Whenever we hear the term smart glasses, the first name that comes to our mind is Meta and Ray-Ban. But do you know that there is another company grabbing attention at the ongoing CES 2026. RayNeo, which is a subsidiary of TCL, has just showcased its X3 Pro – Project eSIM. While it’s still a prototype, it is said to be the world’s first consumer AR glasses with built-in eSIM and 4G connectivity.
This means that these glasses can become a standalone device, which will allow us to make calls, stream music, get real-time translation, and sync photos or videos to the cloud without needing a smartphone nearby.
The prototype packs a camera, display, and that key eSIM right into the frames, so you could use it independently for things like running or driving. RayNeo says this native 4G setup unlocks always-on experiences that push AR glasses toward becoming a real primary computing device for everyday spatial computing.
However, it’s worth noting that RayNeo is not new to the game. They are the official Olympic AR glasses partner and held a 24% global share in the AR glasses market during Q3 2025, according to Counterpoint Research.
At CES 2026, they also showed off the Air 4 Pro with HDR10 support for $299 and the standard X3 Pro at $1,299, but the eSIM version is still just a pricey prototype without a firm price or release date yet.
While covering CES this year, I have realized one thing: smart glasses like this are a big trend this year. And I still believe that they’re not ready to replace smartphones for most people.
The form factor is getting better with AR, AI, and now this connectivity push, yet battery life remains the killer issue. One X user nailed it by saying the debate is dead until they last a full workday without feeling like a brick in your pocket. Which shows that the main concern is still the battery for end users.
