Bose’s unique, audio-only AR sunglasses are about to become a practical reality. The company has announced that Frames will be available in January for $199, with pre-orders starting now. The eyewear is available in squarish (Alto) and rounded (Rondo) styles to suit your fashion sensibilities. Don’t expect the glasses to live up to their full potential right away, though.
Out of the box, they’ll let you privately listen to music, answer calls and talk to your preferred voice assistant without having to wear earbuds (albeit with only 3.5 hours of continuous playback). What you won’t get, though, is Frames’ signature Bose AR feature — audio augmented reality apps won’t be available until sometime in 2019, with more details coming at Austin’s SXSW festival in March. You’re buying these shades as much for their long-term promise as their current capabilities, so you may want to think carefully before committing to a purchase.
