Best Smart Glasses (2026): Meta, Viture, Xreal, and More

Adrienne SoGearApr 27, 2026 9:03 AMThe Best Smart Glasses to Augment Your RealityThis burgeoning wearable tech category lets you talk to an AI assistant, listen to music, or check out a display screen right from the comfort of your very own face.CommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyFeatured in this articleBest Smart Glasses for Every DayRay-Ban Meta Glasses (Gen 2)Read more$409 Best BuyBest AI Glasses With No CameraEven Realities G2 Smart GlassesRead more$599 Even RealitiesBest Smart Glasses for Picture QualityViture Beast GlassesRead more$689 $549 (20% off) AmazonBest Smart Glasses for Sound QualityXreal One ProRead more$649 $599 (8% off) XrealThe idea of smart glasses has been around for decades, but the technology is finally catching up. The best smart glasses let you listen to music, answer texts hands-free, or teach you about the world, even as you're looking at it. And they're getting more popular: Meta and Ray-Ban sold more than 7 million pairs of smart glasses in 2025. Google, Samsung, and Apple are releasing their own versions soon. Even better than helpful smart glasses becoming more available is that these specs can also make you look fabulous.Before you pick your pair, you should know that smart glasses are hugely varied, even more so than many other product categories that we test. Some are glorified headphones for everyday wear; others have very specific use cases, like for sports, gaming, or working. They also come at a wide variety of price points, specs, and designs.Reviewer Simon Hill and I have tested just about every pair of smart glasses on the market. In addition to our recommendations, I also explain what you need to know about this category and give a quick history lesson about the space. Think you might need something else instead? Don't forget to check out the rest of our buying guides, including the Best Meta Glasses and the Best Virtual Reality Headsets.Table of ContentsAccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronOther Smart Glasses We’ve TestedDon’t BotherWhat Makes Smart Glasses So Special?What Are the Different Types of Smart Glasses?What Does HUD, DoF, and FoV Mean?How to Troubleshoot Your Smart GlassesAre Smart Glasses a Privacy Risk?When Did the First Smart Glasses Arrive? A Brief HistoryShould You Buy Now?What's Up NextUpdated April 2026: I updated my recommendation for the Even Realities G2 and added the Viture Beast, the Engo3, and the Modo Eyefly. I also added the sections “What Makes Smart Glasses So Special” and “What's Up Next,” and checked links and prices.Best Smart Glasses for Every DayPhotograph: Boone AshworthCourtesy of Ray-BanChevronChevronSave to wishlistSave to wishlistRay-BanMeta Glasses (Gen 2)$409 Best Buy$409 Amazon$379 Meta$459 Ray-BanArguably, the success of the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses is what spurred the current AI glasses boom. These are the updated version of the OG Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarers that were the category's first certified hit. The second-generation Ray-Ban Meta glasses let you choose different frames, including the Wayfarer ones, and lenses (including prescription lenses), and they look the most like regular glasses. They don’t have any virtual screen—instead, you get a 12-MP camera, open-ear speakers, and five microphones. There’s 32 GB of storage, and they run for around eight hours when fully charged, with a case that can add another 48 hours. They have an IPX4 water resistance rating, so they'll be OK in light rain. The photo…

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