Solos launched its new AirGo3 smartglasses on Wednesday and these third-generation augmented actuality glasses supply a singular method to linked eyewear with a heavy emphasis on audio options, consolation, usability, modular design, and a really approachable value.
Beginning at $199 and scaling as much as $299 — even with prescription lenses and/or photochromatic lenses that darken into sun shades whenever you go exterior — the AirGo3 are a pair of AR glasses which can be very straightforward to arrange and use.
I have been making an attempt a pair of the AirGo3s for a few week forward of immediately’s launch and I used to be impressed with the audio high quality, the usability of the companion app, the variety of good options, and the way a lot tech was packed into what seems from the surface to be a really regular set of glasses. In addition they look good — with quite a lot of types to select from — and are snug to put on.
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Whereas the AirGo3 are AR glasses, there is not any heads up show display within the glasses just like the notorious Google Glass. The entire expertise is packed into the arms on the perimeters of frames after which the arms are each connected to the entrance body through USB-C connectors in every arm in order that it is easy to swap out totally different types of entrance frames and lenses. Solos calls this distinctive system its SmartHinge, and it is one of the vital modern facets of the product.
In an interview with ZDNET, Kenneth Fan, Solos co-founder, stated that the corporate began its product journey to AR glasses with a heads-up show however ultimately needed to create a product that was reasonably priced, snug, and first-and-foremost a wonderful eyewear product. The crew additionally found that there have been a ton of options they may construct round audio. Fan acknowledged {that a} heads-up show will doubtless be a part of the product sooner or later when show expertise advances.
The AirGo3 additionally haven’t got cameras like Meta’s Ray-Ban Good Glasses. Nonetheless, each merchandise load loads of expertise into what ostensibly feel and appear like your on a regular basis glasses. That is a key step ahead for smartglasses.
The standout options within the AirGo3 are:
- 100 decibel audio system on both sides
- Stay translation makes use of AI to translate conversations from a language you do not know
- Ask ChatGPT questions together with your voice and get audio responses
- Audio reads of your textual content messages and calendar occasions in actual time
- Take cellphone calls
- Exercise and health monitoring
- Posture correction
- 10 hours of music playback or 7 hours of name time
- Blue mild filtering on all lenses to scale back digital eye pressure
- IP67 waterproof
- Weigh simply 30g
- App works with iPhone or Android
ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation (for now)
This isn’t a assessment of the Solos AirGo3 since I have never spent sufficient time with the product to supply full shopping for recommendation. There’s rather a lot I like. I additionally struggled at occasions to activate the chat and translation options. And, I do not love that there is a $10/month subscription to unlock some superior options.
Nonetheless, I dig how snug these smartglasses are, the blue mild filtering is nice, the audio system and sound high quality are strong, and so they really feel like a pleasant step on the journey to smartglasses that may convey us extra ambient computing in order that we do not have to spend as a lot time our telephones and different screens.
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If you would like to do exercise monitoring with out having to put on a smartwatch or a health band and you need to interchange your earbuds with one thing somewhat extra pure and fewer socially isolating, then the AirGo3 could possibly be a pleasant possibility for you.
In case you do numerous journey to overseas international locations the place you do not at all times communicate the language then the reside translation characteristic could possibly be actually useful. I used to be very stunned at how correct it was in my checks the place I performed a YouTube video in Chinese language (with the subtitles on the display) and the AirGo3 translated it very precisely, with solely a slight delay. In my case, I learn the translations within the app fairly than having the glasses communicate the translations.
The very best factor concerning the AirGo3 could be the $199 price ticket. They do not have as robust of a model identify because the Ray-Ban Meta Good Glasses, however they value much less and have fewer privateness issues. In case you’re enthusiastic about exploring the way forward for smartglasses or just making your glasses smarter (for roughly the identical value of getting new glasses frames), the AirGo3 are a enjoyable place to start out.