For $269, the RayNeo Air 3s video-focused smart glasses deliver vibrant color and value in spades. They have a wide field of view with sharp resolution, though they are only average when it comes to generating brightness and audio. We find them to fit comfortably, but they lack adjustable diopters for those who are nearsighted. The rear-mounted USB port allows them to easily connect to most source devices. The top-notch Viture Pro ($459) remains the best choice for those who don't want to spend extra on lens inserts, but everyone else should consider the RayNeo Air 3s, which earn our Editors' Choice for video smart glasses, thanks to their excellent picture, wide compatibility, and affordable price.

Design: Simple, Not Subtle

The Air 3s glasses look a lot like the Air 2s, but with silver-colored temples instead of black. They have the same single piece of smoke-tinted plastic across the entire front and look like the sunglasses an optometrist would give you after dilating your pupils. They aren’t the stealthiest smart glasses, but the dark front lets them (almost) pass as regular shades if you don’t look too closely.

The permanent sunshade means you can’t see through them effectively to view your surroundings, especially if you're indoors, but ensures that the picture you see is bright. The more expensive Viture Pro and XReal One ($499) glasses have outward-facing lenses with adjustable brightness, which lets you see through them more clearly in varying degrees of light.

(Credit: Will Greenwald)

The silver finish of the temples hides black plastic stems not much thicker than regular acetate glasses. They hold controls on the bottom of each stem, which include a menu button and volume rocker on the left, and a brightness rocker on the right. Small speakers, aimed at your ears, are located in the space just before the temples transition into the ear hooks. The spring-mounted hinges can be clicked into three different vertical angles. Together, the rubber nose pads and adjustable wire arms result in a light, comfortable fit.

The right ear hook has a USB-C port that connects the Air 3s glasses to any compatible device via the included cable. They work with any phone, tablet, or computer that supports DisplayPort over USB-C. With the right adapter (Lightning-to-USB-C for pre-15 iPhones, HDMI-to-USB-C for game consoles, and so on), you can connect them to other hardware, like game systems.

(Credit: Will Greenwald)

In addition to the USB-C cable, the Air 3s comes with a hard-shell zip-up carrying case and a microfiber cleaning cloth.

Accessibility: Nearsighted Users Pay Extra

If you wear corrective lenses, you’ll have to order prescription lens inserts for the Air 3s. RayNeo recommends Lensology, a UK-based service that specializes in prescription inserts for AR smart glasses. Inserts are approximately $125 (£95), and shipping is another $33 (£25), barring any significant changes in US trade policy.

I’ve used Lensology inserts before, and they’re quite good, though I prefer to have focus or diopter dials on the glasses themselves, like on the Rokid Max ($449) and Viture Pro, since they don’t require an additional purchase. 

(Credit: Will Greenwald)

Display Specs: Standard Size and Brightness

The RayNeo's micro-OLED projection system has a native 1080p resolution and a maximum 120Hz refresh rate, with separate modes for 60Hz and 120Hz. They have a 46-degree field of view, the same as the Viture Pro, and simulate a 201-inch theater screen viewed from 20 feet. The Rokid Max and XReal One edge them out, as each has a slightly wider 50-degree field of view, or a 215-inch screen equivalent as seen from about 20 feet.

With a stated peak brightness of 650 nits, the Air 3s glasses are slightly brighter than the Air 2s (600 nits) but not as bright as the Viture Pro (1,000 nits). The RayNeos are hardly dim, and 600 nits is standard for most smart glasses like these, including the Rokid Max and XReal One. 

On paper, the Air 3s glasses excel at color. RayNeo claims that they cover 98% of the DCI-P3 digital cinema color space or 145% of the sRGB color space. That’s a wider color gamut than the Viture Pro’s stated 108% sRGB color space range.

(Credit: Will Greenwald)

Smart glasses' tiny displays mean I can’t perform the same equipment-driven contrast and color tests I do with TVs, but I can still juggle multiple pairs of glasses to see how they compare. I tested the Air 3s by connecting them to an Apple iPad Air, a Lenovo Legion Go, and a Google Pixel 8, and then viewed similar content on the Asus AirVision M1 and Viture Pro glasses. Knowing the stated specs between the three, I can safely say the Air 3s have competitive video performance that exceeds their price.

Viewing Experience: Colors Are Key

In terms of light output, the Air 3s glasses are a bit less bright than the Asus and Viture at their maximum settings, but they are by no means dim. The AirVision M1 glasses get slightly brighter than the others, but their contrast isn’t as strong as the Viture.

(Credit: Will Greenwald)

The Air 3s glasses produce vivid and well-saturated colors that are comparable to the Viture Pro and noticeably more vibrant than the AirVision M1. The Viture Pro’s colors are a little bit more intense, but not significantly. Considering the Air 3s’ lower price, they perform well against these competitors.

The picture is sharp, as expected. The Air 3s’ 1080p resolution and 46-degree field of view are in line with most AR glasses of this type, which means video is clean and text is easy to read.

Audio: The Usual Limitations

Speakers built into the temples provide audio for whatever you’re watching, and will let you hear clearly with at least some dynamic range if you’re in a quiet space. Like all audio from smart glasses, the gap between the speakers and your ears means weak bass response, and outside noises can sometimes overwhelm the audio.

Privacy is also a consideration. While the speakers aren’t loud enough to really disrupt anyone around you, the sound can leak out enough that anyone sitting right next to you will be able to listen in.