Solos has unveiled its new smart glasses, the AirGo V2, a direct competitor to Meta's Ray-Ban Meta glasses with a unique twist: a modular privacy kit. Priced at $299, the glasses can take photos, record video, play music, and interact with an AI assistant that sees what you see. The highlight is the Privacy Kit, a $79 accessory that includes a clip-on shield to block the cameras and a polarized lens.
The Privacy Kit allows users to obscure the cameras and switch to audio-only mode
Solos designed the Privacy Kit to give wearers more control over recording. When the shield is attached, it physically covers the cameras, preventing any image or video capture. This lets users keep wearing the glasses in audio-only mode, using the built-in speakers and microphone. The battery lasts between 10 and 12 hours, ensuring prolonged use even without the visual features. However, the manual process of clipping and unclipping the shield may discourage consistent use, potentially compromising privacy in sensitive settings like events or workplaces.
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Challenges of a clip-on privacy accessory in a market dominated by Meta
While Solos' intention is commendable, the practical effectiveness of the Privacy Kit is questionable. A bad actor could simply remove the clip-on blocker after entering a no-recording zone, negating the protection. Additionally, the separate purchase brings the total cost to $378, reducing the competitive edge over the Ray-Ban Meta. Solos is no stranger to this space: its earlier model, the AirGo Vision launched in 2024, was panned by critics for mediocre media capture, frustrating touch controls, and a power-hungry app. The AirGo V2 aims to improve, but it still has to prove it can match Meta's experience, which dominates the market with over a million units sold.
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The competitive landscape: Google and Samsung also target smart glasses with AI
Meta remains the undisputed leader, but competition is heating up. Google and Samsung are collaborating on the Android XR platform, with new models from Warby Parker and Gentle Monster arriving later this year. Apple is reportedly developing its own smart glasses. Solos, meanwhile, capitalizes on growing skepticism toward Meta's data collection, following controversies over silent face recognition addition and the announcement of future fees for previously free features. According to Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth, there is demand for audio-only smart glasses, but Meta has not yet abandoned cameras. Solos aims to fill this niche with a device that puts privacy first, albeit with some practical contradictions.
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For more on privacy in wearables, read about Anthropic's Claude Cowork expansion and how AI ethics are evolving. Solos' challenge is ambitious: to offer a viable alternative to Meta without repeating the same mistakes. Only time will tell if the Privacy Kit becomes a genuine protective tool or just a gimmick.
