The Best Smart Glasses in 2026
For AI glasses with a camera, both WIRED and Tom’s Guide pick the Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2 ($379 from Meta). For a virtual screen to watch or work on, both pick the Viture Beast ($549). If Meta’s privacy record worries you, WIRED suggests the camera-free Even Realities G2.
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Quick answer
For AI glasses with a camera, both WIRED and Tom’s Guide pick the Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2 ($379 from Meta). For a virtual screen to watch or work on, both pick the Viture Beast ($549). Best AI glasses: Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 2), $379. Best display glasses: Viture Beast, $549. Best for sports: Oakley Meta Vanguard, $499.
Last updated Prices checked Oct 2026
Key facts at a glance
| Pick | Product | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best AI glasses | Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 2) | AI glasses with a camera | $379 (Meta); $409 (Amazon) |
| Best display glasses | Viture Beast | a big virtual screen | $549 |
| Best for sports | Oakley Meta Vanguard | runners and cyclists | $499 |
| Best without a camera | Even Realities G2 | smart glasses without a camera | $599 |
“Smart glasses” covers two different things: AI glasses with a camera, speakers and an assistant, and AR display glasses that project a large virtual screen from your phone, laptop or console.
Which should you buy? Our quick picks
How do they compare?
| Glasses | Price | Type | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 2) | $379 Meta; $409 Amazon | AI, camera | Most people |
| Viture Beast | $549 | AR display | Wearable displays |
| Xreal One Pro | $599 | AR display | Sound quality (WIRED) |
| Oakley Meta Vanguard | $499 | AI, camera | Sports |
| Xreal 1S | $449 | AR display | Xreal’s best (Tom’s Guide) |
| Even Realities G2 | $599 | AI, display, no camera | Discreet everyday wear |
| Viture Pro 2 | $379 | AR display | Cheap AR |
| Rokid AR Lite | $749 | AR display | Picture and sound |
The picks in detail
1. Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 2)
Best for: AI glasses with a cameraWIRED’s[1] best smart glasses overall and Tom’s Guide’s[2] best AI glasses. They look the most like regular glasses, with a 12-MP camera, open-ear speakers, five microphones and 32 GB of storage. WIRED says they run around eight hours, with the case adding another 48 hours, and have an IPX4 rating. Video tops out at 3K at 30 frames per second and clips are limited to one minute. The privacy caveats are real: Tom’s Guide notes Meta AI will use conversation history to deliver targeted ads, and WIRED reports more than 70 organizations have demanded Meta kill an upcoming face recognition feature called “Name Tag.”
Price (Oct 2026): $379 (Meta); $409 (Amazon) Source
Pros
- Look like regular glasses
- Longer battery than Gen 1
- 3K video, AI translation
Cons
- Meta AI targeted ads (Tom’s Guide)
- Videos limited to one minute
- Privacy concerns
2. Viture Beast
Best for: a big virtual screenWIRED’s[1] best wearable displays and Tom’s Guide’s[2] best AR glasses overall. Tom’s Guide praises bright, sharp Micro-OLED displays with vivid color, a 120Hz refresh rate, effective electrochromic dimming and a massive field of view. Cons: slight chromatic aberration at the edges, fewer settings than Xreal, and less color-accurate for work.
Price (Oct 2026): $549 Source
Pros
- Bright Micro-OLED, 120Hz
- Massive field of view
- Electrochromic dimming
Cons
- Slight edge chromatic aberration
- Less color-accurate than Xreal for work
3. Xreal One Pro
Best for: display glasses with better soundWIRED’s[1] pick for display glasses with the best sound quality, at $599.
Price (Oct 2026): $599 Source
Pros
- Best sound of WIRED’s display picks
Cons
- Pricier than Viture Beast
4. Oakley Meta Vanguard
Best for: runners and cyclistsWIRED’s[1] and Tom’s Guide’s[2] pick for sports. Tom’s Guide likes the video stabilization, great Garmin and Strava integration, comfort and long battery life. Cons: more expensive than Ray-Ban Metas, a bulky charging case and limited water resistance.
