Looking for the best Bluetooth audio glasses in 2024? I know the options can be overwhelming, so we've got your back.
In this guide, I'll delve deep into the key factors to consider when choosing your Bluetooth smart glasses and highlight the unique features of our different glasses collections.
Whether you are in search of Ray-ban style audio glasses for everyday wearing, wrap-around style sunglasses to elevate your outdoor sports experience with a musical touch, Bluetooth safety glasses tailored for particular work environments, or bone conduction glasses for hearing aid - rest assured, we have left no stone unturned.
By the end of this guide, you will be fully equipped to select the perfect pair of glasses that aligns flawlessly with your unique needs. No more guesswork or confusion.
Our Top Picks for Bluetooth Audio Glasses
This is the most comprehensive guide for Bluetooth audio glasses. But if you're here for a quick suggestion on how to choose the best ones from our store, here's a snapshot of our top picks:
Hoyee Eyes Originals: These offer the best value in Bluetooth audio glasses. Designed to provide a seamless blend of style, functionality, and affordability, they are perfect for those looking for an all-rounded pair of smart glasses. What's more, they get fully charged within 14 minutes!
Smart Plus: Physical buttons on a modern device may look old fashioned, but they are more reliable in complicated conditions. This model stands out as the most control-friendly smart glasses, thanks to the physical buttons on the temples. If ease of operation matters to you, you can't go wrong with these.
Budget Glamour: Perfect for those dipping their toes into the world of smart glasses. They are our best entry-level audio glasses for people who want to experiment with smart eyewear but are not ready to invest heavily yet.
Quick Release Series: These are the best gaming Bluetooth glasses that are also modular. They feature an impressive Game Mode that, when activated, ensures a minimal latency of just 45ms. This ultra-low latency enhances your gaming experience significantly, providing a seamless and lag-free audio output. With magnetic snap-on interchangeable front frames, you can easily switch up your style while enjoying quality audio.
Quick Release 2nd Gen: These audio glasses are the 2nd generation of the Quick Release series, with thinner and lighter interchangeable temple design and more battery life. From your feedback, we've two specially designed frames for Bluetooth reading glasses.
VocalSkull Sports: If you're into sports and outdoor activities, these are the ideal pick. As wrap-around sports-style bone conduction sunglasses, they offer both comfort and durability for active users. Also a great choice as Bluetooth safety glasses.
Styles of Bluetooth Audio Glasses On The Market
Currently, the market is dominated by two popular styles: the eyeglasses style for everyday wear and the wrap-around sports sunglasses for outdoor enthusiasts.
Everyday Style
This style is designed for regular use and fits seamlessly into your daily life. It ranges from the classic Ray-Ban style sunglasses, perfect for a sunny day out, to more casual eyewear that doubles as your daily prescription glasses. These audio glasses can be paired with clear or photochromic lenses to adapt to various lighting conditions, making them incredibly versatile.
For music lovers, the beauty of these glasses lies in the ability to listen to your favorite tunes, even when the glasses are perched on your head indoors.
If you're looking for more flexibility, consider our modular smart glasses (QR Series 2nd Generation) with interchangeable front frames, allowing you to switch your look for different occasions.
For those who love gaming and accept a little bigger temples, try our 1st Gen QR Series, also with multiple front frames for quick swap. It has a gaming mode, which once enabled, allow 45ms low latency gaming experience.
However, this style comes with a caveat - the lenses are rather flat, leaving your peripheral vision exposed, which may not be ideal for those seeking full eye protection.
Wrap-Around Sports Audio Sunglasses
For those who lead an active lifestyle or require Bluetooth safety glasses, the wrap-around style is a perfect choice. These Bluetooth sunglasses offer a snug fit and provide comprehensive eye protection, making them ideal for intense activities or outdoor adventures.
The wrap-around design ensures that your eyes are protected from every angle, allowing you to focus on your running, cycling etc. without worrying about your eyes' safety.
While the wrap-around style of Bluetooth audio glasses is perfect for outdoor adventures and intense activities, it might not be the best fit for indoor or office use. Even with clear lenses, their high-profile design can feel a bit too 'standout' for daily indoor wear.
If your work requires safety eyewear, consider fitting these frames with clear polycarbonate lenses. Not only will this convert them into Bluetooth safety glasses, but it will also let you enjoy your favorite audiobooks or music while working. It's a great way to combine safety and entertainment seamlessly, making your workday a bit more enjoyable!
