Lucyd Darkside Glasses Look Great and Make Smart Glasses Easy

I’ve tested plenty of tech over the years, but the Lucyd Darkside glasses were my first real dive into the world of smart eyewear. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to wear sunglasses that quietly judge your old, non-Bluetooth lifestyle, these will give you the full experience. You can find them at the Darkside product page, where they’re displayed with the confidence of a product that already knows it’s cooler than you.

The first thing I noticed was how normal they look. That was a relief, because nothing ruins a beach day like explaining to strangers why your sunglasses have a battery. The Darkside frames pass for everyday shades, only with slightly thicker arms that whisper “there’s a speaker in here, try not to tug on it.” They don’t scream for attention, which is ideal, because if these looked even a little more futuristic, people would expect me to start giving TED Talks in the middle of the sidewalk.

In use, the Darkside glasses hit the sweet spot of “surprisingly functional.” Calls come through clearly and the microphones manage to make me sound like a person rather than a wind-blown cryptid. The speakers are fine for conversation and podcasts, though music reveals their limitations pretty quickly. Bass is not their strong suit, unless you count “occasional light thumping” as bass. But for casual listening and keeping your ears free, they do the job.

Battery life is refreshingly competent. I made it through a day of light use without the glasses gasping for a charger, which is more than I can say for certain gadgets I’ve owned that claim to be “portable” but still behave like needy houseplants. Having smart glasses that don’t need constant babysitting is a pleasant change.

There are a few quirks worth mentioning. The photochromic lenses sometimes take their time adjusting to sunlight, as though they, too, need a moment to accept the reality of being outside. The buttons on the arms can also be a little tricky until you get used to their placement, especially if your fingers aren’t used to feeling around your temples like you’re checking for invisible headphones. And yes, open-ear speakers mean the person next to you might catch a faint preview of whatever you’re listening to, so maybe save the dramatic playlists for later.

Still, for something that lets me take calls, listen to podcasts, talk to my phone without touching it, and look like a normal human being instead of a walking prototype, the Darkside glasses pull their weight. They won’t replace your headphones and they won’t make you an audiophile, but they make everyday tasks just a little easier — and in a pair of sunglasses, that’s more than I expected.