The next time you notice someone talking to their glasses, they might not be losing it. Solos has announced that its AirGo A5 smart glasses, first revealed earlier this summer, are now officially available to buy. And unlike practically every other pair of smart glasses fighting for your attention right now, these ones took a different approach. They left the camera out on purpose.
In a world of increasingly complex tech, the AirGo A5 stands out by doing more with less, bringing rich audio, intuitive AI, and effortless functionality into a familiar, lightweight form. At $249, the fifth-generation A5 frames more closely align with the minimalist look of traditional eyewear instead of cramming in features you might never use. If you’ve felt a little creeped out by the idea of cameras constantly recording everything (or just don’t want to deal with the bulk), these might actually make sense.
Designer: Solos
Designed for users who want everyday glasses and intelligent features without the bulk or distraction of traditional wearables, A5 refines Solos’ audio-first experience into something you can wear all day. That means you’re getting upgraded directional speakers that minimize sound leakage for a more private listening experience, while enhanced bass delivers richer, deeper sound quality across music, calls, and voice responses. No more worrying about blasting your podcast to everyone sitting next to you on the train.
What really sets these apart is how effortless the interaction feels. The A5 features automatic power-on/off for effortless activation and hands-free wake-up word functionality, letting you simply say “Hey Solos” to engage AI tools like SolosChat without reaching for a phone. Whether you’re queuing up a warm-up routine before a workout, finding a dinner recipe while your hands are covered in flour, or replying to a message while walking the dog, the A5 integrates real-time assistance into everyday routines without breaking your flow. Natural, fluid interactions are now even more seamless, allowing you to jump in with follow-up questions, just like talking to a friend. You’re not stuck repeating commands like you’re talking to a confused robot. It actually gets context and responds naturally.
The design itself keeps things refreshingly simple. This generation features an ultra-lightweight design engineered for all-day comfort, utilizing the brand’s SmartHinge modular system. Here’s where things get really interesting: the AirGo A5 is compatible with all frame fronts in the existing AirGo 3 lineup, offering an easy upgrade path for current users who can blend advanced smart features into the style and comfort they already love. So if you already own AirGo 3 frames, you can just upgrade the smart temples instead of buying an entirely new pair. That’s a pretty consumer-friendly move in a world where tech companies usually want you to replace everything every year.
Users can access SolosChat (powered by ChatGPT) for on-demand information and assistance and use the new SolosTranslate platform for real-time, hands-free language translation in up to 25 languages, all without fumbling for your phone in your pocket. For travelers or anyone working in multilingual environments, that’s genuinely useful tech that solves real problems. For those who already bought into the Solos ecosystem, the A5 smart temples are available as a separate upgrade kit for $174, which is a decent deal if you’re happy with your current frames and just want the tech refresh.
The real question is whether skipping the camera was the right call. The A5 presents a stark contrast to the recently announced glasses from EssilorLuxottica and Meta, such as the Ray-Ban Display and Oakley Vanguard. While Meta Ray-Bans dominate headlines with their camera capabilities, Solos seems to be betting that plenty of people just want convenient AI access without the baggage of being a walking surveillance device. That’s not a bad bet, honestly. But if you really want cameras integrated into your eyewear, they do have the Solos AirGo V2.
These are now available directly from solosglasses.com, and for anyone who’s been eyeing the smart glasses trend but felt like most options were overkill, the AirGo A5 might finally hit that sweet spot between useful tech and something you’d actually want to wear every day.
The post Solos AirGo A5 Just Ditched the Camera for Something Better first appeared on Yanko Design.