That being said, although fitting wrap-around Bluetooth glasses with clear polycarbonate lenses can convert them into safety eyewear of sorts, it's crucial to remember that these are primarily designed as sports sunglasses.
As such, they might not offer the same level of protection as dedicated safety glasses. So while they can provide some measure of protection and a great audio experience, for tasks requiring stringent safety standards, it's best to stick with certified safety glasses (and focus solely on the task at hand without any audio background that could potentially serve as a distraction).
After all, safety should always be the top priority when performing high-risk tasks.
Check out our wrap-around bone conduction sports sunglasses for more information.
The style of smart eyewear you choose should align with your lifestyle and specific needs. Always remember, the best Bluetooth audio glasses are not only about sound quality, but also about providing a comfortable and stylish wearing experience.
What's Behind the Bulky Design of Smart Glasses' Temples?
When you examine smart glasses, one of the first things you might notice is the bulkier temples. You might wonder, "Why are these so much larger than traditional glasses?" The answer lies in the balancing act between incorporating technology and maintaining the aesthetics and comfort of eyewear.
The size of the temples in smart glasses often directly correlates to the quantity and quality of the tech housed within them. Larger temples typically (though not always) mean a larger battery for longer usage time, more advanced audio components for superior sound quality, and additional chipsets that enable a range of smart features.
However, the challenge is that these temples can sometimes become too bulky in pursuit of superior audio and smart capabilities, compromising the primary function and comfort of the glasses. There's an important trade-off to consider between the "smart audio" part and the "glasses" part.
Different brands approach this balance in various ways. For instance, Bose Frames leans more towards prioritizing audio quality, resulting in a more substantial temple design. On the other hand, our Bluetooth audio glasses aim to strike a harmonious balance between smart features, audio quality, and the overall wearing experience.
Hinge - The Part That Often Gets Ignored
The size of the temples in smart glasses often directly correlates to the quantity and quality of the tech housed within them. But you might notice that these bulky temples often come paired with a more robust hinge design - the part that connects the glasses' arm to the front frame.
This bulkier hinge is not just a design choice but could indicate whether the glasses use True Wireless Stereo (TWS) technology, a factor that may impact the durability of the glasses. I’ll talk more about this in the later section "Wireless, But Not Fully Wireless - Why How Temples Synchronize Matters".
The Importance of Smart Glasses Being Like Everyday Glasses
The aesthetics of Bluetooth audio glasses play a crucial role in their adoption and usability. One of the main appeals of these glasses is their ability to seamlessly blend high-tech functionality with everyday wearability. Ideally, you'd want your Bluetooth audio glasses to look like regular glasses.
Why is this so important? It's because while you might appreciate the technological advancements these glasses provide, you may not necessarily want to broadcast it to the world. Drawing immediate attention or being labeled as a 'geek cyborg' due to your eyewear isn't everyone's cup of tea. Instead, many prefer their tech to stay low profile, hidden, and unnoticeable, allowing them to enjoy the benefits without standing out in a crowd.
A case in point is the Google Glass. While innovative, its futuristic design made it quite noticeable and, to some, socially awkward. This public perception was one of the factors that hindered its mass-market appeal.
At Hoyee Eyes, we understand the importance of discreet design. The Bluetooth audio glasses in our store strive to strike that perfect balance - merging cutting-edge technology with a design that's stylish and, importantly, not out of place in your everyday life. With our glasses, you can enjoy the best of both worlds: superior tech hidden in plain sight!
Most Convenient Way To Charge Your Glasses
The charging method for your Bluetooth smart glasses may not seem like a major consideration at first glance (yes, charging time and battery life are two more important factors, I’ll cover them later), but it can significantly impact your overall user experience. After all, these are devices you'll likely be using daily, so understanding how to power them up is essential. Let's dive into the four common charging methods: magnetic charging, Type-C charging, micro-USB charging, and charging via a charging case.
Magnetic Charging
This method uses a proprietary connector that easily snaps onto the glasses. It's quick and effortless.
Imagine you've had a long day and you're finally home, ready to unwind. You take off your glasses and get them charged. With magnetic charging, there's no hassle of aligning tiny connectors or figuring out which way the cable plugs in. You simply bring the proprietary connector close to the charging port on the glasses, and it snaps into place effortlessly.
