The future of wearable technology just got a whole lot brighter, and it's happening right before our eyes. At CES 2026 in Las Vegas, optics company Lumus showcased waveguide technology that represents a genuine leap forward in making smartglasses not just functional, but truly spectacular.

Already riding high from having their technology selected for Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses, Lumus didn't rest on their laurels. Instead, they pushed the boundaries even further, demonstrating what the next generation of smartglasses could achieve. The results are nothing short of extraordinary.

The company's new Z-30 waveguides offer a 30-degree field of view, a significant expansion that makes the viewing experience feel dramatically more immersive. Even more impressive, these advanced components are 30 percent lighter and 40 percent thinner than previous versions. For anyone who's worn smartglasses and felt the weight or bulk, this represents a meaningful step toward truly all-day wearability.

The energy efficiency improvements are equally exciting. These waveguides can achieve more than 8,000 nits per watt, addressing one of the biggest challenges facing smartglasses today. Since battery size directly impacts comfort and design, this efficiency breakthrough means future devices can be both powerful and pleasant to wear for extended periods.

When tested hands-on, the Z-30s delivered visuals that were remarkably bright and sharp, with rich colors that included crisp whites, notoriously one of the most challenging shades to reproduce accurately. Even at 720 x 720 resolution, the quality was genuinely impressive.

The Bright Side

But here's where things get really exciting. Lumus also demonstrated 70-degree field of view waveguides that represent a quantum leap in display technology. These prototypes covered essentially the entire center portion of the lens, creating an experience that tech journalists described as completely blow-away impressive. The sharpness, brightness, and overall optical quality surpassed both retail smartglasses and other prototypes currently in development.

The advantages extend beyond just the viewing experience. Lumus' geometric reflective waveguide design offers better overall efficiency than competing approaches. Perhaps most practically, these waveguides can be optically bonded directly to smartglasses lenses, meaning they work beautifully with transition lenses. No more fumbling with clip-on sunglasses attachments when stepping outside.

The manufacturing process is elegantly simplified too, allowing for incredibly thin waveguides measuring just 0.8 millimeters while maintaining higher production yields. This efficiency suggests these advanced displays won't just be technically impressive, they'll actually make it to market at scale.

With production ramping up through partnerships with established manufacturers including Quanta and SCHOTT, this technology isn't just a distant dream. It's coming to real products that real people will wear and enjoy. As the smartglasses industry gains momentum as technology's next major frontier, innovations like these waveguides are transforming what once seemed like science fiction into an exciting, accessible reality.

The future of how we interact with digital information while staying present in the physical world is getting clearer, brighter, and closer every day.