The Sol Reader glasses may be some of the most unusual smart specs I’ve seen in the XR market. As the market for AR market continues to grow, most innovators, like XReal, RayNeo, and even Meta, are looking for ways to pack more cutting-edge technology into their devices.
Everyone seems to be experimenting with more AI capabilities, immersive displays and even unique spatial computing systems. Sol, the company behind the new “Reader” glasses, is moving in the opposite direction. They’re focused on making glasses that are simpler, and more laser focused on one specific use case: revolutionizing reading.
Combining eReader technology with virtual reality, the Sol reader glasses hope to help users rediscover what it feels like to lose yourself in a good book – without the distractions. I tried a pair of these specs, to discover what makes them such a valuable addition to the XR market.
Quick Verdict: Pros and Cons
Ultimately, the Sol reader specs are limited compared to other immersive specs I’ve tried, like the XReal Air 2 AR glasses. They’re not really AR glasses. There are no pass-through cameras, and you can’t see the world around you while wearing them. They’re more like lightweight VR headsets specifically designed for reading.
However, these glasses are impressive despite being focused on just a single experience. They do help you focus your attention on what you’re reading. Plus, they’re comfortable, lightweight, and easy to wear for hours at a time.
Pros:
- Comfortable, lightweight design
- Extremely easy to use
- Compatible with countless books
- Convenient app
- Decent visual quality
- Included remote control
Cons:
- Only suitable for immersive reading
- Visuals could be slightly crisper
- No integrated speakers
The Sol Reader Glasses: Overview and Specs
The Sol Reader glasses are a pair of immersive specs, similar to a lightweight VR headset, which use a set of two “E Ink” screens to display eBooks directly in front of your eyes. According to the CEO of Sol, Ben Chelf, these glasses are basically the “Anti-Apple-Vision-Pro”. Sol isn’t concerned with building an intuitive AR experience, or enabling spatial computing capabilities on their specs.
Instead, they’re using their technology to encourage users to rethink how they interact with technology. They want people to use their personal devices to spend their time “wisely”, whether they’re disconnecting with a good novel, or reading for education.
The device is currently available to purchase for around $399 – around a tenth of the cost of an Apple Vision Pro. It also comes in a range of colors, including a limited edition black and gold option. Plus, the specs have their own remote control, so you can easily adjust settings in seconds.
Technical specifications include:
- 2 E Ink displays (one per eye)
- Up to 25 hours of battery life
- Mobile app for content management
- Adjustable silicone nose bridge
- 104g weight
- Included remote control
- Adjustable optical system
- Integrated automatic light sensor
The Sol Reader Specs: Design and Comfort
Although its designed to look like a pair of specs, the Sol Reader doesn’t really fall into the category of “smart glasses”. As mentioned above, the device doesn’t actually allow you to see the world around you – so it’s really more of a VR headset than anything else.
That means you don’t get the exact same lightweight or stylish experience you’d get from something like the Meta Ray-Ban specs. Compared to most VR headsets, however, the Sol Reader glasses are definitely a lot more lightweight and comfortable.
The device does look a little bulky, but it only weighs around 106 grams – a fraction of something like the Meta Quest 3. The adjustable components also contribute to a wonderfully snug and cosy wearing experience, even if you’re going to be using the device for hours.
The soft plastics feel very premium, and I love the ability to adjust the focus dials on the glasses according to your specific needs. Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be an option for prescription lenses, and you might struggle to wear standard eyeglasses underneath this headset. Still, Sol says the adjustable diopter range should eliminate the need for glasses for most people.
From an aesthetics perspective, the headset isn’t particularly stylish, but it’s not really intended for fashion. You’re not going to be wearing this headset while you’re out and about. Still, it’s nice that you can choose from a range of color options to match your personal style.
The Visual Experience
Unlike other VR headsets like the Meta Quest 3, the Sol Reader glasses don’t give users a high-end display leveraging solutions like pancake lenses with a 4K resolution. Instead, you get a stereoscopic 3D experience powered by two 1.3-inch E Ink displays. The resolution is about 256 x 256 – so it’s not incredible. However, it’s more than enough for a crisp and clear reading experience.
The E Ink displays are similar to those of a standard eReader, like a Kindle. However, because the screens are so close to your eyes and the headset blocks out surrounding light, the level of immersion is excellent.
The screens have lighting around the sides, featuring warm-glow LEDs to improve clarity. Plus, the glasses include a built-in sensor, so they can automatically adjust brightness based on the conditions around you, whether you’re indoors or outside.
What I really love about the display is that Sol has designed it to replicate the experience of actually reading words on paper. There’s no aggressive white background, and you can adjust the brightness based on your specific needs, using the remote or connected phone app. The overall experience is comforting and relaxing. You can just lie back and enjoy a relaxing, hands-free reading experience without any annoying distractions.
The Sol Reader Remote Control and App
There are no controls built into the Sol reader specs themselves. You’ll have to control everything using the included remote control or the app on your smartphone. I think the addition of microphones and a built-in AI assistant might have been helpful here – but it’s not entirely necessary. The remote control makes it easy to move through your content with the touch of a button.
You can turn pages back and forth with a single click. The remote also makes it easy to load up your main menu, jump into your archive, adjust brightness, or bookmark a page section. Pressing the central button on the remote will also give you a menu that shows you the current time (which is handy if you lose yourself in a novel), as well as the number of pages left.
The app basically unlocks the full Sol Reader ecosystem. It gives you access to a comprehensive store and library where you can browse and purchase available books. There are thousands of books to choose from, and as soon as you access one, you can view it on your device.
The app also includes an “overview” section for your Reader device. It can show you whether it’s paired to a smartphone, whether it’s been turned on or off, and more. One great thing here is you can add multiple Readers to a single device. This means you don’t necessarily need to purchase a book multiple times to share it with friends and family – although they’ll need their own headset.
The Sol Reader: Ease of Use and Software
On a broad level, the software available for the Sol Reader is as simple and intuitive as the headset itself. There are no significant “bells and whistles” to mention. You don’t get a comprehensive app library to experiment with a wide range of different experiences. The Sol reader only gives you one functionality: the ability to read any book you like in an immersive environment.
The good news is that the Sol Reader does its single job incredibly well. You don’t even have to worry about always keeping your glasses connected to a smartphone. The Bluetooth connection ensures you can easily adjust settings on your smartphone and load books to your display in seconds.
Using the glasses is incredibly simple, too. All you need to do is switch them on, and you can start browsing through books with your remote control. There are tutorials built into the specs themselves, so you can get a little extra help if you want to learn how to sync content or adjust settings.
However, the experience is intuitive enough that I think most people won’t have any trouble diving straight in without any guidance. You can even easily resize your pages or the size of the text, add statistics to your reading experience (so you can see how long you’ve been reading), and more.
Plus, the system makes it easy to automate syncing, too. For instance, you can ask the reader to automatically sync all of the books in your library to the headset each morning or evening, so you don’t need to remember to do that yourself.
The Sol Reader Review: Verdict
The Sol Reader is a truly unique device in the XR market. It might seem a little unnecessary or basic in a world filled with cutting-edge augmented, virtual, and mixed reality headsets, but I think it’s an incredible piece of kit overall.
This headset will not transport you into a new world or help you feel closer to your remote team members during immersive meetings. However, it will give you an incredible reading experience that helps you reconnect with content in a way that’s difficult to do these days.
If you’re looking for a way to really “disconnect” with your tech, put the distractions to one side, and lose yourself in reading again, then the Sol Reader is the product for you.