Our Originals, Smart Plus, QR Series and Budget Glamour collections use this charging method to give you the best experience.
The downside?
It's not universal. If you travel frequently or commute long distances, packing an extra, specific cable just for your glasses might be a bit of a hassle. And if you accidentally lose it, you'll need to buy a new one because it's unique, not something most people have lying around.
While this is a relatively minor inconvenience, it's something to keep in mind when considering your charging options.
Type-C Charging
Type-C is a more universal charging method that's used by a wide variety of devices, including many smartphones. If your phone also uses a Type-C cable, you can save some packing space (and hassle!) by using the same cable to charge both your phone and your glasses.
Take a look at our VocalSkull Sports Wrap-around Bone Conduction Sunglasses - they conveniently use Type-C charging, perfect for on-the-go ease!
Micro-USB Charging
Surprisingly, even in 2023, some bone conduction glasses still use micro-USB charging. However, most of our electronic devices today have moved away from this older charging standard. So, if your smart glasses still use it, it means - you guessed it - packing another cable. While it's not a huge inconvenience, fewer cables to worry about is always a plus.
Charging Case
Some smart glasses come with a charging case, which can either charge the glasses wirelessly or through magnetic connecting dots when stored inside. The case itself is usually charged via a Type-C cable. While this does still require a cable, a significant advantage of this method is that it can boost your glasses' battery life while you're on the go, extending your usage time and convenience.
Charging Time: When Your Bluetooth Eyewear Take A Rest
Imagine this: Your friend calls you up for an impromptu hangout, and you're eager to join.
But you find yourself saying, "Sorry mate, I can't go, I'm charging my glasses."
Sounds bizarre, right? Well, welcome to the era of smart devices! Battery life is a topic we can never ignore, probably until we all have personal nuclear reactors in our pockets... but let's leave that for another day.
For now, let's talk about the reality of battery life in Bluetooth audio glasses. As we mentioned earlier, a larger battery might result in bulkier and heavier temples, so it's about finding the sweet spot. Most Bluetooth audio glasses on the market have a charging time that ranges from 1 to 2.5 hours. If you're using these as your prescription glasses or everyday sunglasses, that means there will be a period when you can't use them.
So, what's the solution?
You have a few options. You could buy several pairs and rotate their use, purchase extra temples as battery backups and use a screwdriver to switch the front frames between them (modular Bluetooth glasses make this process a breeze!), or choose glasses with a battery life that supports a whole day's listening and charge them overnight.
But life is unpredictable. What if you forget to charge one day? Well, we've got you covered. Introducing Hoyee Eyes Originals - with a lightning-fast charging time, you can get a full charge in just 14 minutes.
Imagine one morning you’ve overslept and are scrambling to get ready for work. You grab your Bluetooth prescription glasses, only to find that you forgot to charge them overnight. No worries! Plug them in, and by the time you're dressed and have your coffee in hand, they'll be fully charged and ready to go.
Your Glasses’ Battery Life: Not All About Battery Size
It's easy to assume that the larger the battery size, the better, right? But, in the world of Bluetooth audio glasses, it's not quite that simple.
Yes, a larger battery can indeed provide longer battery life, but this comes at the cost of increased size and weight of the glasses' temples. This could potentially affect the comfort and aesthetic appeal of your glasses.
Let's take a look at some of the top performers in terms of battery life:
- Bose Frames Tenor: These stylish glasses provide up to 5.5 hours of battery life, allowing you to enjoy your favorite music or podcasts for longer.
- Bose Frames Tempo: Made for the active wearer, these glasses really push the boundaries with an impressive 8 hours of battery life. Whether you're out for a day-long hike or simply enjoying a leisurely day out, the Tempo ensures your soundtrack won't be interrupted.
- Hoyee Eyes Originals: Despite their compact and lightweight design, these glasses pack a punch with up to 4 hours of battery life.
- Smart Plus: These glasses take it up a notch with up to 6 hours of battery life, perfect for those long commutes or workdays.
- QR Series: With a battery life of up to 5 hours, these glasses strike a nice balance between the Originals and Smart Plus.
- QR 2nd Gen: Upgraded larger batteries for 6-8 hours of continuous usage.
