6 Effective, but Cheap Augmented Reality Glasses Options
Augmented reality glasses, or “AR smart glasses” have become increasingly popular in recent years. Although Google’s Glass fiasco failed to pay off in the past, it seems like the world is finally ready to embrace AR specs. Still, finding cheap augmented reality glasses isn’t exactly easy.
Although there are a handful of “smart glasses” options out there for $300 or less, like the Meta Ray-Ban glasses, these don’t actually include augmented reality features.
If you want to see virtual content overlaid on top of your real-world environment, you’ll need to pay a little extra. Still, there are a few options out there that won’t cost you a fortune. Here, I’ll be listing some of the most powerful and cheap augmented reality glasses available for less than $500.
The 6 Best Cheap Augmented Reality Glasses
Before we dive in, I want to point out that this list will be looking at augmented reality smart glasses only. This means that smart glasses just with integrated cameras or AI assistants aren’t included. If you want to see a wider range of smart specs vendors, check out our ultimate guide here.
I’ve also been reasonably flexible with the definition of “cheap”. It’s worth remembering that AR glasses do cost a decent amount to build, particularly for vendors investing in high-powered chips and state-of-the-art lenses. So, at least for now, there aren’t a lot of super budget-friendly options out there. Stay tuned though, as I’ll upgrade this list when new specs emerge.
With that out of the way, let’s dive in.
1. XReal Air: The Cheapest Augmented Reality Glasses
Pros:
- Extremely affordable pricing
- Lightweight and simple design
- Powerful Sony Micro-OLED screens
Cons:
- Slight edge blurring for some visuals
- Problems with brightness
XReal has emerged as one of the biggest competitors in the augmented reality glasses landscape in the last couple of years. If you’ve got a little extra cash to splash, I’d probably recommend waiting until the XReal Air 2 Ultras arrive on the scene, for some bonus spatial computing features.
However, if you’re just looking for the most cost-effective glasses out there, the standard XReal Air specs are pretty impressive. Available for less than $300, these glasses offer powerful Sony Mico-OLED screens, for a reasonably impressive HD image. Plus, you get a comfortable and lightweight design that probably won’t draw as much attention as some other smart specs.
Of course, the lower price tag does mean you’ll need to compromise in a few areas. For instance, you’ll only get up to 400 nits of brightness, and the audio performance isn’t incredible. However, I think the XReal Air glasses are great for beginners exploring AR for the first time.
2. XReal Air 2: Professional Smart Glasses
Pros:
- Excellent HD visuals and refresh rates
- 3 degrees of freedom tracking
- Comfortable and lightweight design
Cons:
- Expensive add-ons
- Speakers could be more powerful
Technically, the XReal Air 2 Pro glasses, available for $449 still fit into my definition of “cheap augmented reality glasses”. However, the XReal Air 2 glasses, for $50 less, really only miss out on one feature – the 3 electrochromic dimming levels.
If you’re really trying to cut costs, the lack of this feature isn’t really a huge loss. You still get all of the basic capabilities that make the XReal Air 2 glasses great, such as refresh rates of up to 120 Hz, a 1920 x 1080 pixel per eye resolution, and up to 500 nits of brightness. Plus, there’s a 46-degree field of view, and 3 degrees of freedom tracking, for an immersive experience.
Although these glasses are a little bulkier than regular specs, they’re still comfortable, lightweight, and ergonomic. The visuals you get with these glasses are fantastic, although you might encounter a little blurring around the edges from time to time.
One other thing worth noting is that these specs struggle a little with compatibility. You’ll need to stick with devices with a USB DisplayPort unless you purchase a separate adapter.
3. Viture One Lite: Simple XR Glasses
Pros:
- Excellent 120-inch virtual screen
- Fantastic brightness control
- Spatial audio built-in
Cons:
- Limited field of view
- Basic AR functionality
Demoing at CES 2023, the Viture One smart glasses were one of the first augmented reality glasses introduced by Viture. They offer a 120-inch virtual screen, compatibility with a range of devices, and spatial audio, for immersive collaboration.
Although they’re not as powerful as the Viture Pro glasses (more on those in a moment), they’re still a reliable set of specs, with 1920 x 1080 resolution and a great contrast ratio. However, I should say that the field of view is a little limited, at only 43 degrees.
