If you're looking for the best camera glasses, you don't have too many options to choose from. However, I do believe there's some good stuff on this market, allowing you to capture high-res images and in particular videos directly from your eye level.
Camera glasses tend to be fairly basic in their feature-sets, which is all to the good – you don't really need controls more complex than 'start' and 'stop'. However, with some having features like Wi-Fi app control, fast-charging, swappable lenses and more, it is worth familiarising yourself with the options before taking the plunge.
My top pick is the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses, which come in a range of styles and have been developed in partnership with Meta, offering good looks and camera smarts. There are plenty more viable options however, including some that are cheaper, so let's take a look – and see our guide to the best body cameras for more wearable goodies.
With over 20 years of expertise as a tech journalist, Adam brings a wealth of knowledge across a vast number of product categories, including timelapse cameras, home security cameras, NVR cameras, photography books, webcams, 3D printers and 3D scanners, borescopes, radar detectors… and, above all, drones.
The Quick List
These are our top pick. With styling choices that aren't too far from the brand's famous sunnies, dual cameras, and a partnership with Meta, these glasses offer excellent quality audio and video, and live streaming.
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The quality of these budget camera glasses is better than the price may make you believe. They look pretty good - and the video recording we got in our tests is very watchable, as long as you are not expecting pro production standards.
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Looking for sharper images from your camera glasses? These will shoot in 4K and while they cost significantly more than your basic spy glasses, they're cost less than an action camera.
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Easiest to use
With one-button operation and built-in memory that means no need for memory cards, iVue's The Glide are some of the simplest camera glasses on the market, shooting FHD video and 24MP stills.
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Best 2K glasses
iVue's more recent and advanced glasses, these cost a little more than The Glide, but offer more in-depth video modes and app control. Be aware that they're currently only available in the USA.
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Best smart ski glasses
Want to take photos out on the slopes? With a separate button for video and high-res stills, these smart goggles can save you from the fuss of operating an action camera in snowy conditions.
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The best camera glasses
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Best camera glasses overall
Not only does Ray-Ban styling inspire confidence, but like their predecessor the Ray-Ban Stories, their partnership with Meta offers convenient social sharing to many. The result is, a pair of glasses that look good, are built to a high standard, and perform the functions people use in their everyday life.
There are no AR features here, but you do get the ability to shoot high quality images and video via the two 12MP cameras placed on the front. You can then easily share these via Meta's apps including WhatsApp, Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, and Threads.
You also benefit from excellent quality audio playback, calls and voice assistance, courtesy of five built-in microphones (two more than on the Ray-Ban Stories). You charge them via an included charging case and battery life lasts for up to six hours, although that very much depends on how much you use it.
The glasses come in a few different named variations – most popular is the Wayfarer, a unisex pair. There's also the Skyler variant, which seems to be geared more towards women, and the wider Headliner variant, which appear to be more aimed at men – though of course, you can wear whatever you like. All of them have the exact same camera specs; the differences are purely cosmetic.
See our full RayBan Meta smart glasses review
Features ★★★★ | Well featured, with prescription lens option. | Row 0 - Cell 2 |
Design ★★★★½ | Sleek and stylish, with a range of variants. | Row 1 - Cell 2 |
Performance ★★★★½ | High-quality imagery from dual 12MP cameras. | Row 2 - Cell 2 |
Value ★★★ | The most expensive camera glasses. | Row 3 - Cell 2 |
Best budget camera glasses
The pair boasts a 24-megapixel sensor - but in reality, still images are disappointing. Oho make lots of different camera glasses, but if you are after a low-cost novelty item then its basic 1080P offer more than the price tag suggests.
They don't have the design finesse of the Ray-Ban's - but at less than a quarter of the price they feel relatively robust, and look the part.
The pair boasts a 24 megapixel sensor - but in reality stills images are disappointing. The video (which is undoubtedly what camera glasses are best for), was very watchable in our tests - up to what you might expect from a basic dash cam, say.
The glasses have a built-in rechargeable battery (topped up via a USB-C socket), and have 32GB of built-in memory - so no extra costs to get them up and running.
The basic options for the glasses are controlled by one button - which positioned on one of the arms we found a little to easy to knock accidentally (so you start or stop recording when you don't mean to).
See our full OhO Sunshine camera glasses review
Features ★★★½ | Basic, but does the job and offers Full HD. | Row 0 - Cell 2 |
Design ★★★ | Robust but rudimentary, with some poor button placement. | Row 1 - Cell 2 |
Performance ★★★½ | Full HD video looks good – but don't bother with stills. | Row 2 - Cell 2 |
Value ★★★★ | One of the most affordable options. | Row 3 - Cell 2 |
Best 4K camera glasses
If you're looking for sunglasses which won't look too different, but can capture about half an hour of video before the battery needs charging. These have a single camera mounted centrally, just above the nose, and capture H.265 video to built-in storage (256GB equates to about 17 hours, but check what is being offered at your retailer – we've seen versions as low as 32GB but given the battery life you might not need masses of storage.
Enough IP resistance for rain is appreciated, but it isn't there for swimming and 4K is limited to 30fps, meaning going down in resolutions is required for the higher 60fps option – you won't want to change settings too frequently as it is done via changing the init.txt file using a USB cable and laptop (no app!).
Video quality is good, if not stellar. You will need to plan both when you’ll shoot (there is about an hour’s recording time on one charge) and to using stabilization in your editing software for high action.