- VocalSkull Sports: Designed with outdoor enthusiasts in mind, these glasses provide up to 4 hours of battery life, keeping your tunes playing throughout your workout or hike.
- Budget Glamour: Don't let the "budget" part fool you - these glasses offer an impressive 6 hours of battery life, matching the performance of higher-priced models.
Speakers: The Heartbeat Of Bluetooth Audio Glasses
Bluetooth audio glasses typically come equipped with one of two types of speakers: directional speakers and bone conduction transducers. But what does that mean, and how do they impact your audio experience?
Directional Speakers
For glasses with this design, the speakers are positioned in such a way that the sound is directed straight into your ears. This creates a more immersive sound experience compared to building traditional speakers into the glasses, which broadcast sound into the environment around you. However, it's not a perfect system - some sound leakage is almost inevitable, so it's not like your audio is being 'beamed' directly into your ears. In quiet environments, others nearby may still be able to catch snippets of your audio.
Bone Conduction Transducers
This technology works by creating vibrations that are carried by your facial bones directly to your inner ear, bypassing your eardrums. This is particularly useful for those with conductive hearing loss, as it allows them to hear sounds they wouldn't normally be able to. Just like with directional speakers, some sound leakage can occur. This is because part of the vibration still results in sound in the air. Generally, bone conduction transducers cost more than directional speakers, especially if you're looking for high-quality audio.
So, how do you choose?
If audio quality is paramount and you're budget-conscious, glasses with directional speakers might be your best bet.
If you have conductive hearing loss, bone conduction technology could be a game-changer.
For those who value high-quality audio and want to minimize potential hearing damage, a higher-end pair of glasses with bone conduction technology may be worth the investment.
Keep in mind, though, that bone conduction technology doesn't guarantee zero hearing damage - that's a topic for another discussion.
In the case that you're considering bone conduction glasses primarily as a hearing aid alternative, it's crucial to consult with a healthcare professional first. While these glasses can indeed be a transformative tool for those with conductive hearing loss, they aren't a one-size-fits-all solution. Your doctor or audiologist can provide personalized advice based on your specific hearing condition and needs. Investing in your hearing health should always involve professional advice and guidance.
Sound Leakage: The “Open” Secret of Bluetooth Audio Glasses
For Bluetooth glasses, open-ear design has already become the standard. After all, who wants a pair of glasses that block off your surroundings completely? It's not exactly the best sell. But with this open-ear design, there's a little companion we just can't shake off - sound leakage.
Perhaps one day we'll have the technology that could let us beam sound anywhere, like teleporting a cup of coffee straight from the machine into your hand. Until then, the current state of audio technology means that sound leakage is simply something we have to accept.
However, that doesn't mean brands aren't trying to minimize it. For example, Hoyee Eyes Originals use redesigned sound channel and repositioned directive speakers to reduce sound leakage by over 70% at low to medium volume levels.
Quick Release Series opted for a more hands-on approach. Each pair comes with leak reduction cover pads that you can attach around the speaker grills for times when you need to keep your audio more private. It's a simple, physical solution, but it works.
Soundcore Frames offer a privacy mode, which turns off half the speakers and tweaks the EQ settings to help reduce sound leakage. Vocals can still be heard, but it's a step in the right direction.
Meanwhile, VocalSkull Alien 5 uses bone conduction transducers to generate stronger vibrations with less sound leaking into the air. And speaking of bone conduction, Shokz has a technology called LeakSlayer, designed to “release sound generated by the transducers in order to cancel sound generated by the housing, significantly reducing leakage, even when compared to traditional headphones and earbuds”.
Bose Frames claim an "innovative design" that "drastically reduces the spread of sound beyond you". It sounds impressive, but as the volume goes up, so does the sound leakage. It's an unavoidable reality for now.
Whatever the hypes, it's better to be informed and manage your expectations. Sound leakage is part of the package, at least until we invent Star Trek-style beam technology. But hey, we can dream, right?
The Art Of Control: How Interaction With Your Bluetooth Glasses Defines Your Experience
When talking about smart glasses, we often get so caught up in discussing audio quality that we forget about another key aspect: control. Imagine owning a top-of-the-line sports car with all the bells and whistles, but every time you want to go for a drive, you have to crank-start it like a Model T Ford. Not very practical, right? The same principle applies to Bluetooth audio glasses. If the controls aren't user-friendly, you might as well stick with a regular pair of glasses.
