I know that smart glasses will fit well into my life. I already wear glasses, I love Google Glass, and I often wear a smartwatch. I also often wear headphones to listen to podcasts while doing other things, and I like the idea of having a great big screen right in front of my eyes for watching videos. The camera will also not be damaged.
But getting all this in one product is still a distant dream, so I have to make do with different tools for now. But sadly, the products we currently have haven’t been that successful, as proven by the TCL smart glasses I’ve been wearing (affectionately called the Reno Nextwear S). However, it is closer to being perfect than ever before.
long name, simple product
TCL RayNeo is not Nxtwear S In fact Smart glasses. TCL calls them XR glasses (for extended reality), but it’s best to think of them as monitors of your face, since they don’t have any specific functionality of their own. Instead, the RayNeo Nxtwear S connects to another device, such as your phone or computer, and displays what would normally be shown on that device’s screen directly in front of your eyes. It has no built-in operating system, no fancy processor, no AI voice assistant, or anything more than a pair of micro OLED screens and a few speakers.
That’s why I like the idea: I can watch anything I want, in any position I want, on a big, bright screen, without having to have my chosen device directly in my eye line. Or staring straight at a stationary object like a TV. This is complete, comprehensive freedom. The 1080p image is clearly equivalent to a 130-inch screen from a distance of four metres, and there are dual speakers directed towards your ears, which deliver sound.
The screens may not have the highest resolution, but they never look pixelated, while the contrast levels ensure that blacks look black and there’s enough brightness to view the screen during the day. But what I really like is that it’s such an enjoyable experience to watch. Pair it with Bluetooth headphones, and you’ll truly be cut off from the outside world, left alone to enjoy what you’re watching in peace.
Problems associated with today’s smart glasses
But all this only works well if you compromise and use the glasses in fairly specific circumstances. It’s at this point where my smart glasses dreams become a frustrating nightmare, as small irritations quickly ruin what is so close to being a great product. What I’m going to mention applies not only to the Reno NextWear S, but also to smart glasses and wearable monitors in general.
I said it provides complete, total freedom. Well, it happens. The Nxtwear S connects to its host device with a USB-C cable, keeping you tied in. I can live with that, but this is just the beginning of the compromises you’ll have to make to enjoy this interesting device. It doesn’t have any battery of its own, which is good considering the size and weight, but it really puts a strain on your device’s battery. YouTube drains my iPhone 15 Pro Max’s battery by 20% in less than an hour.
Despite the relative lack of hardware inside, the glasses still weigh 90 grams, which is almost four times the weight of my normal, everyday glasses. You really notice the weight after very little time, especially when the bridge piece isn’t very soft or forgiving. The USB cable can also get stuck and get pulled on the glasses unexpectedly.
There are no controls outside of volume and brightness, so everything you do requires access to the connected device. Ultimately, it works best in very dark environments. Even with sunglasses-style shades attached, anything that comes close to daylight will be blown out and distorted in the image.
watching screen
Just because the screen is right above your eyes, don’t expect to be able to see it clearly if your vision is weak and requires corrective lenses. It is “located” at a distance of four meters from your eyes, and if you usually cannot see the screen from that far, it will look blurry even inside the RayNeo Nxtwear S. Since I last looked at this situation, TCL has partnered with a lens manufacturer that offers custom lenses at a reasonable price. This is great news, but you still have to factor it into the total cost.
You can do Wear the RayNeo Nxtwear S in place of regular glasses, but only just, and it’s definitely not comfortable for long periods of time. The arms are big and thick behind your ears, so adding another set (even if they’re thin) is no fun. It also means that the unforgiving nasal bridge has been pushed further down your nose. Because positioning has been compromised, the screen is not as clear around the edges when worn this way. The simple truth is that, if you need glasses, you really need to buy a proper lens attachment.
It’s almost worth the expense, because in the right condition, the RayNeo Nxtwear S comes very close to being great. One morning when I woke up early, I put on the Nextwear S and watched some videos. I was lying on my back in a pitch-dark room, so there wasn’t much pressure on my nose, and there was no intrusive light. It felt really excellent, and I found it very comfortable and enjoyable. I even managed to ignore the bright screen on my connected iPhone, because it has to stay awake and run what you’re watching through the Nxtwear S at the same time. See what I mean about compromises?
Is there any hope for smart glasses in the future?
There’s a lot that troubles the TCL RayNeo Nxtwear S, but it also has a lot of potential. This is very close to actually being a useful wearable display, and what gives me hope is how much better it is than the really bad TCL NextWear Gi I tried before. Progress is being made that is moving the concept in the right direction, but it is not quite there yet.
It seems that TCL is working on improving its smart glasses as well. For example, the new Nxtwear S+ model comes with an updated, air-filled nose pad section, and the similar RayWear Air 2 glasses weigh 76 grams. Reducing weight and increasing comfort are important steps in making wearable displays usable for longer periods of time, and will also help people forgive other weaknesses.
Using the TCL RayNeo Nxtwear S has shown me that my smart glasses dreams are getting closer to reality, but also that we still have some way to go before we get a product that covers everything I want. Does – Screen, audio, wireless connection, smartwatch-style functionality. , a camera, and all-day battery life – all in one, comfortable device I can wear on my face.
