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ZDNET's key takeaways
Lumus' ZOE prototype pushes past a 70-degree field of view and feels like a wraparound display.
The updated Z-30 prioritizes everyday readability.
Z-30 2.0 targets thinner, lighter waveguides to support slimmer frames that look more normal.
Lumus grabbed attention at CES 2026, showcasing its waveguide breakthroughs that push field of view and thinness further than I've seen before in a smart glasses form factor. I spent hands-on time with each of their big announcements, including a fragile prototype held together by tape at the edges.
The company is building directly on its major success supplying its waveguide technology to Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses, and proving that geometric waveguides work at consumer scale with standard glass. At CES, Lumus showcased a ZOE prototype with more than 70 degrees of field of view, an optimized Z-30 with 40% more brightness, and a Z-30 2.0 preview that's 40% thinner. David Goldman, VP of marketing, walked me through each demo with clear enthusiasm about the progress Lumus is making.
Also: CES 2026: 7 biggest news stories across TVs, laptops, and other weird gadgets you missed
Meta Ray-Ban Display uses Lumus 20-degree waveguide lenses delivering 5,000 nits brightness to compete with bright daylight, helping to validate consumer appetite and expectations for AR glasses. "The feedback on the display side has been incredible," he said. As evidenced by my time on the show floor, the success of the displays inside Meta's glasses is helping drive other companies to chase similar form factors and solutions.
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