(Image credit: Tom's Guide)
2026 has been a huge year for smart glasses, and I’ve reviewed every single new release that launched this year.After clocking up the amount of flight miles equivalent to traveling around the world twice (one of those quite literally), I’ve been lucky to have the opportunity to really stress test this new crop of specs — be it seeing how far I can push AI features or experiencing a first-class cinema screen while cramped back in economy with AR options.
Best Smart Glasses of 2026 | Best Athletic, AI, Affordable and More! - YouTube
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And when it comes to my personal favorites, three consistent traits have appeared that I always look out for:Design and comfort: They need to pass the plane test (not get me laughed out of economy class for looking silly) and be comfortable to wear all day long. This is a challenge for AR glasses with the prism optics, but they’re figuring it out.Value for money: Smart glasses are exploding in sales right now, but they’re still relatively new on the scene. If you’re going to wear something for extended periods on your face, they better give you great bang for your buck.Features you’ll actually use: A lot of glasses come with a set of features that you’ll use once or twice, and then completely forget about. I always look out for things you’ll actually use consistently over time — features that actually matter (and aren’t just AI slop).Out of the many, many glasses I’ve tested, three stand out specifically for ticking off all these boxes. So if you’re in the market for a pair, I’ve got your back.But first — I’m looking for your thoughts!This year is becoming a significant one for this category, and I want to hear what you think about it. Are you a regular smart glasses wearer? Do you feel it’s all a bit of a gimmick? Any dream features or use cases that would show you the future has arrived? If you’ve got thoughts, I want to hear them!The ultimates: Viture Beast
