You're wrong if you think AR glasses are only for gaming and entertainment. Most early adopters bought AR devices to immerse themselves in video games and movies. But as more people get comfortable with the technology and learn how augmented reality works, they’re buying AR glasses for work.
Medical residents and physicians can use AR to practice — performing virtual surgeries and examining 3D models of the human body. Architects can use it to superimpose blueprints and plans over existing physical spaces. Industrial and manufacturing facilities can use AR to train employees and improve assembly and production processes.
People across all industries and all lines of work can wear AR glasses to project apps, documents, and more onto virtual screens in midair, leaving hands and desktops free for non-digital tasks.
Are you wondering how augmented reality might be able to help you do your job?
In this article, we review the best AR glasses for work and explore the many ways you can use AR glasses in the workplace.
At a glance:
Best AR Glasses for Work
1. Top Pick: MyW
Our MyW glasses aren’t just the best AR glasses for work — they’re the best AR glasses, period.
MyW glasses are feature-packed. They have a virtual 90-inch high-resolution display, a pre-installed web browser to access the Internet, and a front-facing 1300W/13MP camera that automatically detects barcodes and lets you capture video and images from a first-person perspective.
Whether you’re a social media influencer or an inventory specialist in a warehouse, the camera capabilities alone can markedly increase productivity and make your job easier.
Our MyW glasses run on a modified Android operating system, allowing you to access almost every app available in the Google Play store. They also have a built-in translation app that projects English subtitles in front of your eyes when someone speaks to you in a foreign language.
If your job requires foreign travel or communication, our unique 50-language translator is a game changer.
With moldable frames to ensure the perfect fit, our MyW glasses weigh just 135 grams, making them lighter and more comfortable to wear than most other AR devices and headsets. They feature removable polarized lenses to help reduce glare and minimize eye strain, and they can be worn directly over eyeglasses or fitted with prescription lenses.
Our MyW glasses also boast a double microphone, powerful built-in speakers that deliver dynamic sound, and Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities. All features can be accessed with a few taps of the MyW wireless remote or the MyW app on your smartphone.
2. Vuzix M4000 Smart Glasses
Vuzix makes some of the best AR glasses for work and productivity, but it’s their M4000 Smart Glasses with waveguide technology that really impress.
The Vuzix M4000 features a clear waveguide lens with a 28-degree field of view, left-eye and right-eye mounting options, and a head’s up display for total situational awareness.
With voice-activated and button controls, you can project diagrams and instructions onto the virtual screen in front of you and access a variety of enterprise AR apps, including Zoom and Microsoft Teams.
The Vuzix M4000 increases productivity across various industries, including warehousing, logistics, distribution, manufacturing, and telemedicine. It live-streams 4K video so others can see what you’re doing in real-time and provides an excellent forum for on-the-job training for new employees.
The M4000 also includes AI databases and remote assist specialists that make learning and performing your job easier, no matter the task at hand.
3. RayNeo Air 2 AR Glasses
With RayNeo Air 2 AR Glasses, you’ll never want to work on your laptop or PC again. These glasses project a massive virtual 201-inch SONY Micro OLED screen and can be used as a portable work monitor, a replacement for multiple monitors, or a second screen.
RayNeo Air 2 AR glasses feature a whisper mode for privacy that eliminates sound leakage and TÜV Rheinland Certified Eye Care to reduce eye strain and visual fatigue. The displays deliver sharp, clear visuals with 600 nits of brightness and a 120 Hz refresh rate, and the frames can be fitted with prescription lenses if you require corrective lenses.
RayNeo Air 2 glasses offer great value at $379. They’re compatible with a wide range of iOS and Android devices, as well as consoles like the Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, PlayStation, and Xbox, so you can immerse yourself in video games on your days off.
Shop RAYNEO Air 2 AR Glasses here
4. XREAL Air 2 Pro AR Glasses
Compatible with Macbooks and Windows PCs — as well as Android and iOS devices — XREAL Air 2 Pro glasses allow for productivity on the go. These glasses feature a 130-inch spatial virtual display with a 46-degree field of vision, directional audio technology that minimizes sound leakage, and a SONY Micro OLED display with three electrochromic dimming levels.
If you’re tired of working at a small laptop screen or a PC monitor tethered to a desk, XREAL Air 2 Pro glasses offer the flexibility and display size you need to do any work from anywhere. Their ultra-lightweight design, soft temples, and zero-pressure nose pads position them as some of the most comfortable AR glasses on the market.
