If you’re not familiar, AR personal display smart glasses connect to a source device like a phone or a laptop over USB, and project whatever’s on the screen privately into your eyes. It’s like a wearable USB-C monitor or a private big screen, and it’s very useful for watching movies, playing games, or working on a larger display than your phone or tablet, without prying eyes watching over your shoulder.
In terms of design, the Luma looks almost exactly the same as the Luma Pro, with a matte black plastic frame around the lenses and dark gray, translucent temples. The only visible change from the front is that the glossy spot above the nose pads is blank, whereas on the Pro, it houses a tiny camera lens. The camera on the Luma Pro is completely unused, so there’s no real loss there.
(Credit: Will Greenwald)
The other two differences are in the earhooks at the ends of the temples. First, the left earhook on the Luma doesn’t have the orange accent LEDs of the Luma Pro. Second, the end of the right earhook features a standard USB-C port rather than the proprietary magnetic pogo connector on the higher-end glasses. I found the Luma Pro’s lighting to be an underwhelming gimmick, and I actually prefer a USB port to a magnetic connector since it’s harder to accidentally tug free.
Otherwise, the Luma is physically the same unassuming and comfortable pair of smart glasses as the Luma Pro. It weighs a mere 2.7 ounces, less than a tenth of an ounce lighter than the Luma Pro, with the same spring hinges and smooth, rounded contours that make both glasses easy to wear. A button on the right temple, near the hinge, dims and lightens the exterior lenses, while a button and rocker on the left temple adjust volume and brightness.
