Pillar Guide
Smart Glasses: The Complete Guide
Smart glasses have moved from niche gadget to practical everyday wearable. This guide explains categories, tradeoffs, and buying logic without hype.
What counts as smart glasses today
Most people use 'smart glasses' as an umbrella term for eyewear that adds digital functions to a normal frame. In practice, products fall into four buckets: camera-first, audio-first, display-first, and AR-focused glasses.
This matters because each category solves a different problem. A camera pair for quick capture has very different tradeoffs than a display pair for productivity sessions.
Explore by category
Camera Glasses
Capture POV content hands-free while staying in the moment.
Read guideGlasses with Screen
Virtual displays for work, media, and multitasking on the go.
Read guideAudio Smart Glasses
Open-ear listening for calls, podcasts, and quick notifications.
Read guideAR Smart Glasses
Immersive overlays and virtual workspaces for specific workflows.
Read guideKey specs to compare
- Real battery life (mixed vs heavy use)
- Frame weight and comfort balance
- Camera quality in indoor and outdoor scenes
- Microphone quality for voice capture
- Open-ear audio and leakage control
- Display/FOV when applicable
- iOS/Android compatibility and app quality
- Controls (voice, touch, physical button)
- Privacy settings and permission controls
Use profile
Who it's for
- First-time buyers comparing categories
- Readers who want neutral, no-hype guidance
- People building a shortlist before spending
Not ideal for
- Users looking for one-click shopping links today
- Readers who only want one specific brand