By Project Orion Unpleasant Snapchat glasses And X-real glasses of Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glassesthat are likely to steal the show with the most adoption, there is no shortage of contenders for the best smart glasses in 2024.
Instead of throwing a microphone or set of speakers into a pair of glasses, Chamelo takes a more fundamental approach to reducing the hassle of swapping glasses for sunglasses. The new eyewear model, Prime, can automatically switch from glasses to sunglasses thanks to a light sensor built into the bridge.
This piece of technology, combined with the aptly named ‘Autopilot’ feature – not to be confused with Tesla’s self-driving mode – automatically adjusts the tint of the lenses based on the conditions you’re in. if you walk outside on a sunny autumn day, the lenses can adjust to a higher tint to protect your eyes.
Pretty handy – and Chamelo promises that adjusting the hue takes just 0.1 seconds. The patented Eclipse Tint-Adjustable lenses can be adjusted between four tint levels, from 9% to 45%. The lenses themselves offer 100% UV protection and are available in two finishes: smoke, which resembles classic black shades, and Fire, which has an orange mirror finish.
However, if you need prescription lenses, you’re currently out of luck. Chamelo does not yet offer prescription lenses, and you cannot exchange the lenses for ready-made lenses. However, the brand does plan to offer these additional lens types at some point.
The black frame is made of thermoplastic material, specifically TR90, weighs 30 grams and the glasses offer protection against sweat or water up to the IPX4 standard. If you prefer to adjust the tint level yourself, you can ignore the ‘Autopilot’ feature and manually swipe the arm to change the tint across the four levels.
Chamelo’s Prime glasses – and sunglasses – will ship from December, priced at $249 / £249 / AU$399. An international launch is planned, but UK and Australian prices aren’t available yet. If you are in the United States and have already sold, you can now lock in an order for $199, with an instant discount of $50.