When augmented reality (AR) glasses first hit the scene, they were bulky, experimental devices with limited practicality. Early iterations, like Google Glass, sparked curiosity but struggled to integrate into everyday life due to clunky designs, high costs, and restricted functionality. Fast forward to today, and smart glasses have undergone a remarkable evolution.

Modern devices like the Rokid AR Lite and Inmo Go 2 are sleeker, smarter, and more user-friendly than ever before. They represent a new era where AR glasses are not just gadgets but essential tools that blend style, innovation, and real-world utility.

These latest releases highlight how far the technology has come, setting a benchmark for what we can expect from AR wearables in 2025 and beyond. Let’s take a closer listen look at these two groundbreaking devices and explore the trends shaping the future of smart glasses.

A Look at the Rokid AR Lite and Inmo Go 2

Let's take a quick look at the newly released smart glasses under the lens of some recent reviews:

Rokid AR Joy 2: Immersive AR Made Accessible

The Rokid AR Joy 2 glasses redefine portable entertainment by transforming the way you experience Android TV on the go. Paired with Rokid’s compact Station device, these AR glasses let you carry an entire TV in your pocket. The Station, which acts as the brain behind the glasses, combines the functionality of a Chromecast, remote, and power bank into a single device. Equipped with a 5000mAh battery, USB-C, micro HDMI output, and intuitive controls, it’s a convenient companion for immersive media experiences anywhere.

What sets the Rokid AR Joy 2 apart is its ability to create a large virtual screen that feels surreal yet incredibly practical. Unlike projectors that require dark spaces and flat surfaces, the Joy 2 glasses bring your favorite shows, games, and apps to life whether you’re on a plane, in a café, or lounging at home. The glasses are sleek and lightweight, ensuring comfort for extended viewing sessions. The combination of portability and cutting-edge tech delivers a "wow factor" that makes it hard to go back to traditional viewing setups.

Inmo Air2: Your Portable AR Theater and Everyday Assistant

The Inmo Air2 elevates AR glasses to a new level of convenience and versatility, delivering a portable, all-in-one entertainment and productivity solution. Its dual Micro-OLED displays and built-in speakers transform it into a personal theater, perfect for enjoying preinstalled apps like YouTube and TikTok. 

Beyond entertainment, the Air2 shines as a productivity booster with hands-free operation, an intelligent assistant, and built-in translation features. It even doubles as a teleprompter, a personal tutor, and a handy companion for outdoor adventures. With capabilities like first-person view recording, real-time navigation, and seamless streaming, the Inmo Air2 is a stylish and powerful tool for anyone looking to integrate cutting-edge AR technology into their daily life.

Emerging Trends in Smart Glasses

From what we know about these recently released wearables, we can begin to paint a picture of what the future of AR wearables holds for us.

Lightweight and Stylish Designs

Bulky, impractical designs are no longer acceptable in the smart glasses market. Both the Rokid AR Joy 2 and Inmo Air2 emphasize sleek, lightweight frames, signaling a shift toward wearables that prioritize comfort and style. This is essential for broader consumer adoption.

Focused Functionality

Instead of trying to do everything, smart glasses are now targeting specific needs. Rokid AR Joy 2 focuses on entertainment and portability, while Inmo Air2 emphasizes hands-free convenience and AI-driven features for maximum productivity. This specialization will likely grow, with devices tailored to industries like healthcare, education, and gaming.

Seamless Integration with Everyday Life

The goal of smart glasses is to enhance reality without disrupting it. Features like real-time translation, unobtrusive notifications, and augmented navigation hint at a future where AR feels as natural as checking your phone.

Battery Life and Efficiency

Battery life has been a consistent challenge for AR wearables. Innovations like the energy-efficient processors in the Inmo Air2 demonstrate how manufacturers are tackling this issue, and the Rokid AR Joy 2 boasting a 5000mAh battery, devices now have the ability to last through an entire day of use.

What Can We Expect from Smart Glasses in 2025?

As we look ahead to 2025, the smart glasses industry is set to evolve in exciting and transformative ways. As manufacturing scales and technology advances, smart glasses are likely to become accessible to a wider audience through a range of price points. Enhanced processing power and graphics capabilities will also work to support immersive AR experiences, expanding use cases in gaming, remote work, education, and more.

This may lead to more seamless connectivity with smartphones, smartwatches, and IoT devices to create unified, intuitive ecosystems for users. Plus, with smart glasses becoming increasingly common, manufacturers will prioritize privacy and data security in order to address growing consumer concerns.

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, recently highlighted the transformative potential of artificial general intelligence (AGI), emphasizing its ability to reshape industries and how we interact with technology. As AR glasses integrate more advanced AI, they could become indispensable tools, bridging the gap between humans and AGI-powered systems in ways that feel intuitive and natural.

The Road Ahead and the Future of AR Glasses

The Rokid AR Joy 2 and Inmo Air2 showcase the cutting edge of what today’s smart glasses can offer, from portable entertainment to versatile productivity tools. These devices highlight the enormous potential of AR to transform everyday life, pointing toward a future where AR technology is seamlessly integrated into our routines.

With breakthroughs in design, functionality, and user experience on the horizon, 2025 promises to be a landmark year for the smart glasses industry. As these devices become more affordable, powerful, and connected, they’ll bring us closer to a world where AR isn’t just a novelty but a core part of how we interact with the digital world.

What do you think about the evolution of smart glasses? Share your thoughts in the comments below!