rewrite this title I replaced my Meta Ray-Bans with smart glasses that truly lasted all day – but there's a catch

Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.

Smart glasses have exploded in popularity over the past two years, thanks to their ability to incorporate cameras, AI assistants, and speakers into a practical form factor. However, the Solos AirGo A5 takes a different approach, shedding the cameras for a more discreet design.

Also: CES 2026: These 7 smart glasses caught our eye – and you can buy this pair now

First available in October of 2025, Solos is positioning the AirGo A5 as lightweight, comfortable smart glasses with hands-free AI assistance and a long-lasting battery. As a result, the target audience differs from that of the popular Meta Ray-Ban glasses, which are geared more towards content creation, as these are more intended for the AI enthusiast. 

Yet, they are still an investment, with the cheapest frames costing $249, so I put them to the test to determine if they are worth the price. 

All-day battery, with a cost

The biggest highlight of these glasses is the long-lasting battery. On the website, they are advertised with 10 hours of music streaming or seven hours of phone call time. While that would grant you all-day battery, it is worth highlighting that it’s unlikely you’d be listening to music or on the phone for that long. 

In my experience, even when using them for music and meetings, they lasted me on average two days on a single charge, only dropping about 30% in 24 hours. This aligns with the company’s claim that they last about two days on standby connected to a smartphone. 

Also: I tried the Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses (including this unreleased feature), and I’m nearly sold

In terms of audio quality, you can’t expect too much, as they’re open-ear headphones and don’t offer any type of noise cancellation. But if your goal is not to have to worry about wearing headphones or earbuds and you don’t require outstanding audio quality, they will do just fine. 

If you turn the volume all the way up, the tinniness is more noticeable, and audio leakage more apparent. In terms of microphone quality, I sent a couple of audio messages with the glasses on, in addition to taking calls, and I was still audible. However, the quality of said audio left much to be desired — a notable compromise, as the Meta Ray-Bans have pretty outstanding mic quality. 

In my opinion, the ideal use case is for office workers who want to stay aware of their surroundings and listen to audio without worrying about one more wearable or the price of the Meta pair. More on that in a moment. 

Light and comfortable 

Because the smart glasses do not have a camera, they are much lighter than the most popular ones, such as Meta Ray-Bans. This affects their shape, as well — my colleagues in the office couldn’t tell they were smart glasses at all, until I mentioned it. 

Another design highlight is the adjustable end tips. When I first put them on, I was put off by how long and straight the end tips were, as shown in the picture above. However, once I realized I could bend them, I hinged them to mimic the fit of my regular glasses, and I was impressed with how much that helped secure the fit. 

Also: I tried Lumus’ AR waveguide prototype at CES, and saw where AR glasses go next

A neat feature about the glasses’ legs is that you can remove them from the main frame to swap them for different styles, including ones that Solos makes with cameras. This allows for more versatility on the go, as you can skip bringing two pairs of glasses and just bring the frames. The Solos AirGo A5 also comes in different colors and styles, including a titanium pair that retails at $349. 

One complaint I had was the positioning of the LED light, which alerts you to incoming calls, SolosChat activation, and notifications. It is too visible to both me and anyone talking to me. I was on a video call when the person I was talking to gave me a puzzled look as the light started flashing, only to match my own confusion. 

You can change the LED’s position from the Right Temple to the SmartHinge, but I’d like to shut it off altogether. 

Let’s talk AI

I rarely found myself using the Solos AI assistant, which is powered by ChatGPT’s voice search and assistant capabilities. This is less due to the quality of the assistant and more because, as with any AI-powered smart glasses, I don’t often have the need for quick queries, such as checking the weather, solving simple math problems, or finding new dinner ideas. 

Also: I tried on Infinix’s new AI glasses at CES – 3 swappable frames offer real style options

I also had an issue with the Solo Chat wake-up call activating the assistant, especially in noisy environments, where I had to say the phrase repeatedly for it to work. While I think there is promise here, especially with the addition of ChatGPT, I wouldn’t say that these glasses are worth purchasing solely for that.

The SolosCoach, however, is a fun application of AI, as it can correct your posture, remind you to stretch, track steps, provide quick fitness sessions, and more. I’d like to see more smart glasses integrate these experiences, although most smartphones can do so to some degree, as well. 

ZDNET’s buying advice

If you are looking for smart glasses and your top priorities are comfort and a marathon battery life, then the Solos AirGo A5 won’t disappoint. The $249 price point is quite reasonable for what they offer, considering the Amazon Echo Frames, which also offer only audio features, retail for $269. 

However, if you want outstanding AI and audio without a camera, I would spring for the Even Realities G2, which are light, comfortable, and highly capable. If a camera is also something you’re interested in, there’s no beating the Meta Ray-Ban Gen 2, which I’ll likely pick back up again after testing the Solos.