The best smart glasses of CES 2026
Mashable's tech editor tried on dozens of smart glasses at CES 2026, and now he's breaking down the best in show from brands like Xreal and Even Realities.
The best smart glasses should feel a little bit like magic.
By
Timothy Beck Werth
Tech Editor
Timothy Beck Werth is the Tech Editor at Mashable, where he leads coverage and assignments for the Tech and Shopping verticals. Tim has over 15 years of experience as a journalist and editor, and he has particular experience covering and testing consumer technology, smart home gadgets, and men’s grooming and style products. Previously, he was the Managing Editor and then Site Director of SPY.com, a men's product review and lifestyle website. As a writer for GQ, he covered everything from bull-riding competitions to the best Legos for adults, and he’s also contributed to publications such as The Daily Beast, Gear Patrol, and The Awl.
on January 10, 2026
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The author wearing Even Realities' Even G2 Smart Glasses at CES 2026. Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable
I've already covered a lot of trends emerging from CES 2026, but one of the most notable has been smart glasses, in all their various forms. I've tried on numerous pairs of smart glasses over the past five days, ranging from electrochromic sports glasses with customizable tint to the world's first AR gaming glasses featuring a 240 Hz refresh rate. In fact, I'm writing this article on a plane flying from Las Vegas to New York City, and using the Xreal One Pro's ultra-wide spatial computing display as I do.
Full disclosure, I strongly prefer smart glasses without an onboard camera. I dislike the idea of Big Tech brands being able to see and hear everything I do. Removing the cameras also solves the Google Glasshole problem.
If I had to pick one smart glasses brand that wowed me the most at CES, it would have to be Xreal. That said, the brand faces steep competition from established brands like Even Realities and TCL, as well as newcomers like MemoMind.
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So, check out the best smart glasses of CES 2026, all based on my first-hand experience from the event.
Best in show: ROG Xreal R1 AR gaming glasses and Real 3D
The ROG Xreal R1 gaming glasses have a fantastic display. Credit: Xreal
For me, CES is all about those genuine "wow!" moments. I'm looking for products that feel like they've been plucked straight out of a science fiction movie. And that's what Xreal delivered at CES, more so than any other smart glasses demo I saw.
Xreal showcased a wide range of new products at CES 2026. Not only did they debut the new Xreal 1S AR Glasses, which deliver key upgrades and a price drop, but they also have a new pair of gaming glasses with world-first technology. You can buy the Xreal 1S glasses right now, but the real showstopper was the unreleased ROG Xreal R1 AR gaming glasses.
The ROG Xreal R1 glasses feature a stunning AR display. You can project games from a PC, console, or handheld onto a spatial screen up to 171 inches in size. These are also the world's first AR glasses with a 240 Hz refresh rate, thanks to new 1080p micro-OLED panels. I briefly played Elden Ring and Forza Horizon 5, and the graphics looked phenomenal. Even the Apple Vision Pro doesn't go above 120 Hz. I will say, as cool as it is, this is a very niche product, with limited use cases.
Testing the ROG Xreal R1 AR gaming glasses at CES. Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable
Testing the Real 3D feature on the Xreal One Pro AR glasses. Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable
On top of that, Xreal is offering a Real 3D conversion feature for the 1S and One Pro glasses as an over-the-air update. This feature instantly transforms 2D displays into 3D displays, allowing you to scroll through your Instagram feed in three dimensions or turn any movie or video game into a 3D experience.
We don't have a confirmed release date for the new gaming glasses, but Xreal promised they're coming in 2026. The bad news? They'll likely land with a hefty price tag.
Best sports glasses: Povec Optics C1 sunglasses
One of my favorite finds at CES is a pair of smart glasses with no camera, no heads-up display, and no speakers. So, what's so smart about them?
The C1 sunglasses from startup Povec Optics are electrochromic, meaning they feature a customizable tint. Simply slide your finger along the side of the glasses, and the tint instantly changes. I've never seen anything like these glasses, and that's what CES is all about, right?
I love these glasses because they aren't trying to do a dozen different things, a common problem with smart glasses. Plus, they feel a little bit like magic.
The company's founder told me the glasses will be released in 2026. I recommend following Povec Optics on Instagram for updates.
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Best for entertainment: TCL RayNeo Air 4 Pro smart glasses
Timothy Werth wearing TCL RayNeo Air 4 Pro smart glasses Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable
TCL also showed off its RayNeo X3 Pro glasses, released in Dec. 2025. Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable
TCL has been making smart glasses under its RayNeo line for a while now, but without making much of an impact on the market. I think that's going to change with the imminent launch of the new RayNeo Air 4 Pro smart glasses, which arrive Jan. 25.
These are Xreal-style AR glasses with a floating virtual display. However, they boast a true HDR display that's brighter, more colorful, and crisper than any other smart glasses I've tried so far.
And here's the coolest part: They're priced at $299. That's a pretty unbeatable price in this space.
