Engo 2 Vive smart glasses ZDNET's key takeaways The Engo 2 Vive Photochromic glasses are on sale now for $275.
The Vive model adds new colorways, heart rate data, functions as clear lenses or sunglasses, and has a heads-up display.
The heads-up technology takes up space at the center of the glasses, and there's no support for Google Wear OS, Polar, or Coros watches. View now at Engoeyewear
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I spent a lot of time running, biking, hiking rowing and walking with smartwatches, bone conduction headphones, and smart glasses this year. For the past few weeks, I've been running and riding my bike with the new Engo 2 Vive smart glasses, and they've quickly become an essential part of my workouts.
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Engo's limited-edition glasses come in photochromic and high-contrast lens colors for more colorful options and improved lens technology. I tested the photochromic model -- they switch to a clear lens that protects my eyes from the cold and rain while providing the heads-up AR experience I want from the glasses.
One of the biggest concerns people have with smart glasses is their battery longevity. The Engo 2 Vive provide up to 12 hours of data on the heads-up display, which is very good compared to competitors.
In fact, I wouldn't mind cutting the battery life in half, if the center module (where the battery is stored) could be reduced in size. There's a lot going on in the middle with the technology, and after a few times of running with the glasses, you get used to the pieces in the center. However, I think shaving down the size would help its design and allow Engo to lighten the glasses, even though they only weigh 36 grams.
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