Lumus introduced a massively wider FOV to smartglasses at CES 2026
Lumus obtained a significant increase in model recognition when one in all its waveguides was chosen to be used within the Meta Ray-Ban Show glasses. However that already looks like outdated tech now as a result of at CES 2026, the corporate introduced a few of its newest parts to the present and based mostly on what I noticed, they appear poised to noticeably elevate the optical high quality of the subsequent wave of high-end smartglasses.
When the Meta Ray-Ban Shows glasses got here out, they wowed customers as they had been (and nonetheless are) one in all a handful of smartglassess to characteristic a full-color in-lens show with a minimum of a 20-degree subject of view. However going by the specs on Lumus’ latest waveguides, we’re set for a significant improve by way of future capabilities.
For those who look carefully, you may see the place gentle from the waveguide propagates into the one of many smartglasses’ lenses. (Sam Rutherford for Engadget)
The primary mannequin I attempted featured Lumus’ optimized Z-30 waveguides, which not solely provide a a lot wider 30-degree FOV, they’re additionally 30 p.c lighter and 40 p.c thinner than earlier generations. On high of that, Lumus says they’re additionally extra energy environment friendly with the waveguides able to hitting greater than 8,000 nits per watt. This can be a large deal as a result of smartglasses are presently fairly restricted by the scale of batteries they will use, particularly if you wish to make them small and lightweight sufficient to put on all day. After I tried them on, I used to be dazzled by each the brightness and sharpness I noticed from the Z-30s regardless of them being restricted to 720 x 720 decision. Not solely did the rise in FOV really feel a lot bigger than 10 levels, colours had been very wealthy, together with white, which is usually one of the vital troublesome shades to correctly reproduce.
I needed to take a photograph of one in all Lumus’ non-functioning smartglasses with the corporate’s 70-degree FOV waveguide, as a result of two out of three of the working ones had already broke and the final one which I used was being held collectively by tape. (Sam Rutherford for Engadget)
Nonetheless, even after seeing how good that first mannequin was, I used to be completely not ready for Lumus’ 70-degree FOV waveguides. I used to be in a position to view some movies and a handful of take a look at photographs and I used to be utterly blown away with how a lot space they coated. It was mainly the whole middle portion of the lens, with solely small unused areas across the corners. And whereas I did discover some pincushion distortion alongside the edges of the waveguide’s show, a Lumus consultant informed me that it is going to be attainable to appropriate for that in ultimate retail models. However make no mistake, these waveguides undoubtedly produced among the sharpest, brightest and best-looking optics I’ve seen from any smartglasses, from both retail fashions or prototypes or. It nearly made me query how a lot wider FOV a majority of these devices actually need, although to be clear, I don’t assume we’ve hit the purpose of diminishing returns but.
That is one in all Lumus’ thinnest waveguides measuring in at simply 0.8mm. (Sam Rutherford for Engadget)
Different benefits of Lumus’ geometric reflective waveguides embody higher total effectivity than their refractive counterparts together with the power to optically bond the shows to smartglasses lenses. Meaning not like a number of rivals, Lumus’ waveguides might be paired with transitions lenses as a substitute of needing to resort to clip-on sunglass attachments if you go exterior. Lumus additionally claims its designs additionally simplifies the manufacturing course of, leading to thinner waveguides (as small as 0.8mm) and usually larger yields.
Sadly, taking high-quality pictures of content material from smartglasses shows is extremely difficult, particularly if you’re utilizing extraordinarily delicate prototypes, so that you’ll simply should take my phrase for now. However with Lumus within the means of ramping up manufacturing of its new waveguides with assist from companions together with Quanta and SCHOTT, it looks like there shall be a ton of smartglasses makers clamoring for these parts as momentum continues to construct round the trade’s decide for the subsequent “large” factor.