David Carnoy Executive Editor / Reviews
Executive Editor David Carnoy has been a leading member of CNET’s Reviews team since 2000. He covers the gamut of gadgets and is a notable reviewer of mobile accessories and portable audio products, including headphones and speakers. He’s also an e-reader and e-publishing expert as well as the author of the novels Knife Music, The Big Exit and Lucidity. All the titles are available as Kindle, iBooks, Nook e-books and audiobooks.
- Maggie Award for Best Regularly Featured Web Column/Consumer
Most modular
5. Soundcore Frames Bluetooth smart glasses with interchangeable frames
Most comfortable
7. Amazon Echo Frames (3nd Gen)
Best clip-on Bluetooth speaker accessory for glasses
8. JLab JBuds Frames
If you prefer glasses to contact lenses or you regularly rock your favorite sunnies while out and about, you may also struggle with keeping your headphones on for extended periods. The glasses and headphones combo can be hard on the ears and may cause some discomfort. This is why we have Bluetooth audio glasses that act as a two-in-one device. They’re essentially a form of wireless open headphones that allow you to hear the outside world while listening to audio streamed from your smartphone and other Bluetooth-enabled devices.
Watch this: Checking out audio glasses
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That said, if you listen to more spoken-word audio — whether that’s podcasts, audiobooks or talk radio — audio glasses are fine, since they’re strongest in the midrange, where vocals live. And most of the audio glasses on this list work well for making phone calls. Some feature beam-forming microphones and bone-conduction technology.
Aside from audio quality, the other important factor is the glasses’ design. There’s a lot of variation there as well, with some models fitting better and looking more stylish than others.
Read more: Best Places to Buy Replacement Prescription Lenses Online in 2023
It should be noted that you can add prescription lenses to most audio sunglasses, and it’s easy to send your glasses to an online replacement lens site. However, that adds to the overall cost, since replacement lenses generally cost around $100 to $200, depending on the type of lens you choose.
Though I’m recommending only a few models at this point, I’ll update this list as new ones are released. More should be coming, with improvements.
<div content="LIST ITEM" superlative="Best sound (and best for sports)" description="
If you’re looking for the best-sounding pair of audio glasses with superior overall performance — that includes call quality and battery life — the Bose Frames Tempo are the one to get. Bose’s innovative eyewear is ostensibly a sports model designed for runners and bikers, and while they’re a little bulky, they stay on your head securely.
The Tempo offers slightly better sound and battery life than the more traditional-looking Tenor and Soprano (see below). The Tempo has better specs all-around, with USB-C charging and larger 22mm drivers. These Bluetooth sunglasses also deliver up to 8 hours of battery life, and have simple one-touch volume control so you can adjust your music on the fly. Bose sunglasses are made of the polarized lens and they are prescription, or Rx ready, meaning you can select Bose Frames with your prescription lens.
Their sound is definitely improved from the original Frames. Bose says the Tempo plays "deeper and louder — loud enough for cycling at 25 mph — while still able to hear traffic and your training partners." According to Bose, they’re sweat-, weather-, scratch- and shatter-resistant, and they fit under most protective helmets. (I had no problem using them with a couple of bike helmets.) They also work well for making calls, thanks to a new dual-microphone system. Optional lenses are available for $39 and you can order prescription lenses through Lensabl.
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If you’re looking for the best-sounding pair of audio glasses with superior overall performance — that includes call quality and battery life — the Bose Frames Tempo are the one to get. Bose’s innovative eyewear is ostensibly a sports model designed for runners and bikers, and while they’re a little bulky, they stay on your head securely.
The Tempo offers slightly better sound and battery life than the more traditional-looking Tenor and Soprano (see below). The Tempo has better specs all-around, with USB-C charging and larger 22mm drivers. These Bluetooth sunglasses also deliver up to 8 hours of battery life, and have simple one-touch volume control so you can adjust your music on the fly. Bose sunglasses are made of the polarized lens and they are prescription, or Rx ready, meaning you can select Bose Frames with your prescription lens.
