These Meta Oakley Vanguard rivals have effectively replaced my smartwatch (and are cheaper)

These Meta Oakley Vanguard rivals have effectively replaced my smartwatch (and are cheaper)

Engo 2 Vive smart glasses ZDNET’s key takeaways The Engo 2 Vive Photochromic glasses are on sale now for $275. The Vive model adds new colorways, heart rate data, functions as clear lenses or sunglasses, and has a heads-up display. The heads-up technology takes up space at the center of the glasses, and there’s no…

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Engo 2 Vive smart glasses

ZDNET’s key takeaways

  • The Engo 2 Vive Photochromic glasses are on sale now for $275.
  • The Vive model adds new colorways, heart rate data, functions as clear lenses or sunglasses, and has a heads-up display.
  • The heads-up technology takes up space at the center of the glasses, and there’s no support for Google Wear OS, Polar, or Coros watches.

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I spent a lot of time running, biking, hiking rowing and walking with smartwatches, bone conduction headphones, and smart glasses this year. For the past few weeks, I’ve been running and riding my bike with the new Engo 2 Vive smart glasses, and they’ve quickly become an essential part of my workouts.

Also: The best Apple Watches you can buy: Expert tested

Engo’s limited-edition glasses come in photochromic and high-contrast lens colors for more colorful options and improved lens technology. I tested the photochromic model — they switch to a clear lens that protects my eyes from the cold and rain while providing the heads-up AR experience I want from the glasses.

One of the biggest concerns people have with smart glasses is their battery longevity. The Engo 2 Vive provide up to 12 hours of data on the heads-up display, which is very good compared to competitors.

In fact, I wouldn’t mind cutting the battery life in half, if the center module (where the battery is stored) could be reduced in size. There’s a lot going on in the middle with the technology, and after a few times of running with the glasses, you get used to the pieces in the center. However, I think shaving down the size would help its design and allow Engo to lighten the glasses, even though they only weigh 36 grams.

Also:The best Garmin watches you can buy: Strong tracking tech for fitness, sleep, and more

Regarding the heads-up display, it’s positioned in the upper left corner of the right eyepiece, and you unfortunately cannot switch it to the other lens. There are, however, settings in the ActiveLook app to shift the heads-up display around the viewable area.

The Engo 2 Vive is compatible with three watch platforms, but it also works with your Android or iPhone. If you run with a phone instead of a watch, you get the full ActiveLook experience from the smartphone application. Let’s take a closer look at the three watch platforms and the available functionality.

The Sky color option has photochromic lenses so you can use them at night

Matthew Miller/ZDNET

Apple Watch

One limitation of the Apple Watch is that it cannot be used with the native Apple Workout application when paired with the Engo 2 Vive glasses. There is, however, an ActiveLook app on your Apple Watch that allows you to connect to the glasses and run or bike with them.

Engo also supports several other Apple Watch apps that provide more extensive structured workouts, support for sports like rowing, and other features that you may prefer over ActiveLook.

Also: The best Apple Watch of 2025: We picked this year’s top smartwatch

You can choose an open run or set goals for distance, duration, or calories burned. The ActiveLook app supports Strava Live Segments, allowing you to race against your own PR, other record holders, the carrot (your friend just ahead of you on the leaderboard), and the wolf (your friend just behind you on the leaderboard).

This Strava functionality is one reason I prefer to run with my Apple Watch when I want to become a Local Legend or set a PR on a Strava Segment.

Despite all of the tech in the middle, the glasses are light and easy to see through

Matthew Miller/ZDNET

One new addition to the 40+ metrics is a heart rate zone widget you can select for your data screens. This widget shows your heart rate and a visual heart icon plotted along a line of your various zones. It’s awesome for heart rate zone training and a very welcome addition. You can set up your heart rate zone automatically or manually on your Apple Watch.

Garmin

Using the Engo 2 Vive glasses with a Garmin watch provides the most options, allowing you to use the glasses with any exercise, as the ActiveLook connection appears as a data field. There are detailed setup instructions for complete customization of the data that appears on the Engo 2 Vive display.

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With a Garmin watch or compatible bike computer, you can have up to six screens (aka data dashboards) with up to six metrics on each screen. The number available depends on your device, with the larger bike computers supporting up to six metrics on one display.

A rather cryptic code is used to build your custom dashboards, so make sure to check out the full Garmin data field guideprovided by ActiveLook. It may seem confusing at first, but once you set up these dashboards for each of your favorite activities on your Garmin device, the experience is flawless.

The three rows of yellow text inside the glasses is tough to pick up in a photo

Matthew Miller/ZDNET

The one limitation with using a Garmin device is that Strava Live Segments will not project to the Engo 2 Vive, but will appear on the watch or bike computer, so you will have to glance down at them to help you achieve your PR. I’m not sure if it is possible for a developer to have Strava Live Segments appear on a Garmin connected to Engo glasses, but I check every few months.

Suunto

Support for Suunto is similar to Garmin, with no ability to have Strava Live Segments appear on the heads-up display; however, it supports nearly every sport where you want Engo 2 Vive to show you key data in the glasses.

Unlike Garmin, the data fields that appear on the glasses when connected to a Suunto Race 2, Suunto Vertical 2, or other Suunto watch cannot be customized. That said, battery status, time, elapsed time, distance, heart rate, cadence, current pace, and current speed are displayed.

Garmin (left), phone (center), and Suunto (right) set up for the Engo 2 Vive

Matthew Miller/ZDNET

Here are the steps to use the Engo 2 Viveglasses with a compatible Suunto watch:

  1. Install the ActiveLook app on your compatible Suunto GPS sports watch through the SuuntoPlus store on your smartphone app.
  2. Open the activity you want to participate in on your Suunto watch.
  3. With that activity selected, swipe up to view SuuntoPlus and tap on it.
  4. Scroll down to the ActiveLook app and confirm that it is toggled on.
  5. Turn on your glasses and confirm that the connection is live.
  6. Start your activity and enjoy key metrics right in view of your right eye.

Also:Here are the latest and greatest watches, no matter your budget

Engo supports developers using the ActiveLook application to provide connectivity with various platforms; so as the popularity of Wear OS and Coros grows, I hope to see support for these platforms in the near future.

ZDNET’s buying advice

The Engo 2 Viveglasses let you focus on the path ahead while viewing key data in the corner of your glasses. The glasses provide support for several hours, are lightweight and comfortable, can be used with a host of apps and watches, and have a 30-day risk-free trial. I’ve been able to achieve PRs with the glasses as I focus on live metrics right in front of me without having to raise a wrist and try to view a small watch display.

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