Through The Looking Glass

Where does the AR tech in India stand today? We try to find out after spending a few weeks with the Rokid AR Joy

- Niraj Kakade

Exhausted and nursing a hangover from the night before, I asked myself an important question at Singapore's Changi Airport: "Will I look stupid wearing the new Rokid Max AR glasses?" Perhaps hyperaware of myself more than I should be, I took one last contemplative look at the glasses, and comforted myself that they don't actually resemble most of the eye-strapped tech that people make fun of. On the flip side, they also don't look like normal glasses. So, what exactly are they? 

India currently finds itself in an inbetween situation of sorts. While the Western world appears to be slowly embracing the world of AR and VR, perpetuated by offerings from Apple, Meta, and even Ray-Ban, only the Meta Quest is sold here. The other two have somehow found their way onto our Instagram feeds, thanks to a few social media influencers flaunting them around. In this era of transition, the Rokid AR glasses, on paper, offer a simple solution: a 215-inch screen right in front of you, but without the caveats of the Metaverse or Apple's Vision OS. But just how good are these?

THE GOOD