5. Apple Vision Pro
Most AR glasses range in price from about $300 to $700, but the Apple Vision Pro is a different animal at $3,500.
The Apple Vision Pro is the most feature-packed AR headset of 2024, allowing anyone to create an expansive and immersive work environment in midair.
With a Mac Virtual Display, Magic Keyboard, and Magic Trackpad, you can create and review massive spreadsheets and documents, design and develop websites, manage projects, create simulated environments, examine 3D objects, and more. The price may seem outrageous, but the capabilities of the Apple Vision Pro far exceed those of any other AR device.
6. Magic Leap 2
Magic Leap 2 AR glasses are most beneficial for those in the manufacturing, architecture, engineering, construction, and healthcare industries. Built to run customized AR apps, the Magic Leap 2 has one of any AR device's highest CPU/GPU rates and is optimized for integration with various enterprise systems.
One of the most unique features of Magic Leap 2 is its dimming technology, which can make the entire room around you appear darker so you can better view the AR effects. Its capabilities aren’t helpful to everyone in every industry, but it’s a game changer for professionals in the workplace settings mentioned above.
What Are Common Ways That AR Glasses Can Be Used for Work?
There are many potential use cases for AR glasses in the workplace. From distribution center staff to physicians performing high-risk surgical procedures, there’s a place for augmented reality in almost every profession and industry.
AR in Medicine
One of the unique features of augmented reality technology is the projection of three-dimensional virtual objects into a physical space. This projection allows medical students to study 3D models of the human body, physicians to plan for and practice complex surgical procedures, and medical educators to simulate clinical experiences with patients for residents.
AR for Architects, Construction Teams, and Engineers
AR glasses allow architects, builders, and engineers to detect and correct potential design flaws before construction begins. These tools can also help improve design visualization at the start of a project, encourage team collaboration throughout the process, and minimize risks, thereby saving time and money.
AR in Industrial and Manufacturing Facilities
AR glasses are ideal for manufacturing facilities, distribution centers, and industrial workplaces. From scanning barcodes to projecting instructions or diagrams for product assembly or maintenance, augmented reality devices offer a hands-free way for staff to access critical information without needing a clipboard, scanner, or instructional manual.
The Benefits of AR Glasses for All Industries
Augmented reality can benefit all workers in all industries in the following additional ways:
Saving Space
Computer monitors can occupy much space in small offices or crowded workspaces. AR glasses allow employees to perform work on much larger and more detailed screens without having to devote physical space to monitors.
Enabling Remote Work
AR glasses allow you to work from anywhere at any time. For everyone from digital nomads to hybrid employees, augmented reality technology ensures it’s always possible to log on and get to work from anywhere with a Wi-Fi signal.
Facilitating Onboarding and Training
AR glasses make it easy to train and onboard new employees worldwide. Using first-person perspective cameras, management and superiors can monitor new employees' activities in real-time to minimize risks and maximize safety.
Is It Safe to Use AR Glasses for Work?
AR glasses are generally considered safe, but their use carries potential risks. Exercise caution when you’re immersed in an augmented world, and keep these common sense tips in mind:
Eye Strain
There is no evidence to suggest that digital screens or projections can lead to long-term eye damage, but eye strain is a common consequence. The longer you stare at a screen — virtual or physical — the more likely it is that you will suffer eye strain, ocular fatigue, or blurry vision.
Headache
Ill-fitting glasses can cause headaches, so your AR glasses must fit properly and comfortably on your face. Some AR devices include headbands that wrap around the back of the head. If you wear headband-style glasses, be sure the strap is tight enough to hold the glasses in place but not so tight that it hurts your head.
Distractions
One of the biggest dangers of wearing AR glasses at work is that digital elements and massive display projections can be distracting. You should never drive or operate heavy machinery while wearing augmented reality glasses unless the manufacturer expressly states that it’s safe to do so.
What Are the Best AR Glasses for Work?
We can’t say that AR glasses for work are mainstream, but they are gaining popularity. If you’re ready to adopt AR as a productivity tool, choose glasses that have the functionality and practicality you need to do your specific job.
Our MyW glasses have wide-ranging capabilities, making them a top option for anyone in any industry. Unlike AR devices specific to one field or workplace, MyW glasses offer considerable benefits for a significant percentage of the workforce.
Whether you want to work remotely in front of a giant screen, access collaborative apps and productivity tools in midair, or attend virtual meetings, MyW AR glasses make it all possible.