Smart glasses at CES: what actually worked

A reviewer used both waveguide and prism smart glasses at CES; waveguides provided quick notifications but struggled in crowded exhibition halls, while prism glasses served as reliable wired displays for writing and multitasking.

At CES in Las Vegas, a reviewer relied on smart glasses to navigate the show and to write stories. Two display approaches were tested: lightweight waveguide glasses for heads-up information and bulkier prism glasses used as wired external displays. The experience highlighted useful real-world roles for each type and persistent limitations in congested exhibition spaces. The review also noted emerging platform work that could affect future models. Key observations: - Waveguide glasses are lightweight and work well for quick info and notifications; examples mentioned include Rokid and the Meta Ray-Ban Display. - The Meta Ray-Ban Display offers a color screen and a Neural Band controller but does not integrate with Google Workspace or Slack, limiting usefulness for event scheduling and team messages. - The Even Realities G2 provided a subtle, monochrome in-lens display and optional R1 smart ring for touch control; it was comfortable and useful for checking appointments and messages away from exhibition halls. - Wireless congestion inside CES exhibition halls disrupted connections for waveguide models and paired accessories, preventing features like live transcription and ring control in those spaces. - Prism-based glasses such as the XReal One Pro act as wired, high-resolution external monitors with motion tracking and can present an ultrawide (32:9) workspace, making them practical for seated writing and multitasking. - The reviewer noted Android XR and prototypes like XReal’s Project Aura and Google’s development kits as promising steps that could bring more consistent features and lighter, more capable designs in future releases. Summary: Prism glasses proved reliable as portable wired displays for writing and photo work, while waveguide glasses were helpful for brief, on-the-go information but were hampered by wireless congestion in crowded exhibit halls. The reviewer expects more platform and product developments tied to Android XR and company-specific events in the coming year.