Smart Glasses with Camera vs Display Glasses: Which Do You Need?
"Smart glasses" can mean two very different products. One kind has a camera, speakers and a voice assistant, and looks like normal glasses. The other kind has a screen inside the lenses and works like a big private TV. Most shoppers only want one of these jobs done, so it helps to know which is which before you buy.
Camera smart glasses
Camera glasses have a small camera in the frame, open-ear speakers in the arms, and microphones for calls and voice commands. They connect to your phone over Bluetooth and run on their own battery.
The Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 2) is the best-known example. Per its listing, it has a 12 MP ultra-wide camera, records video up to 3K, and has Meta AI built in for questions, messages and real-time translation. It lasts up to 8 hours with moderate use, and the charging case adds up to 48 hours.
Good for:
- Hands-free photos and video from your point of view
- Music, podcasts and calls without earbuds
- Asking an assistant a question while your hands are busy
What they don't do: show you anything. The Ray-Ban Meta listing says plainly that it has no display in the lenses. Any answer comes back as audio.
Display glasses
Display glasses (often sold as AR or XR glasses) have two tiny screens inside the frame. When you plug them into a phone, laptop or handheld console, you see a large virtual screen floating in front of you. VITURE lists its Pro 2 at 146 inches; RayNeo lists its Air 3s Pro at 201 inches, measured at 6 m away.
Good for:
- Movies and shows on a plane or in bed without a TV
- Gaming on a handheld or console with a bigger picture
- A second screen for a laptop when you travel
What they don't do: take photos. Neither display pair we compared has a camera or a voice assistant listed.
The cable catch: display glasses need a USB-C cable to a device that can send video over USB-C. Older phones, and some consoles, need an extra adapter or hub. RayNeo's own table says iPhone 14 and earlier need an HDMI hub and Apple's AV adapter.
Side by side
| Camera glasses | Display glasses | |
|---|---|---|
| Camera | Yes | No (in the pairs we compared) |
| Screen in the lenses | No | Yes |
| Connection | Bluetooth | USB-C cable |
| Own battery | Yes | Usually runs from your device |
| Voice assistant | Usually built in | Not listed |
| Best for | Photos, calls, quick questions | Movies, games, a travel screen |
What about audio-only glasses?
There's a third kind: glasses with speakers and a microphone, but no camera and no screen. They're the simplest option for music and calls. Some, like the OHO AI glasses, add translation through a phone app. If you mostly want to hear things without earbuds, this kind may be all you need.
Apps and plans
All three kinds can lean on a phone app. Camera glasses usually need one for setup and to move photos to your phone. Display glasses often work without an app as a plain screen, with an optional app for extras like multiple screens or 3D. Before you buy, check which app the glasses need and whether any feature you care about sits behind a paid plan. None of the listings in our comparison states one.
Glasses wearers
Both kinds can work with a prescription, in different ways. Camera glasses are often sold with prescription lenses made into the frame. Display glasses tend to use focus dials or a clip-in insert. See our guide to smart glasses with prescription lenses.
A note on recording
If you choose camera glasses, remember that recording laws and consent rules vary by state and country. Check the local rules before you record, and ask people before you film them.
So which should you buy?
Get camera glasses if you want hands-free photos, calls and an assistant in a pair you can wear all day.
Get display glasses if you want a big screen for movies or games and don't mind a cable to your phone or console.
Get audio glasses if you only want music and calls without earbuds.
For five pairs across all three kinds, see our smart glasses comparison.