Their sound is definitely improved from the original Frames. Bose says the Tempo plays “deeper and louder — loud enough for cycling at 25 mph — while still able to hear traffic and your training partners.” According to Bose, they’re sweat-, weather-, scratch- and shatter-resistant, and they fit under most protective helmets. (I had no problem using them with a couple of bike helmets.) They also work well for making calls, thanks to a new dual-microphone system. Optional lenses are available for $39 and you can order prescription lenses through Lensabl.
<div content="LIST ITEM" superlative="Best Bluetooth audio glasses with deep discounts" description="
Razer has made a surprise entry into the audio glasses arena and the result is surprisingly good. The Razer Anzu smart glass comes in round and square versions in two different size options. In terms of sound, they’re arguably just a tad behind the Bose Tenor and Soprano shown below (like those models, the Anzu has 16mm drivers), but they’re pretty close. While they’re a little bass-shy, they have more bass than some of the other models on this list. The lower price tag also gives them a value advantage over the Bose, and right now you can pick them up for as low as $40.
They’re also pretty light and comfortable to wear (as you can see from the photo, I tried the square version). The small version weighs 43 grams while the large weighs 48 grams. By comparison, the Echo Frames, the lightest audio glasses on this list, are 31 grams. The glasses include 35% blue light filtering lenses along with a set of polarized sunglass lenses (you can easily swap them in). This smart eyewear is touch-enabled, plus you can play or pause media, manage calls and pair easily to your PC device. The built-in Bluetooth speaker hidden on its frame provides stutter-free sound and does not skip or delay audio.
These wireless Bluetooth sunglasses are IPX4 water-resistant (meaning they’re splashproof) so you can use them for running. Audio glasses work well for running and biking, because they leave your ears open so you can hear traffic. Battery life is rated at up to 5 hours at moderate volume levels, and additional polarized lenses are available for $30.
Also worth noting: Since Razer is a "gaming lifestyle" company, it’s highlighting its low-latency Bluetooth technology. It says the "customized Bluetooth 5.1 connection brings industry-leading 60ms latency for smooth, stutter-free sound."
The Razer Anzu companion app for iOS and Android enables firmware updates, lets you make EQ adjustments (default, enhanced clarity or treble boost), access latency settings and check battery status. You can make calls with them and access your virtual assistant with a button press.
Razer has partnered with Lensabl for prescription glasses lenses, although more online replacement lens sites, including replacerxlenses.com and overnightglasses.com, can fit them with Rx lenses. Lensabl is offering a 15% discount to Anzu owners, but you can compare its prices with other sites’ prices.
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Like the Tempo, the Tenor and Soprano are part of Bose’s line of second-generation audio sunglasses. While the Tempo is more sports-oriented, these models are designed to look like regular glasses. (You can still run or bike with them but they’re not rated for water- or sweat-resistance.) They’re slicker-looking than the original Bose Alto and Rondo Frames, and they have a glossy finish. The Tenor fit my face better than the Soprano, which — as the name implies — Bose is aiming at women who like oversized sunglasses. Anecdotally, my daughter likes them.
Bose improved the sound in the Tenor and Soprano, and the battery life is better. It’s up to 5.5 hours instead of around 3.5 hours, charging with a pogo-pin cable rather than USB-C. Both pairs of sunglasses play a little louder than the original Frames, and the bass response is better, so music sounds fuller and richer. Don’t expect the big bass you get from a standard set of headphones, though, and they can distort at higher volumes. Still, the sound is significantly better than what you get from even the best bone-conduction headphones like those from AfterShokz, which developed a pair of audio sunglasses but never shipped them out.
Like the Tempo, Bose has also upgraded the voice-calling capabilities in these models, adding dual beam-forming microphones. These smart sunglasses allow you to take calls on the go, hands-free. Bose offers optional lenses for $39. Since these sunglasses have a more traditional design, more online replacement lens sites — including replacerxlenses.com, Lensabl and overnightglasses.com — can fit them with Rx lenses.