Price (Oct 2026): $499 Source
Pros
- Garmin and Strava integration
- Good stabilization
- Long battery life
Cons
- Pricier than Ray-Ban Meta
- Bulky case
- Limited water resistance
5. Xreal 1S
Best for: Xreal fansTom’s Guide’s[2] Xreal pick: at $449 you get a 500-inch virtual display at 1200p and the X1 chip, with fantastic Micro-OLED display tech and 3D picture conversion that works really well. It can get hot under pressure.
Price (Oct 2026): $449 Source
Pros
- X1 chip
- Strong Micro-OLED display
- 3D conversion
Cons
- Gets hot under pressure
6. Even Realities G2
Best for: smart glasses without a cameraWIRED’s[1] best smart glasses without a camera, suggested if you’re not comfortable with what Meta is doing. Tom’s Guide[2] likes the discreet, stylish design, fast AI, intuitive controls, “cheat sheet” features and long two-day battery life, but says they’re still quite pricey with some wireless connection hiccups.
Price (Oct 2026): $599 Source
Pros
- No camera
- Discreet design
- Two-day battery
Cons
- Pricey
- Some connection hiccups
7. Viture Pro 2
Best for: cheaper AR glassesTom’s Guide’s[2] best cheap AR glasses, with a gorgeous, improved display, a significant price cut, a light design and multiple eye comfort adjustments. Not great for work, and sound remains poor.
Price (Oct 2026): $379 Source
Pros
- Lower price
- Lightweight
- Eye comfort adjustments
Cons
- Not great for work
- Poor sound
8. Rokid AR Lite
Best for: picture and soundTom’s Guide’s[2] best AR glasses for picture and sound, with the best Micro-OLED display tech its reviewer has seen and surprisingly good audio. Cons: a massive case, no electrochromic film, and it’s expensive at $749.
Price (Oct 2026): $749 Source
Pros
- Excellent Micro-OLED display
- Good sound
- Lightweight
Cons
- Expensive
- Massive case
- No electrochromic film
AI glasses vs. display glasses
AI glasses (Ray-Ban Meta, Oakley Meta Vanguard) have cameras, speakers and an assistant but no virtual screen. Display glasses (Viture, Xreal, Rokid) plug into a phone, laptop or console to show a large virtual screen, which makes them a travel alternative to a monitor. Even Realities G2 shows information in a heads-up display without a camera.
Privacy
Camera glasses raise privacy concerns for you and the people around you. Tom’s Guide[2] flags that Meta AI uses conversation history for targeted ads, and WIRED[1] says it uses the glasses only with a lot of precautions. For other wearables, see our best smartwatches and best smart rings; for full VR, see best VR headsets.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best smart glasses?
How long do Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2 batteries last?
Are there smart glasses without a camera?
Sources
Pricing and plan details were checked on the official pages below as of Oct 2026. Vendors change prices, credits and plan names often, and some show regional pricing at checkout, so confirm on the vendor’s site before you buy.
- WIRED: The best smart glasses (August 7, 2026) (wired.com)
- Tom’s Guide: The best smart glasses (October 15, 2026) (tomsguide.com)
Related
Best Smartwatches
If you have an iPhone, get an Apple Watch Series 12 (or the SE 3 to save money). On Android, the Pixel Watch 5 has the best battery life of the big three, and the Galaxy Watch9 is the pick for Samsung phones.
best ofBest Smart Rings of 2026
The Oura Ring 5 is the best smart ring, but it needs a $5.99/month membership. The RingConn Gen 2 Air is the best no-subscription pick at $199, and the Galaxy Ring is for Samsung phone owners.
best ofThe Best VR and Mixed-Reality Headsets in 2026
Get the Meta Quest 3S ($349.99) if you’re new to VR, the Quest 3 ($599.99) for the best standalone mixed reality, or Valve’s Steam Frame (from $1,059) if you own a gaming PC. Vision Pro and Galaxy XR are premium headsets for apps and video more than games.
best ofBest Fitness Trackers
The Garmin Vivoactive 6 is the best overall, the screenless Fitbit Air is the value pick, and the Oura Ring 5 is the best if you don’t want anything on your wrist.