Although initially publicized as audio augmented-reality glasses, Bose’s Frames is a pair of sunglasses that sound “surprisingly good,” according to CNet’s David Carnoy, who gave it a 7.9/10. The sunglasses house speakers in its frame and a microphone near each temple, allowing users to play music and take calls.
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Bose Frames come in Matte Black and two universal styles – the larger (Alto) and smaller (Rondo), and are now available for $199.95 in the U.S.
The glasses do not offer digital overlay of the real world, but that technology is still in development with apps arriving later this year, reports CNet. The new functionality with Bose AR will be available for users on the Bose Connect app through an upcoming software update.
Users can also interact with Siri and Google Assistant using the sunglasses, after pairing them to a phone, however that feature is limited to few commands such as, asking the assistant to play music and handle music playback. That’s not surprising since Bose describes Frames as a pair of sunglasses “enhanced with Bose technology to play music and take calls.”
The glasses are not heavy, the battery life is low, and overall the product is a “compelling wearable audio device that can take the place of headphones.” According to Bose, the battery will last for around three and a half hours when playing music and 12 hours of standby.
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The glasses block up to 99% of UVA/UVB rays, and feature uniformly tinted lenses and distinct accents – including gold-plated steel hinges and charging pins. They’re scratch and shatter resistant, and weigh a mere 45 grams.
Once the device is paired with a phone, it’ll give it a GPS location. The built-in nine-axis sensor tells what direction a user’s head is pointed in.
