Wearable screens, heads-up displays, color-changing lenses, and automatic caption glasses stood out at the Consumer Electronics Show.

The first bucket is the simple and stylish glasses. The more stylish and comfortable smart glasses are, the fewer features they tend to have. But for this group, that’s often a good thing.

Producers of hi-tech connected eyewear are multiplying their innovations with increasingly discreet models in an attempt to make a difference in a highly competitive -- and fast-emerging -- market.

With new developments in XR, AI, and wearable tech, CES 2025 has solidified its place as a barometer for the next wave of innovation.

EssilorLuxxoitca, the holding company behind eyewear brands like Ray-Ban, Oakley, and Foster Grant, is entering the over-the-counter hearing aid industry with Nuance Audio.

Heading into 2025, the next step for smart glasses was clear as day: while AI glasses like Meta's, the Solos AirGo3, and AirGo Vision would act as the tip of the spear, the addition of display tech would be the feature that truly pierces the hide of the mainstream.

CES 2025 has been a significant one for smart glasses — so much so that I’m confident at least a couple of these will adorn our list of the best smart glasses (provided they play their cards right).

Fortunately, some of the best smart glasses we saw at the show will, making the product category one of the most exciting ones going into the rest of 2025. Over the past week, ZDNET has been scouring the show floor to select the best of the best.