Smart Glasses Battle VR Headsets: Which Tech Sees the Future?
Smart Glasses Battle VR Headsets: Which Tech Sees the Future?
In the latest episode of Goatee Tech, the debate heats up as two tech experts, Will Greenwald from PC Mag and Scott Stein from CNET, face off to determine which emerging technology will have a greater cultural impact: smart glasses or virtual reality headsets. Greenwald champions smart glasses, emphasizing their potential for everyday use, user-friendliness, and versatility. He likens smart glasses to the early days of smartwatches, suggesting they are on the brink of becoming essential once their functionality improves.
Conversely, Stein advocates for VR headsets, citing their immersive experiences and polished designs. He acknowledges the current limitations of smart glasses, particularly in battery life and functionality but stresses that VR offers a richer array of experiences, appealing especially to gaming and fitness enthusiasts.
As the duo delves into various aspects of both technologies—from pricing and usability to future developments—their engaging banter underscores the excitement and uncertainty surrounding the future of wearable technology. In the end, while VR takes the crown for now, the conversation hints at a future where both technologies could converge, reshaping how we interact with the digital world. Will smart glasses eventually eclipse VR, or will headsets retain their dominance? Tune in to the full debate for insights and spirited discussions!
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Video “Smart Glasses Battle VR Headsets: Which Tech Sees the Future?” was uploaded on 12/02/2025 to Youtube Channel CNET

































Hilarious ending Hahahaha.
I enjoyed the format, so tired of this "we can't compare things" mentality. Yes, they are different emerging technologies, but the question of which will be more useful to you, today, is still a prudent one. I think there's a lot of points on the Headsets side of things now. Most the negatives mentioned are more true of the XR landscape 5 years ago, Cable (most headsets are used wirelessly today), You're separated from the world (not with an MR headset), Big and uncomfortable (Probably the most valid of complaints, but what people picture in their mind and the reality of modern headsets are in stark contrast), etc. . Excited for glasses to have time to nail the foundation like VR has.
For me personally for these to compete at some level with vr headsets i need them to explore having internal storage on the glasses with a lightweight OS for video playback and a few of the common apps like YouTube plus a small key fob sized remote with a small T9 keyboard for navigating the glasses and actually typing in things for say a light browser app then have your phone be more of a battery and internet connection source through the cable, something similar to having a vr headset, a battery pack and a controller
Meh, my eyes are so bad that I can't use either one. I'll wait for my cybereye implants, thanks.
Apple doesn't do smart glasses because you need AI to add the smarts. And Apple's Ai is non existent. Remember Apple intelligence? Now theres a misnomer if ever there was one.
when semi immersion based 6dof exercise apps come to smart glasses that'll make me switch from VR. until then Quest 3 is the best gaming cardio equipment on the market
Excellent video, super funny and entertaining!
This might be a little long winded but I'll go ahead anyhow. I'm 59 years old I had Lasik surgery to correct my vision. I live on a Nordhavn-62 trawler. It's boat for people that don't know what a trawler is. I got six monitors in the pilot house I have external day and night cameras hooked to two of these monitors. And one that folds down from the ceiling, which is an actual TV set. I have a 65 inch television set in the salon. And a 50 inch in my state room. I have switching capability for all these monitors. I use a 17 inch Dell Linux laptop for when I have to do repairs on the boat and other things. I have a Windows gaming machine on board. And I have a Mac Studio and iPhone
Somebody anybody give me a realistic reason to buy any of these headsets or eyeglasses.
It doesn't really seem like these devices are in exactly the same category, but it was still fun to listen to experts talk about them. As a blind person, I'm really interested in AI enabled smartglasses for navigation and obstacle avoidance, and for other stuff. I don't really have much use for altered or virtual reality, lol.
im Smart glasses camp can't wait for Samsung to release their version of smart glasses
As many of us know and maybe you do too, these are 2 separate products that will likely never fully combine. Simulation and vr gaming needs a powerful headset w the ability to isolate from the real world…. AR glasses need to stay in the real world and overlay it w information and AI. Many of us use vr headsets daily for gaming and simulation and it's magical like nothing else and 1000% not a novelty…. thats just silly to say at this point and not helpful for this tech advancing. ❤❤
And here i am wanting to get the best of both worlds and want more hololens like devices like magic leap and meta orion and xreal aura.
Man says even realities is half baked and then moves on with no explanation. How lazy .
I guess Rokid Smart Glasses and Inmo Air 3 not being launched and being backed by smaller companies is why this interview was not as comprehensive which kinda makes sense but it is so rapidly growing!
2:45 dude is like … legally blind with a super rare prescription strength. He always stops to complain that a given device won’t work for him.
If you weighed 600 pounds and reviewed cars you’d find the seats weren’t made for you, too.
Do they work for MOST prescriptions? Yeah. Maybe you should talk about what percentage of the population they support.
In the next episode:
– what is better microwave or a fridge? Or maybe A/C?
Love this format!
This is an interesting series but please up the mic and audio quality across the board please
I know you’re here to view a tech video but my astrological sign is Virgo that’s super important to mention!
🤓🤓🤓
Comparing a VR headset to smart glasses is like comparing a minivan to an e bike.
😂Virgo’s the best!