On the plus side, you do get 7 levels of brightness control, and adjustable elements so you can ensure that the glasses fit perfectly on your face. For around $349, these glasses represent a pretty affordable investment for enterprise and business users in the AR world.
4. Viture Pro XR: Stylish Augmented Reality Glasses
Pros:
- Excellent visuals and clarity
- Lightweight, comfortable, and stylish design
- Great built-in software
- Decent spatial capabilities
Cons:
- Limitations on audio
- Slightly pricier than some alternatives
When I initially reviewed the Viture Pro XR glasses they were selling for around $549, which made them far too pricey for this list. However, now, they’re available for $459, provided you don’t need to bundle in a mobile dock and Bluetooth controller.
Obviously, this still makes the Viture Pro glasses more expensive than Viture’s previous “One” specs, but Viture seems to be phasing those older, more budget-friendly glasses out (albeit gradually).
If you don’t mind stretching your budget a little, the Viture Pro glasses are excellent, with native 3D video capabilities, a phenomenal, 120FPS refresh rate, and Sony Micro OLED screens. Like the XReal Air glasses mentioned above, these specs also include three degrees of freedom tracking, and a similar 46-degree field of view.
The integrated software is fantastic too, making it easy to set up and customize virtual screens, and multitask with different applications.
5. Rokid Max AR Glasses: Exceptional Visuals
Pros:
- Excellent, high-quality visuals
- Immersive audio with surround-sound speakers
- Easy-to-use companion app
- Lightweight and comfortable
Cons:
- Unattractive design
- Expensive with the Rokid Station accessory
Similar to the Viture Pro XR glasses, the Rokid Max glasses are at the top end of the price range for this “cheap augmented reality glasses list”. They’re currently available for about $499, and that doesn’t include the Rokid Station accessory, which I do recommend buying.
Despite their slightly higher price tag, the Rokid Max AR glasses deliver excellent value, with a 120 HZ refresh rate, phenomenal 1080p screens, and professional-grade surround-sound speakers. I also love the use of birdbath optic technology, which helps to reduce the risk of eye strain.
Rokid’s AR glasses are reasonably lightweight and comfortable to wear for long periods of time, and you even get one of the widest fields of view for this price (50 degrees). Plus, you can enable separate focus adjustments for each eye, depending on your visual needs.
I do think the glasses are a little unattractive and bulky compared to some competitors, but this isn’t really too much of a problem if you’re not going to be using them as a fashion accessory.
6. RayNeo Air 2: Best-Selling Cheap Augmented Reality Glasses
Pros:
- Fantastic visual clarity and refresh rate
- Lightweight and comfortable design
- Great privacy features
- Excellent compatibility
Cons:
- Quiet audio
- Quickly drain smartphone battery life
For those looking for cheap augmented reality glasses that look surprisingly stylish, the RayNeo Air 2 specs are fantastic. They’re one of the best-selling pairs of smart specs to emerge in the last couple of years, and they’re available for a relatively affordable price of $379.
One of the best things about the RayNeo Air 2 glasses is the huge virtual screen you’ll get to play with, which spans around 201 inches, and benefits from a phenomenal 120 Hz refresh rate. You also get dynamic stereo sound (though it’s a little quiet at times), and a privacy-protecting whisper mode.
These glasses are lightweight and comfortable and deliver crisp, clean, and bright visuals in virtually all environments. Of course, they can drain the battery life on your smartphone pretty quickly, so don’t expect to be able to use them all day.
On the plus side, if you use prescription lenses, you can get a pair of magnetic lenses, tuned to your prescription, to attach to the inside of these specs.
Choosing from the Top Cheap Augmented Reality Glasses
Ultimately, if you want to access the latest spatial computing experiences with your augmented reality glasses, there’s a good chance you’ll need to be prepared to spend a little extra. Although all of the glasses mentioned above offer some great features, they are reasonably limited in some areas.
The more you’re willing to spend, the more you’ll be able to tap into cutting-edge features, like gesture recognition, and even built-in smart assistants. But if you’re just trying to experiment with the AR specs landscape for the first time, the options above will allow you to do that, without breaking your budget. Just make sure you take your priorities for visual quality, comfort, and functionality into account when comparing vendors.
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