8win gaming Smart glasses enter new era with sleeker designs, lower prices

An attendee wears a pair of augmented reality glasses at the Rokid booth during the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada, on January 9, 2025. – Producers of hi-tech smart glasses are multiplying their innovations with increasingly discreet models in an attempt to make a difference in a highly competitive – and fast-emerging – market. (Photo by Ian Maule / Agence France-Presse)

LAS VEGAS8win gaming, United States — Producers of hi-tech connected eyewear are multiplying their innovations with increasingly discreet models in an attempt to make a difference in a highly competitive – and fast-emerging – market.

Live translation, GPS, cameras: glasses are quickly adopting new functionalities.

“There are so many of these smart wearables, and more of them are going on your face,” said Techsponential analyst Avi Greengart at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, where numerous smart glasses manufacturers showcased their latest innovations.

According to Foreign Buyers Association of the Philippines (Fobap) President Robert Young, they exported around $50 million worth of mixed apparel to South Korea in 2023.

Article continues after this advertisement

The industry has come a long way from its early days. Gone are the conspicuous protrusions of Google Glass and the bulky frames and cables of Epson’s Moverio from the early 2010s.

FEATURED STORIES TECHNOLOGY DITO teams up with ZTE to boost Philippine internet connectivity TECHNOLOGY Smart glasses enter new era with sleeker designs, lower prices TECHNOLOGY TikTok shutdown in the US may take effect on January 19

Today’s smart glasses, all paired with smartphone apps, increasingly resemble traditional eyewear. The Ray-Ban Meta, developed by Mark Zuckerberg’s social media giant, currently leads the market with this new approach.

READ: Are smart glasses the next everyday gadget?

Article continues after this advertisement

According to a recent MarketsandMarkets study, the sector’s growth is “driven by advancements in augmented reality, artificial intelligence, and miniaturization technologies, which are pushing the boundaries of what these wearable devices can achieve.”

Article continues after this advertisement

However, integrating technology into fashionable frames requires careful compromise.

Article continues after this advertisement

The Ray-Ban Meta, for instance, can capture photos and videos, play music, and provide information about objects in view, but doesn’t offer augmented reality with superimposed images.

Meta representative Robin Dyer explained that while AR capabilities may come later, they would likely double the current price.

Article continues after this advertisement $200

Price is a major battleground in this market, particularly with the entry of Chinese manufacturers.

While Google Glass initially retailed for around $1,500 in 2013, today’s smart glasses are approaching the price of premium conventional frames.

Meta’s James Nickerson noted that their Ray-Ban collaboration starts at $300, just $50 more than standard Ray-Bans, offering “a cool camera” as a bonus.

READ: Motion Sickness Glasses: Do They Really Work?

Chinese startup Vue has pushed prices even lower, offering basic models with voice assistant and music capabilities for $200.

Some manufacturers, like XReal, focus on augmented reality, projecting smartphone, computer, or gaming console displays – though this is a market for which Apple’s VisonPro failed to create excitement last year.

An attendee wears a pair of augmented reality glasses at the Rokid booth during the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada, on January 9, 2025. (Photo by Ian Maule / Agence France-Presse)

For AR, recent advances help move away from the bulk of a virtual reality headset towards that of classic sunglasses, even if they require a cable to be connected to the device.

Meta’s ambition is to launch its own pared down version, the Orion, currently in the test phase but not expected to be marketed until 2027 at the earliest.

Smart glasses: Chasing cool

Companies like Even Realities and Halliday are pioneering ultra-thin frames that look identical to standard glasses while offering basic AR capabilities.

“If we want to make a good pair of smart glasses, we must first make a pair of cool glasses,” emphasized Carter Hou, Halliday’s second-in-command.

Halliday’s $489 model, launching in March, displays text in the upper corner of the wearer’s vision. Using AI, it can suggest responses during conversations, provide real-time translation, and function as a discrete teleprompter.

Even Realities has also taken a minimalist approach.

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again. Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

SIGN ME UP

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

rebrand slot

“We got rid of the speaker8win gaming, we got rid of the camera,” explained the company’s Tom Ouyang. “Glasses are for the eyes, not the ears.”

TOPICS: AI, smart glasses READ NEXT HONOR X9c 5G is now available for only Php 16,999, pre-order t... Banshee Stealer malware targets business data of macOS users EDITORS' PICK Marcos extends sympathy to LA wildfire victims: Stay safe, vigilant Shear line to trigger heavy rains in parts of Luzon, Visayas PBA: Ginebra surges in 2nd half to shut down Blackwater Sinulog 2025: 305 vessels set to join Fluvial Procession More villages affected by floods in Bicol UAAP: Casiey Dongallo, Jelai Gajero leave UE, transfer to UP MOST READ Greenhills Shopping Center stays on US watch list UAAP: Casiey Dongallo, Jelai Gajero leave UE, transfer to UP 'Pepsi Paloma' script handed by emissary to Vic Sotto's 'sibling who's a senator' Rep. Castro says INC rally a move to shield VP Sara Duterte Follow @FMangosingINQ on Twitter --> View comments