AI glasses have been gaining popularity for a few years, and most of the attention goes to their cameras and built-in assistants. One feature gets less notice: the open-ear speakers. For some people, those speakers may be enough to make a pair of headphones or earbuds unnecessary.
Models such as the Ray-Ban Metas have speakers that aim sound straight into the user's ear. That setup lets them listen to music, take phone calls and hear alerts. The real question is whether they can completely replace a pair of earbuds or headphones.
The first Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses arrived in October 2023, and reaction was mixed. The glasses packed a lot of technology into a frame that closely resembles a regular pair of Ray-Bans. But a camera on the wearer's face, able to record and even livestream whatever the wearer sees, drew backlash. Some establishments, including MSC Cruises and Royal Caribbean, banned or restricted smart glasses.
That concern pushed several companies, Meta among them, to build AI glasses without cameras. The Ray-Ban Meta Audio offers most of the same features as its camera-equipped counterparts, with more privacy.
Where the sound falls short
On paper, headphones win easily. Two small speakers housed inside a pair of glasses cannot compete with a large, dedicated headphone designed to deliver the best portable sound possible. Anyone who puts audio quality first should look elsewhere.
Ease of use, portability and comfort are a different story. Glasses offer advantages that headphones and earbuds cannot match.
Why glasses can beat headphones for everyday use
The biggest advantage is that the glasses are not a separate gadget to carry. They are already on your face, waiting for you to use them. If you wear glasses already, they barely register as a device at all.
They also leave your ears open. Good headphones are built to shut out the world, which is great for immersion but means missing a honking car or a friend trying to get your attention. Open-ear speakers let you keep listening to a podcast or music while staying aware of your surroundings. You do not have to pause your music to talk to a store clerk. A swipe on the side of the frame lowers the volume, and conversation carries on much as it would in a car or at a restaurant.
Much of daily use is less dramatic than the promotional videos, which often show people holding long conversations with an AI assistant. The more useful function is quieter. The assistant can read incoming messages and reminders aloud, which can keep you from repeatedly pulling out your phone and drifting into doomscrolling. Headphones can do the same with Siri or Google Gemini, but only if you are wearing them when the message arrives. The glasses are always on your face.
Phone calls may be where the glasses shine most. Holding a phone to your ear for a long call is tiring. Over-ear headphones get hot after a while, and earbuds seal you off from the street. The glasses trap no heat, and you can walk around, hear traffic and even watch television while still on the call.
There is a trade-off. Open speakers are never as private as headphones. If you sit next to someone in a quiet room, they may hear your whole conversation. On a busy street or on a bus or train, though, the sound leakage is minimal.
For anyone who has avoided smart glasses over privacy worries or the odd looks they can draw, a camera-free model may be the answer. The open-ear speakers alone could justify the price for buyers who care more about quality of life than audio fidelity. They might even help cut down on screen time.
Este artículo fue escrito con la asistencia de IA.
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