- Use App Clips on your glasses to do things without touching your phone.
- Safe video processing and face recognition for control and access
- Have deep phone calls and play around with apps for online teamwork
At first, Apple Glasses were supposed to come out in late 2024, along with the Apple Vision Pro headset, as expert Jeff Pu said. For now, though, Apple Glasses doesn’t have a release date. The headset from Apple is likely to come out in the last week of January 2024.
Possible release date: not known
Price expected: not known
2. Meta Glasses: The Glasses for This World
Mark Zuckerberg was so sure about the idea of the metaverse that he changed the name of Facebook to Meta. There wasn’t as much buzz about Metaverse as there used to be, but Meta was putting more effort into AR glasses and headsets.
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg says that Meta Glasses (just a name) will change the way we use technology and connect us to each other. Andrew Bosworth, Meta’s CTO, also said that the company’s current sample of AR glasses might come out as early as the end of 2024. Bosworth also said that the prototype is “the most advanced thing we’ve ever made as a species.” He was talking about electronics.
Meta’s AR drafts and projects have been known as Project Nazare and Project Aria in the past. No matter what they’re called, even the most expensive smart glasses will give you a full-on AR experience with 3D graphics and a sleek look.
People needed to be more excited about Meta’s first efforts to sell its own AR glasses, called Ray-Ban Stories, which it made with Ray-Ban. It is said that the new version of Meta’s AR Glasses will be very different from other AR glasses. Based on Zuckerberg’s event in October 2021, the Meta Glasses are likely to have the following features:
- A wide field of view with an augmented reality layer that shows information widgets
- Form factor that is sleek and stylish, with a thickness of 5 mm or less
- Hologram screen with lights, batteries, and many sensors built-in
- Radio, speakers, and cams to make the experience more real
- Up to 4 hours of battery life
According to Meta’s stolen plan, the first version of Meta Glasses was supposed to come out in 2025 as smart glasses. However, since they wouldn’t provide a truly full experience, AR fans probably would be interested in something other than them.
Possible release date: 2024
Price: not known
3. Xreal Air 2 Ultra: Going Up Against Meta and Apple
The Air 2 Ultra glasses were made by the augmented reality company Xreal. The $399 Air 2 was replaced by this new model, which is better. It’s meant to compete with Meta’s Quest 3 and Apple’s Vision Pro speakers. The Air 2 Ultra will start coming in March, and makers are now taking preorders for it. It sticks out because it has more features and functions than the one that came before it.
- It has six degrees of freedom (6DOF) of full positional tracking and looks like a pair of sunglasses.
- It can be used for realistic AR apps, watching TV, and playing flat-screen games.
- Set up as a full-fledged spatial computer device, like the Light mixed reality device that came out earlier
- It comes with two cameras for mapping the surroundings and features like hand-tracking
- Has a field of view of 52 degrees, a brightness of 500 nits, a 1080p screen for each eye, and a repeat rate of up to 120Hz.
- It weighs 80 grams, which is a bit more than the 72-gram Air 2 type.
- It can connect to a number of computers, such as macOS and Windows computers, Samsung Android phones, and the iPhone 15. Works with Xreal’s Nebula AR world on Windows, macOS, and Android
- It will be sold in the United States, the United Kingdom, China, Japan, Korea, France, Germany, Italy, the Czech Republic, and the Netherlands.
Date of release: March
Cost: $699
The Air 2 Ultra wants to compete with big AR goods by giving users a more realistic experience with advanced features. It is aimed at makers at first and will soon be available to everyone around the world.
This version of Google Glass 2 is made for businesses.
PLEASE NOTE: Google stopped offering Google Glass Enterprise 2 in March 2023. Microsoft will continue to support it until September 15, 2023.
Google has been in the augmented reality game for a while now. Google Glass came out in 2013 on its own. Google Glass Enterprise Edition is a better, lighter version of smart glasses that has amazing features that can help businesses use AR for a wide range of tasks.
Voice control on Google Glass lets people work without using their hands in workplaces. When companies like DHL and Boeing gave their employees Google Glass, they said they were more productive at work. Google Glass and virtual reality, in general, can be used in a lot of different ways, such as in manufacturing and transportation.