Best audio glasses: Lucyd smart glasses
I'll be honest — I wasn't familiar with Lucyd (pronounced "lucid") prior to CES, but the brand has been making smart glasses for a while. They're really unique glasses in one absolutely critical way: They're priced just like regular glasses. They look and feel just like regular glasses, which I also appreciate.
Lucyd can sell smart glasses for as little as $99 because they aren't trying to do too much. Lucyd frames have speakers built in, which can be helpful for hands-free communication on job sites, listening to music while you work out, getting quick answers from ChatGPT, or taking phone calls on the go.
Trying Lucyd smart glasses at CES 2026. Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable
Lucyd makes audio glasses for brands like Reebok, Eddie Bauer, and others. Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable
A Lucyd representative informed me that the company is focused on creating the best possible eyewear at a reasonable price, and I believe that is evident in the product. The glasses had great sound, and the company's sports glasses (part of a partnership with Reebok) are a particular highlight, along with their prescription frames. Lightweight, stylish, and affordable is a rare combination in the smart glasses world, but Lucyd pulls it off.
You can shop for Lucyd smart sports glasses at the brand's website and other online retailers, with prices starting at just $179 for sports glasses. You can also purchase regular Lucyd frames on Amazon, starting at $99.
Best heads-up display: Even Realities G2
The Even G2 Smart Glasses. Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable
Even Realities had the best display smart glasses I've tried yet, full stop. However, the Even G2 Smart Glasses I tried aren't new for CES. That said, they easily had the best heads-up display I tried at the show, as well as the best live translation. I was able to have a back-and-forth conversation in Italian and English about Formula 1 and Lewis Hamilton, with the glasses display providing a live translation.
Instant, live translation is here. Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable
Even R1 smart ring. Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable
I was also impressed by the map and navigation features, the teleprompter mode, and the overall design. Unlike most smart glasses, they have thin frames, so they don't look as clunky on your face. Even Realities also features a smart ring, which allows you to control the glasses using simple touch controls.
The subtle display on the Even G2 glasses. Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable
You can buy Even Realities G2 glasses directly from the brand's website for $599.
Best newcomer: XGIMI MemoMind AI glasses
The Memo One AI Glasses will be available for preorder soon. Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable
The projector brand XGIMI had a surprise announcement at CES. They're releasing a new line of display smart glasses under the new brand MemoMind. XGIMI incubated the MemoMind startup to release the glasses.
MemoMind will be releasing three smart glasses, although only two have names so far: the Memo One and the Memo Air Display. The latter features a monocular display and offers a more minimalist approach. The Memo One AI glasses feature "integrated speakers with a dual-eye display for both visual and audio AI interaction."
Timothy Werth wearing MemoMind Memo One AI Glasses at CES 2026. Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable
I liked the style of the Memo One glasses on display at CES. Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable
I got to try both glasses, and they had a well-rounded feature set, including navigation, live translation, a teleprompter, and AI summaries. The company says that the glasses run on a "multi-LLM hybrid operating system that automatically selects the most suitable AI model for each task — including OpenAI, Azure, and Qwen."
I liked the design of the glasses on display, and they were impressively lightweight. They will also be fully customizable, both in terms of style and prescription. The Memo One will be available for preorder "soon" for $599.
Best Meta Ray-Ban Display alternative: Rokid AI glasses
Rokid is a Chinese company that sells AR glasses on Amazon. However, for CES, this smart glasses brand announced the launch of a new pair of AI display glasses. The built-in camera can see what you see and instantly provide answers, like the Meta Ray-Ban Display. Unlike the Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses, which have a starting price of $379, these AI display glasses start at $299.
Testing the upcoming Rokid AI Smart Glasses at CES. Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable
During a demo, I asked the glasses to describe the crowded CES scene around me, and it did so with a surprising amount of detail and accuracy. That said, the Rokid live translation feature wasn't as good as what I experienced with Even Realities.
However, if you like the idea of AI glasses that can capture content, answer questions, and provide info via a heads-up display, the new Rokid AI Glasses can do all of the above. Personally, I prefer smart glasses that aren't trying to do too much, but I know some people want all the bells and whistles.
You can preorder the Rokid AI Glasses at the company's website.
Head to the Mashable CES 2026 hub for the latest news and live updates from the biggest show in tech, where Mashable journalists are reporting live.
Tech Editor
Timothy Beck Werth is the Tech Editor at Mashable, where he leads coverage and assignments for the Tech and Shopping verticals. Tim has over 15 years of experience as a journalist and editor, and he has particular experience covering and testing consumer technology, smart home gadgets, and men’s grooming and style products. Previously, he was the Managing Editor and then Site Director of SPY.com, a men's product review and lifestyle website. As a writer for GQ, he covered everything from bull-riding competitions to the best Legos for adults, and he’s also contributed to publications such as The Daily Beast, Gear Patrol, and The Awl.
Tim studied print journalism at the University of Southern California. He currently splits his time between Brooklyn, NY and Charleston, SC. He's currently working on his second novel, a science-fiction book.
