Best Bluetooth audio glasses and sunglasses for 2021 – CNET [CNET]

May 1, 2021 Thomas Giboney technology

Audio glasses, which have integrated micro-speakers and a Bluetooth connection, are proliferating. Bose is leading the way with its Frames audio sunglasses. Amazon is also in the game with its Echo Frames, now on their second generation. A host of other companies, many of which are no-name Chinese manufacturers, have released audio glasses in recent months. Some are geared toward everyday use, allowing you to forgo headphones and stealthily listen to audio on the go, while others are designed for runners and bikers who want to leave their ears open to the world for safety reasons.

The truth is most audio sunglasses don’t sound good, and many sound downright bad, including and especially those that use bone-conduction technology instead of traditional audio drivers. The glasses’ tiny embedded speakers fire audio into your ears, and that audio tends to be lacking in the bass and clarity department. The sound is typically on par with what a pair of free earbuds you’d get on a plane would produce — and sometimes it’s worse. They also tend to leak sound at higher volumes, which means people who are standing nearby can hear your audio.

That said, if you listen to more spoken-word audio — whether that’s podcasts, audiobooks or talk radio — audio glasses are just fine because 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.

Aside from audio quality, the other important factor is obviously the glasses’ design. There’s a lot of variation there as well, with some models fitting better and looking more stylish than others.

It should be noted that you can add prescription lenses to most audio sunglasses, and it’s easy enough to send your glasses in to an online replacement lens site. (Check out our list of best places to buy replacement prescription lenses online in 2021.) However, that adds to the overall cost, with replacement lenses generally costing around $100 to $200, depending on the type of lens you choose.

While I’m only recommending a few models at this point, I’ll update this list as new ones are released. Plenty more are on the way and hopefully they’ll improve.

Best sound (and best for sports)

Bose Tempo Frames

$249 at Bose

Best newcomer

Razer Anzu

Lensabl for prescription 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.

$200 at Razer

Best everyday audio sunglasses

Bose Tenor and Soprano

AfterShokz, which developed a pair of audio sunglasses but never shipped it.

Like the Tempo, Bose has also upgraded the voice-calling capabilities in these models, adding dual beam-forming microphones. 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. Read our full review of the Bose Frames Tenor and Soprano.

$249 at Bose

Most comfortable

Amazon Echo Frames

$250 at Amazon

Most stylish

Fauna audio glasses

$300 at Fauna

Decent under $150

Flows audio glasses

$120 at Flows

Best clip-on speaker accessory for glasses

JLab JBuds Frames

JBuds Frames are essentially open-ear true-wireless earbuds that clip onto your existing glasses.

It’s an intriguing concept that JLab describes as a bring-your-own-frame design, although it’s clearly a bit kludgy looking and a bit disingenuous to call these earbuds “frames.” That said, I received a review sample and can tell you that these sound almost as good as the Bose Frames and are also decent enough for making calls. In fact, I’d say they’re the second-best-sounding “audio frames” on this list.

JLab says its JBuds Frames comprise “two independently operating Bluetooth true wireless audio devices, which can be affixed to the temples of sunglasses, eyeglasses, and similarly styled blue light blocking eyewear.” They have 16mm drivers, and JLab says your music can’t be “heard by those close by,” though from my tests that only applies when you’re listening to audio at more moderate volume levels.

Battery life is rated at eight hours, and the clip-on devices have an IPX4 water-resistance rating, making them splash-resistant. They charge with a proprietary pogo-pin cable.

$49 at JLab