Lumus introduced a massively wider FOV to smartglasses at CES 2026

[ad_1] Lumus acquired a significant enhance in model recognition when one among its waveguides was chosen to be used within the Meta Ray-Ban Show glasses. However that already appears like outdated tech now as a result of at CES 2026, the corporate introduced a few of its newest elements to the present and primarily based on what I noticed, they appear poised to significantly elevate the optical high quality of the subsequent wave of high-end smartglasses.

When the Meta Ray-Ban Shows glasses got here out, they wowed customers as they have been (and nonetheless are) one among a handful of smartglassess to function a full-color in-lens show with a minimum of a 20-degree discipline of view. However going by the specs on Lumus’ latest waveguides, we’re set for a significant improve when it comes to future capabilities.

<img alt="If you look closely, you can see where light from the waveguide propagates into the one of the smartglasses' lenses." loading="lazy" width="960" height="600" decoding="async" data-nimg="1" class="fig-image-round" style="color:transparent" src="https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/vZZdIpt8txJVT1fhQ.z7cg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTYwMA--/https://d29szjachogqwa.cloudfront.net/images/user-uploaded/lumus-wave-guide.jpg"/> In the event you look intently, you may see the place gentle from the waveguide propagates into the one of many smartglasses' lenses. (Sam Rutherford for Engadget)

The primary mannequin I attempted featured Lumus’ optimized Z-30 waveguides, which not solely provide a a lot wider 30-degree FOV, they're additionally 30 % lighter and 40 % thinner than earlier generations. On prime of that, Lumus says they're additionally extra energy environment friendly with the waveguides able to hitting greater than 8,000 nits per watt. It is a massive deal as a result of smartglasses are at the moment fairly restricted by the scale of batteries they will use, particularly if you wish to make them small and lightweight sufficient to put on all day. Once I tried them on, I used to be dazzled by each the brightness and sharpness I noticed from the Z-30s regardless of them being restricted to 720 x 720 decision. Not solely did the rise in FOV really feel a lot bigger than 10 levels, colours have been very wealthy, together with white, which is usually one of the vital tough shades to correctly reproduce.

<img alt="I had to take a photo of one of Lumus' non-functioning smartglasses with the company's 70-degree FOV waveguide, because two out of three of the working ones had already broke and the last one that I used was being held together by tape. " loading="lazy" width="960" height="600" decoding="async" data-nimg="1" class="fig-image-round" style="color:transparent" src="https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/fGEY2pSl83mkoXzKxJTX7Q--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTYwMA--/https://d29szjachogqwa.cloudfront.net/images/user-uploaded/lumus-70-fov-model.jpg"/> I needed to take a photograph of one among Lumus' non-functioning smartglasses with the corporate's 70-degree FOV waveguide, as a result of two out of three of the working ones had already broke and the final one which I used was being held collectively by tape. (Sam Rutherford for Engadget)

Nevertheless, even after seeing how good that first mannequin was, I used to be completely not ready for Lumus’ 70-degree FOV waveguides. I used to be in a position to view some movies and a handful of take a look at photos and I used to be fully blown away with how a lot space they coated. It was principally the whole heart portion of the lens, with solely small unused areas across the corners. And whereas I did discover some pincushion distortion alongside the edges of the waveguide’s show, a Lumus consultant instructed me that it is going to be potential to right for that in remaining retail models. However make no mistake, these waveguides undoubtedly produced among the sharpest, brightest and best-looking optics I’ve seen from any smartglasses, from both retail fashions or prototypes or. It virtually made me query how a lot wider FOV a majority of these devices actually need, although to be clear, I don’t assume we’ve hit the purpose of diminishing returns but.

That is one among Lumus' thinnest waveguides measuring in at simply 0.8mm. (Sam Rutherford for Engadget)

Different benefits of Lumus’ geometric reflective waveguides embrace higher total effectivity than their refractive counterparts together with the flexibility to optically bond the shows to smartglasses lenses. Which means in contrast to numerous rivals, Lumus’ waveguides may be paired with transitions lenses as an alternative of needing to resort to clip-on sunglass attachments whenever you go outdoors. Lumus additionally claims its designs additionally simplifies the manufacturing course of, leading to thinner waveguides (as small as 0.8mm) and usually larger yields.

Sadly, taking high-quality images of content material from smartglasses shows is extremely difficult, particularly whenever you’re utilizing extraordinarily delicate prototypes, so that you’ll simply need to take my phrase for now. However with Lumus within the technique of ramping up manufacturing of its new waveguides with assist from companions together with Quanta and SCHOTT, it appears like there will likely be a ton of smartglasses makers clamoring for these elements as momentum continues to construct across the trade’s choose for the subsequent “massive” factor.