Features ★★★ | Some fiddly processes and middling battery. | Row 0 - Cell 2 |
Design ★★★½ | Decent rainproofing and TR90 construction. | Row 1 - Cell 2 |
Performance ★★★★½ | Good-looking 4K video with slow-mo option. | Row 2 - Cell 2 |
Value ★★★½ | Sits around the mid-range. | Row 3 - Cell 2 |
Best camera glasses for ease of use
Camera glasses are the kind of device you ideally want to be quite straightforward – without too many complex things to remember. The Glide by iVue is an ideal choice for anyone who likes to keep things simple; it's designed with one-button control – you hit the button to start recording, then hit it again to stop. That's it! The Glide even has its own 64GB of built-in memory, so you don't need to faff around with memory cards!
At 46g this is the lightest pair of glasses in this guide, and it also includes swappable lenses, allowing you to choose between tinted sunglass or polarised clear lenses. A small light above the bridge indicates when it's recording, and you also have the option to capture 24MP stills as well as 1080p video – interestingly, iVue's newer and more expensive Denali glasses (featured below) don't offer this functionality. Once you're done recording, you simply plug the glasses into your computer via the USB-C connection to offload your footage; there isn't a companion app for instant sharing.
Features ★★★½ | No-frills operation, but for some users that's an asset. | Row 0 - Cell 2 |
Design ★★★½ | Simple and functional, with swappable lenses. | Row 1 - Cell 2 |
Performance ★★★½ | Decent 1080p video and 24MP stills. | Row 2 - Cell 2 |
Value ★★★★ | Cheaper than many rivals. | Row 3 - Cell 2 |
Best 2K camera glasses
These are the newer glasses from iVue – not necessarily a replacement for the Glide, but offering a slightly different feature-set. Essentially, if your priority is video over stills, then the Denali will quite possibly be a better fit. While they don't have functionality to capture still photographs, they do produce video at a higher 2K resolution, and if you drop down to Full HD, they offer a higher 60p maximum frame rate, compared to 30p on the Glide.
The Denali also offers greater sophistication in other areas too, with built-in Wi-Fi connectivity and the option to control the glasses via the companion app for iOS or Android. They charge up via USB-C and you can use them while charging if desired (though you will probably look quite weird. An indicator light also lets people around know that the glasses are recording. All this comes at a slightly higher premium than The Glide – and there's no built-in memory, so you will have to factor in the cost of a microSD card if you don't have one spare.
Also worth noting is that unlike The Glide, the Denali glasses seem to currently only be available in the USA.
Features ★★★★ | App control via Wi-Fi and fast USB-C charging. | Row 0 - Cell 2 |
Design ★★★½ | No complaints – good-looking, with swappable lenses. | Row 1 - Cell 2 |
Performance ★★★★ | Strong 2K 30p and FHD 60p video. | Row 2 - Cell 2 |
Value ★★★½ | A little pricier than The Glide, | Row 3 - Cell 2 |
Best ski goggles with a camera
It’s a pretty specific use case, but ski goggles with a built-in camera involve fewer straps than a separate action camera and get the lens closer to your eyes. OhO have some traction in the camera sunglasses market, and these video ski goggles seem to incorporate the same tech, right down to the 70-degree field of view camera.
That doesn’t feel quite enough but it’s very useful that it can be tilted to suit your natural head position, if you remember to do it, and if you opt for the wi-fi version you can check the video on an app. Though it’s 4K-capable at 24fps (change via a text file and USB link), it defaults to 1080p at 60fps which for most will be better for the slopes.
Features ★★★★ | Adjustable angle, separate stills and Wi-Fi | Row 0 - Cell 2 |
Design ★★★★ | Certainly look the part as far as ski goggles go. | Row 1 - Cell 2 |
Performance ★★★½ | Images show some compression artefacts. | Row 2 - Cell 2 |
Value ★★★ | More expensive than standard glasses. | Row 3 - Cell 2 |
FAQs
What are camera glasses?
Camera glasses are eyeglasses with a built-in camera that allows you to take photos and videos hands-free. They typically look like regular glasses and come in a variety of styles, including prescription lenses.
How do camera glasses work?
Camera glasses have a small camera mounted on the frame, usually near the bridge of the nose. The camera button is often located on the side of the glasses and can be used to capture photos and videos. Some models also have voice or gesture controls.
Are 'smart glasses' and 'camera glasses' the same?
No, and in this list we've been clear to include glasses which feature cameras. There are plenty of smart glasses out there which don't have built-in cameras – Bose's have a model with built-in speakers, and you can even find Echo glasses with Alexa built-in. In this guide, however, we look for glasses which offer an alternative means of photography – whether as a main function or as just one possibility.
How to choose the best camera glasses
To find the right camera glasses for you, there are a number of factors to consider. First, think about the resolution and frame rate each model offers. We'd advise going for models with at least 1080p resolution and 30fps for optimal video quality. Secondly, consider the field of view: the higher that number is, the more of the scene you'll be able to capture at once. Also look at battery life, additional features such as image stabilization and connectivity options to make sure you pick the right model for your specific needs.
How we test camera glasses
At Digital Camera World we've got a team of expert photographers who are also enthusiasts for anything that uses a camera, from microscopes to document cameras. When assembling a buyer's guide like this, we'll draw on our own experience, refer to our published reviews and those of our sister titles and, where appropriate, to knowledge from trusted customer reviews so we can offer the broadest perspective possible.
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