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AI has dominated the headlines this year, as it has for the last couple, but just below that the burgeoning field of smart glasses has seemingly exploded in 2026. And this is without major announcements from Meta — Connect kicks off in September — and the long-rumored Apple Glasses have yet to make their debut.
Acer is mostly known for its laptops like the Acer Swift 16 AI, but the company just announced two different smart glasses that will be available later this year. The Acer GI0 are AI glasses, while the Acer AR Vision GR0 are AR glasses that can hook up to a laptop, smartphone or gaming devices like the new Acer Predator Atlast 8, which we tested out at Computex 2026. Here's what they offer and what it means for Apple and Meta.
Acer AR Vision GR0
Acer's augmented reality glasses appear similar to display glasses like the Xreal One Pro or the Viture Beast. Though based on the press images, Acer's take looks more like a lithe version of the Samsung Galaxy XR headset.
Per Acer, the GR0 features dual micro OLED FHD displays that can show up to a 172-inch screen as if viewed from about 20 feet away. It can display both 2D and 3D content. Like other AR glasses, it is tethered and Acer says it's compatible with Android, iOS and Windows platforms.
Acer says the glasses weigh just 69 grams, a surprisingly head-friendly weight. For comparison, the Xreal One Pro glasses weigh 87 grams and the Viture Beast weigh a gram more at 88.
Acer GI0 AI glasses
When it comes to smart glasses there is a split. You either have the AR display glasses like the GR0s or you have the AI glasses which look more like normal daily spectacles.
Acer's take on the AI glasses feature integrated Google Gemini tools including voice-activated integration, real-time image analysis and "instant translation."
Like the Meta Ray-Ban glasses, Acer's features a built-in camera and microphone for photo and video capture. It can record voices for tracking meetings and conversations.
Acer says it can wirelessly sync with Android or iOS devices and operates in conjunction with the Acer AspireSync companion app.
Both glasses will launch in the US and Europe in the fourth quarter of 2026. Australians get first crack in Q3 later this year. The AR Vision GR0 will cost $499 USD/$599 EU/$999 AUD, while the GI0 starts at $299 US/$399 EU/$599 AUD.
Competition and the Apple behemoth
Smart glasses as a field is getting more crowded, which puts more pressure on Meta and its Ray-Ban lineup. No, Meta didn't have the first smart glasses but the company solidified how AI smart glasses work with the Meta Ray-Ban wearables.
But in 2026 alone, the company is facing more pressure and increased competition. At Google I/O in May, the Mountain View giant and its partners revealed new looks at three different smart glasses.
That includes new looks at the Xreal Project Aura AR glasses. We also saw Samsung's 'Intelligent Eyeware' glasses that are supposed to launch this fall. And that's before we even get to Google's own Android XR specs, which don't have a full release window yet.
Tom's Guide editor Jason England said that despite a head start, Meta could truly fall behind if it doesn't make useful AI that connects to its smart glasses. They only have five months to fix major issues like maps, photos and app support.
Meanwhile, Apple is lurking in the background with its rumored Glasses that could be a "shockwave" to the burgeoning industry. We may have to wait until 2027 to truly find out, though.
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