Hey tech enthusiast! Today I'm going to reflect on one of the hottest debates in the tech world: Are smart glasses destined to dethrone our trusty smartphones? With major companies (from Meta to Apple) investing heavily in this niche, and new models being unveiled almost weekly, it seems like the perfect time to assess whether the king of communication, after almost 20 years on the market, has its days numbered.
One of the main challenges for glasses to become a truly autonomous device is pure physics. For glasses to be comfortable to wear all day, they must be lightweight. This requirement drastically limits two essential components: the battery and the advanced electronics that can be integrated into the temples.
The current reality is that most smart glasses on the market are not autonomous. They act as an extension, depending entirely on the processing power and internet connectivity of our mobile phone. They are an accessory; the smartphone remains the digital brain that orchestrates everything.
Meanwhile, our beloved mobile phone hasn't stood still. It's an increasingly powerful and versatile portable computer. It handles everything from complex productivity tasks to the most demanding entertainment. In our hand, we have a high-resolution screen and an arsenal of sensors, all with battery life that smart glasses can't match.
The mobile phone is the Swiss Army knife that satisfies almost all the needs of the modern user. It's a multi-purpose device that continues to evolve annually with more capable processors and new features, making it difficult to justify its complete replacement by a device that only offers a fraction of its capabilities.
To understand where these gadgets fit in, we must classify them into two main categories:
. Simple Glasses (without projection): These focus on audio and discretion. They use AI and basic electronics to transmit information via audio (notifications, calls) or control mobile phone functions. They're a stylish headset, not a mobile phone replacement.
. Advanced Glasses (with AR/VR projection): These include a projector that places visual information onto one or both lenses (Augmented Reality - AR). Although more complete, they are inherently heavier, more expensive, and, paradoxically, the fastest at draining the battery, forcing a constant dependence on a mobile phone or an external power source.
It's common to hear leaders like Mr. Mark Zuckerberg predict that Augmented Reality (AR) glasses will replace mobile phones. In my opinion, I think this confuses business desires (a huge new market) with the user's practical reality.
Reality prevails. Immersive glasses (like the Apple Vision Pro) will be powerful tools for very specific niches, such as 3D collaborative work or immersive entertainment. Their daily use will be limited by weight, price, and battery life.
Everyday glasses (the most common type) will be lightweight devices whose main function will be to act as a smart filter for mobile notifications, keeping the power and processing in the device that fits in your pocket.
Nobody has a crystal ball, of course. But if we analyze usefulness, battery life, versatility, and cost, the smartphone will continue to be the central hub of our digital lives. Smart glasses will be a fantastic accessory with significant growth potential for certain uses, but they are not the successor to the mobile phone.
We'll have mobile phones for a long time to come!
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