When AI glasses can be a worthy replacement for headphones
Tech outlet Engadget examines when glasses with AI features and open-ear speakers can stand in for headphones. They lose on sound quality but win on everyday convenience and awareness of surroundings.
Glasses with a built-in AI assistant, such as the Ray-Ban Meta, have been growing in popularity, and tech outlet Engadget points to a feature that often goes unnoticed: open-ear speakers. These direct sound straight toward the wearer's ears, allowing them to listen to music, take phone calls and receive alerts. The article asks whether that is enough for the glasses to fully replace headphones or earbuds.
Privacy and the camera question
The first Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses were released in October 2023 and drew a mixed reaction. The camera, which can record and even livestream whatever the wearer is looking at, caused backlash. Some businesses, including cruise operators MSC Cruises and Royal Caribbean, banned or restricted smart glasses. As a result, several makers, Meta among them, have started offering models without a camera. The Ray-Ban Meta Audio keeps most of the same features while offering greater privacy.
Sound quality and convenience
On sound quality, the glasses cannot compete with dedicated headphones, so anyone who cares only about audio should look elsewhere. On ease of use, portability and comfort, however, they have advantages. They are not an extra gadget to carry, which is especially handy for people who already wear glasses.
The second advantage is that the ears stay unobstructed. Headphones cut the wearer off from their surroundings, so a car horn or someone calling out can go unnoticed. With glasses, you can listen to music or a podcast while staying aware of what is around you. Talking to a store clerk does not require stopping the music: a swipe on the side of the frame lowers the volume.
Messages and calls
In daily use, the AI voice reading out incoming messages and reminders helps reduce how often you pick up your phone. Because the glasses are worn all the time, alerts arrive even when headphones are not in your ears. Phone calls are where the glasses stand out: they spare you the fatigue of holding a phone to your ear, do not trap heat like over-ear headphones, and do not seal you off from ambient sound.
Open-ear speakers are less private than headphones, and someone sitting right next to you in a quiet room might overhear a call. On the street, or on a bus or train, the author says sound leakage is minimal. The article concludes that camera-free glasses can be worth buying for people who value quality of life over sound quality.