There are three common ways to interact with Bluetooth glasses: gesture control on the temples' touchpad, button control, and built-in voice control.
Gesture Control
Gesture control is intuitive, with actions like swiping forward, backward, tapping or double tapping. But sweat or wet hands can affect the accuracy of your gestures. Moreover, in winter when static electricity is abundant, it could interfere with the touchpad too.
Button Control
Button control may seem a little old school, but it's reliable in all conditions. It's like the dependable old manual transmission in a world of fancy automatics.
Smart Plus has two physical buttons that are reliable for all the controls you need, including volume control, pausing/skipping songs and answering/rejecting calls.
Built-in Voice Control
Built-in voice control, on the other hand, is highly dependent on environmental conditions, but it does allow for completely hands-free operation. This is ideal for situations like driving, working from home, cooking, or other scenarios where your hands might be otherwise occupied.
Models like the VocalSkull Sports offer both gesture and built-in voice control, providing a flexible, intuitive way to interact with your glasses. This way, you can choose the most convenient control method depending on your situation.
When considering your next pair of smart glasses, remember that good control is just as important as good sound. After all, nobody wants a high-tech device that's a pain to use.
How Multipoint Connection Simplifies Life For Power Users
Today, it's not uncommon to juggle multiple devices throughout the day. Bouncing between your smartphone and laptop? It can be a real hassle to reconnect your headphones each time you switch. Multipoint Connection is designed to simplify the life of these power users.
Multipoint Connection allows your smart glasses to stay connected to more than one device at once. You're no longer required to manually switch the connection when moving from one device to another. Instead, your Bluetooth audio glasses will automatically switch to the active device, providing seamless transitions between tasks.
For instance, you could be jamming to your favorite playlist on your laptop while working. Then, your smartphone rings. With Multipoint Connection, your glasses will automatically switch to your phone, allowing you to take the call without missing a beat. After ending the call, you can seamlessly switch back to the music on your laptop.
Currently, VocalSkull Alien 5 and VocalSkull Sports both support this feature.
Next time you're in the market for Bluetooth glasses, make sure to consider whether Multipoint Connection is a feature you'd like to have in your arsenal.
Wireless, But Not Fully Wireless - Why How Temples Synchronize Matters
Bluetooth audio glasses are wireless, but the degree of this "wireless-ness" can vary, when considering the connectivity between the two temples. In reality, the way the temples synchronize can heavily influence your user experience.
Wired Temples
For example, some smart glasses, such as VocalSkull Sports and Bose Frames Tempo, use wired temples. This means that the two temples are interconnected by wires running through the front frame, which is usually noticeable through a bulkier hinge design.
This hinge not only houses the necessary wires but also provides enhanced protection, with the larger design particularly beneficial for sports-style sunglasses that require extra resilience for high-intensity activities.
One of the major advantages of this wired connection is flawless synchronization. You won't encounter any lag or one-sided audio issues. However, the downside lies in potential durability concerns. The hinge, being subjected to constant opening and closing, can put strain on the internal cables, potentially leading to breaks over time. To address this, VocalSkull Sports have hinges that have been rigorously tested, withstanding up to 100,000 open-close cycles to ensure their durability.
TWS Temples
In contrast, some Bluetooth glasses such as Originals and Smart Plus, use True Wireless Stereo (TWS) speakers, with sleek metal hinges connecting the temples and front frames.
This design is commonly found in audio glasses that emphasize a slim and sleek aesthetic. Since the temples communicate wirelessly, there's no need for bulky hinges or concerns about cable durability. This wireless design also suits modular smart glasses like the QR Series, which offer interchangeable front frames with convenient magnetic snap-on hinges.
However, these benefits come with their own set of caveats. Occasionally, due to various reasons, the two temples might lose synchronization. This can lead to issues such as audio output from only one temple or an audio lag between the two sides.
In such cases, a factory reset is required to reestablish synchronization, which can be an inconvenience. Though such issues are rare, it's important to be aware of them before making a purchasing decision.
Conclusion
Congratulations, if you've made it this far, you've now got a comprehensive understanding of everything you need to make an informed decision to buy Bluetooth audio glasses. If there's anything more you'd like to know or any aspects you believe should be included in this guide, please don't hesitate to reach out.
