Smart Glasses, Smart Deals: What Amazon’s Echo Frames Reveal About the Industry

Another Amazon Echo device? Honestly, my home is practically an Alexa command center. The sheer number of these things I’ve accumulated while reviewing smart home tech is bordering on absurd. Yet, the Cyber Monday deal on Amazon’s Echo Frames – $115, marked down from a hefty $300 – piqued some interest. My husband ended up grabbing a pair, especially since the prescription-ready version came with a free Echo Spot. Thirteen smart speakers… and counting.

The Echo Spot, regularly priced at $80, remains a solid option for a smart alarm clock. It integrates Alexa into your bedside routine, controlling smart lights and playing music. Still, the glasses grabbed the spotlight. He’d been watching my own Echo Frames with envy since I snagged them at a similar price during a previous Prime Day. The allure of hands-free calling and music, free from earbuds, proved irresistible.

As someone who wears glasses daily, I’ve watched the smart glasses space carefully. I felt that these devices were approaching a point where I could use them daily. Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses caught my attention, specifically after they launched their second-generation with better battery life. I almost gave them a try. This changed once the Echo Frames dropped to their lowest price ever. For $115, it became an easier bet than the second-gen Metas.

Let’s be real: walking around with a camera constantly on my face doesn’t thrill me. I like the voice assistant functionality coupled with the speaker and mic. I enjoy listening to music and podcasts while walking my dog or tending to the garden, but I don’t like wearing headphones. And since I already rely on Alexa, having it accessible right on my face felt natural.

The Echo Frames now support Alexa Plus, Amazon’s upgraded voice assistant. This allows users to pose detailed questions to use Alexa to control smart devices. They resemble ordinary glasses too, which matters to me as I intend to use them regularly.

After getting them fitted with my prescription, I began using them. I must remember to charge yet another device daily. A point to consider: If you have a larger head, go for the grey rectangle model because it is the only one that offers a wide-fit.

This whole situation reveals a few things about the smart glasses market and Amazon’s approach.

Firstly, price matters, a lot. The Echo Frames, while not the newest tech, became compelling due to the aggressive discount. It underscores a truth: for many consumers, smart glasses are still a luxury, an experiment. A lower price mitigates the risk. This challenge impacts wider adoption. How can manufacturers convince individuals of the value without alienating them with a high price tag?

Secondly, functionality trumps cutting-edge features, at least for now. The core appeal of the Echo Frames isn’t the camera or augmented reality. It’s the convenience of a voice assistant and audio without needing headphones. This shows there’s a demand for simple, practical applications of smart glasses. It’s worth noting that focusing on niche use cases – like hands-free communication or discreet audio – might be more effective than trying to pack every feature imaginable into a single device.

Thirdly, Amazon’s strategy seems to be about getting devices into homes, even at a loss. The Echo Spot thrown in with the Frames serves as another point of access to the Amazon ecosystem. They likely see value in expanding their user base, even if it means sacrificing profit margins on individual products. This tactic might work in the short term. However, it can devalue their products and create expectations of constant discounts.

The Ray-Ban Meta glasses are interesting. Meta has doubled down on social features, building experiences around capturing and sharing moments. This differs from Amazon’s focus on utility and integration with its existing services. Which approach will win? It’s too soon to tell. My gut feeling is that the killer app for smart glasses hasn’t arrived yet. We are still in the early stages of experimentation.

Given these facts, I believe the success of smart glasses hinges on several factors. Manufacturers should focus on core functionality, simplify the user experience, and get the price right. The industry needs to find a real reason for these devices to exist. A reason that goes beyond novelty and becomes an integral part of our daily lives. The current approach might need a shift in priorities. Only time will reveal whether the current market trends prove true and smart glasses revolutionize the tech world.

Read Original

Keywords: smart glasses, Amazon Echo Frames, Alexa, smart glasses deals, Ray-Ban Meta, prescription glasses, hands-free calling, smart home tech