The best smart glasses to listen to music or talk on the phone comfortably | Shop window: shopping and offers

At first glance, any of these glasses look like normal sunglasses but, in reality, They hide tiny speakers in their temples that allow you to enjoy music, calls and a multitude of applications in hands-free mode.They connect to the smartphone via Bluetooth and work in a very similar way to wireless headphones, allowing you to listen to the sound coming from any application on your phone.

Its advantage over headphones is that, Since they are not inserted into the ear, they do not block outside noise and are safer when walking down the street. and they also allow you to hold conversations with other people without any problem. However, it only makes sense to use them outdoors, since otherwise their dark lenses will prevent you from seeing properly (and some models have the option of changing them and putting on some ‘for seeing’ ones).

What are the best Bluetooth glasses?

There are still not many Bluetooth-enabled sunglasses on the market, and even fewer made by top-tier brands. For this comparison We have chosen four of the best-selling models on Amazon: two from well-known brands and two cheaper ones from unknown manufacturers. The price difference between them is substantial, but so is their build and audio quality. These are Bose Frames Tenor (with an average score of 8.75 points); HUAWEI X Gentle Monster Eyewear II (8,5); LUPPO polarized sunglasses (7) y WNZL Bluetooth glasses (6,5).

Despite the big differences between them, we have valued the same aspects, related to both their construction and their capabilities as sunglasses and, of course, the quality of the sound they offer.

– Design: materials used, finish and construction, adaptability to different types of face, resistance…

– Glasses: the protection offered by your lenses, whether or not they are polarized or if they can be exchanged, what options there are and how to do it.

– Sound quality: how they sound with different types of music, during hands-free calls and when using applications such as GPS. In addition, the way the sound is directed to the ears and whether it can be heard from ‘the outside’ has been assessed.

– Autonomy: how many hours the battery lasts during use, how long it takes to charge and how it is done (type of charger, where it is plugged in, etc.).

– Others: any aspect related to its operation, connectivity and ease of linking with the mobile phone, if it has an app to manage its operation, if the control is touch-sensitive and what options it offers.

The best Bluetooth glasses. Comparison

Each of the four Bluetooth sunglasses participating in this comparison has been tested for a minimum of 15 days with two smartphones different: an iPhone 12 Pro Max and a Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro. In both cases, they have been used to listen to music stored on the mobile device, but also from streaming services. Similarly, audios have been sent and listened to through social networks (mainly WhatsApp), participated in phone calls and to follow GPS instructions. In all cases, the battery has been recharged between 3 and 5 times.

After the tests, The winning smart sunglasses have been those proposed by Bosewith a high-quality finish and sound quality that no other has been able to match.

Gafas Bluetooth Bose Frames Tenor

Available in several different designs adaptable to different stylesThe star of this analysis and winner of the comparison is the Tenor model, with a shiny black finish, square frame and keyhole bridge. Its lenses protect the eyes from 99% of UVA and UVB rays and are polarized; in addition, they can be graduated or changed for others easily; with a ‘click’.

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DATASHEET

– Dimensions: 55 x 18 x 136 mm

– Weight: 49.89 g

– Polarized crystals: Yes

– Bluetooth: 5.1

– Battery life: Up to 5.5 hours

– Battery charging time: Up to 1 h

– Others: Carrying case (17.4 x 6.3 x 5.8 cm), touch control, compatible with Bose AR, 2 with full beam arrays, cleaning cloth, charging cable

The only indication that we are looking at a model with something special is found in its temples, which are somewhat thicker than usual. They have integrated a set of 16-millimeter micro speakers that direct the sound directly to the ears. The sound they provide is very wide, in fact it sounds like it is coming from speakers. But this is not really the case, and yet people around them do not perceive anything at all.

They are compatible with Bose AR, an audio augmented reality platform: uses contextual information to improve sports practice or provide additional details during trips. For example, in a map application it would take into account where you are looking (which it detects thanks to a 9-axis sensor) to use visual references to guide you, or it would provide details about the monuments you find along the way.

Its control, finally, is tactile: It has a built-in motion sensor and capacitive touch controls on its right temple. So, just slide your finger along the right temple to adjust the volume, double-tap to access the voice assistant… and place them face down to turn them off.

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THE BEST: They offer great sound quality, are easy to use and the materials used for their construction are of quality.

THE WORST: They are charged from their pin and with a non-universal charger; the included cable is also too short.

CONCLUSION: Their design is magnificent, the crystals are interchangeable and they stand out among other models for their sound quality.

Gafas inteligentes HUAWEI X Gentle Monster Eyewear II

With a rounded design, they feature a semi-open speaker that delivers high-definition stereo audio.. It is a very discreet model, since its temples are not as noticeable as in the Bose model where the speakers are placed. Its curved earpiece is located on each side of the temples and directs the sound directly to the user’s ear, reducing leakage and making it inaudible to those who are not wearing them. Its quality is adequate, although not the best in the comparison.

A peculiar feature, in this sense, is that They feature adaptive volume technology that automatically lowers the volume based on the sound environment.ensuring that the user can hear clearly while minimising the impact on those around them and ensuring privacy.

They also have NFC, so the link with the smartphones compatible is very fastand they are charged directly in their case; a very convenient alternative, since they also use a USB type C cable for this. They offer a battery life of 5 hours.

Gafas Bluetooth WNZL

Their design is very similar to one of the first glasses launched by Bose (Rondo model), although with important differences in the quality of construction and, above all, in the sound they offer. As we said, their aesthetics are similar and this is clearly seen in their temples, widened just before the ear, where the speakers are located. They also have in common their way of being charged, with its own magnetic charger. That’s where the similarities end: their sound quality is very tight and they have more losses, meaning that people standing around notice that ‘something’ is being heard.

Made of plastic materials, their lenses are interchangeable. The manufacturer even suggests using clear lenses instead of sunglasses for use at home or in the office. In fact, it offers some with a blue filter that promise to reduce eye strain.

LUPPO Polarized Sunglasses

The quality of the materials and construction leave a lot to be desired and the description does not really correspond to how the product works. And although they claim to work through a bone conduction system, this is not the case. This technology uses the bones of the skull (usually the cheekbones) to propagate sound through vibrations without having to go through the eardrums.

As we can see in this model, in reality They have built-in speakers in their temples; speakers that are not directed towards the ears as other models do, and therefore make it possible for people around to hear music or conversations perfectly. On the other hand, their sound quality is the lowest in the comparison. With a very low price, their lenses are adequate to the descriptionThese are UV400 type lenses that protect against UV rays, are removable and polarized.

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WHY SHOULD YOU TRUST ME?

I am a journalist with more than 10 years of experience in the technology sector. During this time, I have produced reports, articles and all kinds of content related to the most varied aspects of technology. In addition, over the last few years I have specialized in analyzing products for different media outlets —including EL PAÍS—, which has led me to test hundreds of them, of all types and ranges: from the cheapest smartphones to the most cutting-edge, computers, sound systems, televisions…

*All purchase prices included in this article are current as of June 9, 2021.