AR Glasses Still Suck at AR, but They’re Solid Secondary Screens

The AR Glasses of CES 2025: Promising, But Still Not Quite There

Two years ago, at CES 2023, the buzz around augmented reality (AR) glasses hinted at a future where “glassholes” would once again dominate the tech scene. Fast forward to CES 2025, and the prediction has come true—sort of. The event was flooded with AR glasses, each promising to revolutionize how we interact with the world. From sleek designs to advanced displays, the progress is undeniable. Yet, despite the leaps forward, these devices still feel more like screen replacements than true augmented reality experiences.

Take Lenovo’s $400 Legion Glasses 2, for example. An upgrade from their 2023 tethered model, these glasses boast micro-OLED displays with impressive clarity and brightness. Designed primarily for handheld gaming, they offer a crisp visual experience—if you position them just right on your face. Similarly, XReal unveiled its $500 XReal One and $600 XReal One Pro, which tether to phones or computers to create a secondary screen. With features like ultrawide screen views and the ability to lock the image in place or have it follow your gaze, these glasses deliver a taste of Apple Vision Pro’s Mac mirroring experience at a fraction of the cost. They even earned a spot on the “best of show” list.

But not all AR glasses at CES 2025 were created equal. TCL’s RayNeo X3 Pro, for instance, attempted to showcase real-time language translation. While the glasses managed to translate Mandarin to English in a quiet environment, they struggled in noisy conditions. The translation process was slow, and the green, beta-like text displayed on the waveguide screen felt far from polished. Touch controls on the glasses’ arm worked—most of the time—but the overall experience was clunky, reminiscent of prototype-level tech.

Rokid and LAWK also presented their takes on AR glasses. Rokid’s offering included app lists and basic hand controls, but the green text overlay remained a persistent issue. LAWK’s LAWK One glasses, designed for sports enthusiasts, allowed users to start race timers in AR. However, the intrusive green text cluttering the field of view made the experience less than seamless. LAWK’s View glasses, which promised TikTok live streaming, felt more like a Meta Ray-Ban alternative without a screen.

Despite the advancements, AR glasses still face significant hurdles. Many devices rely heavily on external processing, limiting their functionality without a tethered device. Meta’s Orion project, which combines AR glasses with a wristband and a pocket-sized processing unit, hints at the potential for true augmented reality. However, it remains unclear when—or if—such a product will hit the market. Similarly, rumors of Samsung’s upcoming AR glasses suggest more AI-driven features, but they’re unlikely to replace smartphones anytime soon.

The appeal of AR glasses is undeniable. They’re lighter, sleeker, and more practical than bulky VR headsets. XReal’s $700 Air 2 Ultra, released last year, showcased hand tracking and AR capabilities, though its prototype UI felt limited. The Spacetop G1 laptop, which uses XReal glasses instead of a traditional screen, is a developer’s dream but lacks the functionality of mainstream devices.

For now, AR glasses remain in the prototype phase. While developers and early adopters may find them useful, the average consumer won’t see them as essential tools. That said, there’s a niche appeal. On a long flight without an in-seat screen, these lightweight, tethered glasses could offer a convenient way to watch movies without lugging around a laptop or strapping on a heavy headset.

The future of AR glasses is bright, but CES 2025 proved they’re not quite ready for prime time. Until companies crack the challenges of seamless functionality, intuitive controls, and untethered processing, these devices will remain a work in progress—albeit an exciting one.