ZDNET Highlights
- The Solos Airgo A5 is available now starting at $249.
- They don’t have cameras, instead opting for ChatGPAT-powered AI assistants and speakers.
- There is some lack in audio quality.
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Smart glasses have exploded in popularity over the past two years due to their ability to incorporate cameras, AI assistants, and speakers into practical form. however, Solos Airgo A5 Takes a different approach, removing the cameras for a more discreet design.
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First available in October of 2025, Solos is touting the Airgo A5 as lightweight, comfortable smart glasses with hands-free AI assistance and a long-lasting battery. As a result, the target audience differs from the popular Meta Ray-Ban glasses, which are geared more towards content creation, as these are targeted more towards AI enthusiasts.
Still, they’re still an investment, with the cheapest frame costing $249, so I tested them to determine if they’re worth the price.
All day battery, with cost
The biggest feature of these glasses is the long lasting battery. On the website, they are advertised with 10 hours of music streaming or seven hours of phone call time. Although this will give you a full day’s battery, it’s worth noting that it’s unlikely you’ll be listening to music or on the phone for that long.
In my experience, even when using them for concerts and meetings, they lasted an average of two days on a single charge, depleting only 30% in 24 hours. This is in line with the company’s claim that they last about two days on smartphone-connected standby.
Also: I tried the Meta Ray-Ban Display Glasses (including this unreleased feature), and I’m almost sold
What you can’t expect in terms of audio quality Very A lot, because they are open-ear headphones and don’t offer any kind of noise cancellation. But if your goal is not to worry about wearing headphones or earbuds and you don’t need excellent audio quality, they’ll do just fine.
If you turn the volume all the way up, the harshness is more noticeable, and audio leakage is more obvious. In terms of microphone quality, in addition to taking calls, I sent a few audio messages while wearing the glasses, and I was still able to hear. However, the quality of said audio left little to be desired – a notable compromise, as the Meta Ray-Bans have very excellent mic quality.
In my opinion, the ideal use case is for office workers who want to be aware of their surroundings and listen to audio without having to worry about another wearable item or the price of a Meta pair. More on that in a moment.
light and comfortable
Because smart glasses don’t have a camera, they’re much lighter than the most popular glasses like the Meta Ray-Ban. This also affects their size – my coworkers at the office couldn’t tell they were smart glasses until I mentioned it.
Another design highlight is the adjustable end tips. When I first wore them, I was surprised at how long and straight the ends were, as shown in the picture above. However, once I realized I could bend them, I hinged them to mimic the fit of my regular glasses, and I was impressed by how much this helped secure the fit.
Also: I tried Lumus’ AR waveguide prototype at CES, and see where AR glasses go next
A nice feature about the glasses’ legs is that you can remove them from the main frame to change them into different styles, including styles created by Solos with cameras. This allows for greater versatility on the go, as you can skip bringing two pairs of glasses and just bring the frames. The Solos AirGo A5 also comes in a variety of colors and styles, including titanium pair Which has a retail price of $349.
My one complaint was about the status of the LED light, which alerts you of incoming calls, SoloChat activation, and notifications. It’s visible to both me and anyone talking to me. I was on a video call when the person I was talking to looked at me with puzzled eyes as the lights began to flash, only to be matched by my own confusion.
You have the option to change the LED position from Right Temple to SmartHinge, but I would prefer to turn it off completely.
Let’s talk about AI
I found myself rarely using the Solos AI Assistant, which is powered by ChatGPIT’s voice search and assistant capabilities. This is less due to the quality of the Assistant and more because, like any AI-powered smart glasses, I don’t often need quick queries, like checking the weather, solving simple math problems, or finding new dinner ideas.
Also: I tried out Infinix’s new AI glasses at CES – 3 swappable frames offer real style options
I also had issues activating the Assistant with the Solo Chat wake-up call, especially in noisy environments, where I had to say the phrase repeatedly for it to work. While I think there’s promise here, especially with the addition of ChatGPT, I wouldn’t say these specs are worth buying just for the sake of it.
However, SoloScout is a fun application of AI, as it can correct your posture, remind you to stretch, track steps, provide quick fitness sessions, and more. I’d like to see more smart glasses integrate these experiences, although most smartphones can do this to some degree.
ZDNET’s shopping advice
If you’re looking for smart glasses and your top priorities are comfort and marathon battery, then Solos Airgo A5 Will not disappoint. The $249 price point is pretty reasonable for what they offer, considering the Amazon Echo Frames, which also offer audio-only features, retail for $269.
However, if you want excellent AI and audio without the inclusion of a camera, I’d spend the money on the Even Reality G2, which are lightweight, comfortable, and highly capable. If camera is also something you’re interested in, the Meta Ray-Ban Gen 2 can’t be beat.