Here are some of the things that Google Glass 2 Enterprise can do and how it works:
- Camera with 8 megapixels
- 32 GB of built-in storage
- Process from Qualcomm XR1
- RGB screen with 640 x 360 pixels
- Video in 1080p
- Battery life of 8 hours
- Sensor for blinking and winking
- A USB-C port
AR lets workers use Google Glass to run machines, follow directions, get professional training, and work together with others on the team without needing to use a tablet or computer. In healthcare, Google Glass has also been used to show visits to patients, send notes straight for writing, and hold tele-consultations.
Came in 2019
Each set costs USD 999
4. Snap Glasses
Snap announced the 4th version of Spectacles glasses in 2021. They were the first to have a screen for real-time augmented reality (AR). Snap is marketing the glasses as a research kit so that artists can try out making AR experiences. They are not yet for sale.
The glasses prioritize style over functionality, with a light design that people will find acceptable, even if some features are limited. With a 26.3° lateral field of view and a 30-minute power life, the glasses feel more like a device that you would only use for one thing. The battery case can hold up to four charges, so you don’t have to worry about how long the batteries last.
It is important to note that Snap Spectacles 4 is a big improvement over the last version, Snap Spectacles 3, which didn’t get very good reviews.
Enterprise AR Companion: Vuzix Blade Has Been Improved
With AR glasses, you can see digital information in the real world through glasses that look like normal glasses. To sum up, Vuzix Blade 2 is a pair of commercial-grade AR smart glasses that can be used for a number of business-related tasks. It’s one of the few AR glasses on the list that meets ANSI Z87.1 standards for eye safety and can be used for industrial AR tasks in dangerous places like workshops.
The powerful safeguard lenses in Vuzix Blade smart glasses let you see digital information on top of real-world things like goods, tools, or equipment. Companies can use Vuzix Blade 2 to help their workers stay in touch.
The following features are built into the smart glasses:
- Bright color screen
- ARM CPU with four cores
It has a camera that is 8 MP and can autofocus.
- 8GB of built-in storage
- The running system, Android 11
- slot for adding a microSD card
- Lenses with full UV protection
- Connectivity through WiFi and Bluetooth
- Full voice control, touchscreen, and tracking of the head
The smart glasses can do mixed reality, take HD pictures, and stream videos. Businesses can help workers in an industrial setting by sending them directions, data, and software in real-time to improve the speed of operations.
When it came out: 2022
Price: From $999.99
5. Discover Edition Xiaomi Wireless AR Glass
The Wireless AR Glass Discovery Edition was Xiaomi’s first pair of wireless augmented reality (AR) smart glasses. They were released at MWC 2023. The 126g gadget has a light frame made of carbon fiber and magnesium-lithium metals, a “retina-level” electrochromic adaptable display, lighting control, a Snapdragon Spaces connection, and the ability to track your hand. Wireless version of AR Glass Discovery.
Xiaomi’s smart glasses work with a number of social media apps, like TikTok and YouTube, and they also work with smart home features. Additionally, smart glasses have tiny motion commands that make human-computer interaction (HCI) better.
6. Nokia Air Glass 2
People were interested in Oppo’s 2023 MWC smart glasses because their first pair did so well in 2022. The glasses have a battery, a screen, and other technologies built right in. They fit and feel like any other glasses. With a touch or tap, users can look through a list of features, such as the weather, schedule, text, maps, and translation.
While the glasses are still just ideas, Oppo has a history of taking a long time to make goods. For example, the Oppo Find N went through six versions over four years before it was released to the public. We still need to find out when the glasses will be available to buy.
That’s the ThinkReality A3 by Lenovo, the mixed-use AR glasses.
Lenovo’s ThinkReality A3 is a pair of combination glasses that brings something new to the AR game. It doesn’t hold all the working and other functions; instead, it links to personal devices like smartphones. This method helps the device stay light and make sure it has all the computing power it needs to show realistic pictures.
The ThinkReality A3 is an augmented reality (AR) device that is connected to either a Lenovo laptop or a Motorola cell phone. However, that doesn’t close it off in any way. Instead, the connection and soft clip are put in a way that makes them easy to use and reduces the size of the glasses.
The A3 glasses are more stylish than Google Glass and HoloLens. They have two 1080p screens, wide-angle cameras, and an XR1 Qualcomm engine. And here are some more numbers and features:
- A corded design that lets you connect cell phones and/or laptops
- Processor Qualcomm XR-1 for Smart Viewers
- Each eye can see a 1080p display with 200 nits of brightness
- 8MP camera with RGB
- Weighs 130g
You can connect the device to a PC or phone and use apps that are made for certain situations. The laptop lets the user access private resources and join virtual offices. Businesses can give their teams the freedom to work from anywhere, even when they’re out and about.
Coming out in December: 2021
The price: USD 1499.99
7. Microsoft Hololens 2: Opening Up AR Possibilities For Business
The Microsoft Hololens 2 is an improved version of Microsoft’s most popular smart mixed-reality headset. It’s a powerful device that can be used in a number of interesting ways in the workplace. The Hololens 2 was mainly made for business use, and its flexible shape makes it easy for people to wear.
Microsoft has hinted that it might be interested in making augmented reality products in the future. They might make a pair of glasses that are more cheap so that everyone can use the technology every day.
Hololens 2 lets you map out space and engage naturally with hand movements. In addition, it allows spatial sound, so you won’t be cut off from the outdoor world.
With a mix of AI, computer vision, and virtual reality, Hololens 2 helps businesses train employees, see what their goods will look like, and boost productivity. In terms of specs and functions, here they are:
- Clear glasses that hold an 8 MP HD camera and a microphone for voice commands
- A 2K screen that casts a layer for a mixed-reality experience and lets you communicate with holograms and 3D models
- Tracks hand and eye movements
- Snapdragon 850 chip, 4GB RAM, and 64 GB of storage
- You can connect via WiFi, Bluetooth, and Type-C
- Run time of two to three hours
The Microsoft Hololens 2 has a large field of view, powerful motion controls, and an app environment that works with Microsoft Unity. This makes it possible for new uses in transportation, production, and assembly line work.
Coming out: 2019
Price Tag: $3500
8. Magic Leap 2: Immersion for Business
The Magic Leap 2 is an augmented reality headset that is small, light, and easy to wear. The eye tracking, hand tracking, and 6DoF (six degrees of freedom) tracking in ML 2 make it easier for people to connect with digital things in a way that feels more natural and easy. The improved lenses in the gadget also make it clear and have a high sharpness. A wide field of view makes it easier to feel like you’re really there.
Get Magic Leap 2. Find Out More
The headset is made for a variety of business uses, such as engineering, which needs to see and change 3D models of complicated systems. Additionally, Magic Leap 2 could change the way doctors train in a big way. It can be used to make realistic medical models where students can practice surgery and come up with treatment plans in a safe and controlled setting. Scans like CT scans and MRIs can be turned into images with Magic Leap 2. Surgeons can then use these to plan the best way to operate.
These are some of the Magic Leap 2’s specs:
- Field of view (FOV) of 70° diagonally
- 16GB of LPDDR5 memory
- 256GB of space
It can work from 37 cm to infinity.
- about. 3.5 hours of battery life (the battery is a different item)
- Screen size of 1440 x 1760 pixels
- Weighs 260 grams
When it came out: 2022
Costs: $3,299
Glasses with a heads-up display
Smart glasses with HUD technology show extra information on the frames. Still, they’re less engaging than full AR glasses. Augmented reality glasses use a different kind of technology to show information.
Some well-known HUD glasses are:
- Engo Glasses 2
- Snap-On Glasses 3
Different Kinds Of Smart Glasses in 0224
Besides, smart glasses that show images, there are also tools like Bose Bluetooth audio sunglasses or Amazon Echo Frames that you can connect to your phone to make your experience with the Alexa helper better.
There are also Ray-Ban Stories that were made with Facebook. Not only can the glasses play music, but they can also take movies and pics.
What do you think? Are AR and VR just digital trends, or are they a way to make customers happier and employees more productive?
Because AR glasses have a small frame that looks like glasses and offer realistic AR and high-quality VR features, they could be useful in both work and play situations. We have yet to see this level of technical complexity, though. Also, this means that both AR and VR can make customers happier and employees more productive, but only in very specific situations.
Conclusion
As we anticipate the release of the Best AR Glasses in 2024 and Beyond, the landscape of augmented reality is poised for a transformative journey. Embrace the future where the digital and physical worlds converge seamlessly. Stay informed, stay connected, and immerse yourself in the limitless possibilities of augmented reality.
