Vuzix Blade

Vuzix Blade
Basic Info
VR/AR	Augmented Reality
Type	AR Glasses
Subtype	Enterprise AR
Platform	Vuzix App Store, Android
Creator	Vuzix
Developer	Vuzix
Manufacturer	Vuzix
Announcement Date	January 2018 (CES)
Release Date	January 2019
Price	$999 (consumer), ~$1,000 (enterprise)
Website	https://www.vuzix.com/
Versions	Vuzix Blade, Vuzix Blade 2, Vuzix Blade 2 Safety
Requires	Optional smartphone companion
Predecessor	Vuzix M300
Successor	Vuzix Blade 2
System
Operating System	Android (custom)
Chipset	Quad Core ARM A53
CPU	Quad Core ARM Cortex-A53
GPU	Integrated
Storage
Storage	8GB flash
Memory	1GB RAM
SD Card Slot	No
Display
Display	Single waveguide display (right eye)
Subpixel Layout	Full color
Peak Brightness	700-4000+ nits
Resolution	480 × 480
Pixel Density	N/A
Refresh Rate	60Hz
Persistence	N/A
Image
Field of View	19° (28° adjustable window)
Horizontal FoV	~19°
Vertical FoV	~19°
Average Pixel Density	N/A
Peak Pixel Density	N/A
Foveated Rendering	No
Optics
Optics	Vuzix waveguide
Ocularity	Monocular (right eye)
IPD Range	N/A (monocular)
Adjustable Diopter	No (prescription lens options)
Passthrough	Native see-through (AR glasses)
Tracking
Tracking	No (notification/display only)
Tracking Frequency	N/A
Base Stations	None
Eye Tracking	No
Face Tracking	No
Hand Tracking	No
Body Tracking	No
Rotational Tracking	Limited (head motion detection)
Positional Tracking	No
Update Rate	N/A
Tracking Volume	N/A
Play Space	N/A
Latency	N/A
Audio
Audio	Built-in stereo speakers
Microphone	Yes
3.5mm Audio Jack	No
Camera	8MP autofocus
Connectivity
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 5.0
Ports	Micro-USB
Wired Video	No
Wireless Video	No
WiFi	Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 5.0
Power	Internal battery
Battery Capacity	~470mAh
Battery Life	~2-3 hours
Charge Time	~2 hours
Device
Dimensions	Sunglasses form factor
Weight	90g
Material	Plastic frame
Headstrap	N/A (glasses temples)
Haptics	No
Color	Black
Sensors	Head motion, ambient light, proximity
Input	Touchpad, voice control, head gestures
Compliance	FCC, CE, ANSI Z87.1 (Safety version)

Property "Operating System" (as page type) with input value "Android]] (custom)" contains invalid characters or is incomplete and therefore can cause unexpected results during a query or annotation process.

The Vuzix Blade is an enterprise-focused augmented reality smart glasses device developed by Vuzix, announced at CES in January 2018 and released in January 2019 at a price of approximately $999. The Blade was one of the first self-contained AR smart glasses featuring Vuzix's proprietary waveguide optics, delivering a full-color see-through display in a form factor approaching regular sunglasses. Unlike full AR headsets that attempt world-anchored holographic content, the Blade focused on practical heads-up information display—notifications, navigation, camera viewfinder, and simple AR overlays—making it suitable for enterprise applications like remote assistance, inventory management, and hands-free information access. Weighing just 90 grams with an 8-megapixel camera, voice control, and all-day wearability, the Blade represented a step toward practical, everyday AR glasses.

History and Development

Vuzix Background

Company history:

Founded 1997
Pioneered head-mounted displays
Enterprise focus
Waveguide technology development

Smart Glasses Evolution

Product progression:

M100/M300 series (monocular enterprise)
Blade development (consumer-form factor)
Waveguide optics advancement
Sunglasses form target

CES 2018 Announcement

Initial reveal:

Consumer AR glasses concept
Waveguide display demonstrated
Amazon Alexa integration
2018 availability promised

January 2019 Release

Consumer/prosumer launch:

$999 price point
Upgraded specifications
Enterprise and consumer variants
Global availability

Design Philosophy

Sunglasses Form Factor

Wearable design goal:

Approaching regular glasses size
All-day wearability target
Socially acceptable
Professional appearance

Heads-Up Display Focus

Practical information:

Notifications display
Navigation arrows
Status information
Camera viewfinder

Enterprise + Consumer

Dual market approach:

Enterprise work assistance
Consumer early adopter
Developer platform
Use case flexibility

Display Technology

Vuzix Waveguide

Proprietary display system:

Resolution: 480 × 480
Format: Full color
Type: Waveguide optics
Position: Right eye only

Field of View

Modest display area:

19° diagonal base
28° adjustable window
Small but visible
Appropriate for HUD use

Brightness

Excellent outdoor visibility:

700 nits (minimum setting)
4000+ nits (maximum)
Sunlight readable
Auto-adjusting

Monocular Design

Single-eye display:

Right eye only
Reduces complexity
Power efficient
Adequate for information display

Optical System

Waveguide Optics

Light guide technology:

Projects image to eye
See-through capability
Full UV protection
Sunglasses compatible

Safety Certification

Industrial compliance:

ANSI Z87.1 certified (Safety version)
Eye protection
Industrial environments
Professional use

Prescription Options

Vision correction:

Prescription lens inserts available
Glasses-free AR possible
Enterprise deployment consideration

Processing

ARM-Based SoC

Mobile processor:

CPU: Quad-core ARM Cortex-A53
RAM: 1GB
Storage: 8GB flash
Adequate for HUD applications

Android OS

Software platform:

Android-based system
App compatibility
Developer-friendly
Regular updates

Performance

Sufficient for use case:

Notification display smooth
Camera functional
Voice processing capable
Basic AR experiences

Camera

8MP Autofocus

Integrated camera:

8 megapixel sensor
Autofocus capability
Photo and video capture
First-person view

Use Cases

Camera applications:

Document capture
Remote assistance video
Photo documentation
QR/barcode scanning

Audio

Built-In Speakers

Integrated audio:

Stereo speakers
Clear audio playback
Notification sounds
Call audio

Microphone

Voice input:

Voice commands
Phone calls
Voice recording
Assistant interaction

Voice Control

Hands-free operation:

Amazon Alexa integration
Vuzix voice commands
Custom wake words
Natural interaction

Input Methods

Temple Touchpad

Touch control:

Swipe gestures
Tap selections
Scroll navigation
Intuitive interface

Voice Commands

Spoken interaction:

Menu navigation
App control
Information queries
Hands-free operation

Head Gestures

Motion input:

Nod for confirmation
Head shake for dismiss
Simple interactions
Accessible input

Connectivity

Wireless

Communication options:

Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)
Bluetooth 5.0
Smartphone pairing
Cloud connectivity

Standalone Operation

Independent function:

No phone required
Self-contained
Optional phone companion
Full functionality alone

Battery

Internal Battery

All-day challenge:

~470mAh capacity
2-3 hours active use
8+ hours standby
Micro-USB charging

Power Management

Efficiency features:

Display auto-dim
Sleep mode
Power-conscious design
Quick charge support

Physical Design

Weight

Lightweight for AR:

90 grams (3.4 oz)
Comparable to heavy sunglasses
All-day wearable target
Comfortable for hours

Form Factor

Sunglasses style:

Similar to fashion eyewear
Slightly bulkier temples
Professional appearance
Multiple lens options

Lens Options

Customization:

Clear lenses
Tinted lenses
Polarized options
Prescription available

Software Platform

Vuzix App Store

Content distribution:

Enterprise apps
Productivity tools
AR experiences
Developer submissions

Amazon Alexa

Voice assistant:

Built-in integration
Information queries
Smart home control
Hands-free assistant

Enterprise SDK

Development tools:

Android development
Vuzix SDK
Enterprise integration
Custom applications

Enterprise Applications

Remote Assistance

Expert support:

Live video streaming
Screen annotation
Real-time guidance
Field service

Inventory/Logistics

Warehouse operations:

Pick-by-vision
Barcode scanning
Hands-free picking
Efficiency gains

Manufacturing

Production support:

Work instructions
Quality control
Assembly guidance
Training

Healthcare

Medical applications:

Patient information
Procedure guidance
Telemedicine
Documentation

Blade 2 Evolution

Improvements

Second generation:

Improved display
Better camera
Enhanced audio
Longer battery

Safety Variant

Industrial version:

Impact resistant
ANSI Z87.1 certified
Rugged construction
Enterprise focused

Comparison with Competitors

Feature	Vuzix Blade	Google Glass EE2	Focals by North
Price	$999	$999	$599 (discontinued)
Display	480×480 waveguide	640×360 prism	Holographic retinal
FOV	19°	~15°	~15°
Camera	8MP	8MP	None
Eye	Right (monocular)	Right (monocular)	Right (monocular)
Weight	90g	46g	~70g

Strengths and Limitations

Strengths

Sunglasses form factor
Waveguide display
Standalone operation
Enterprise applications
Voice control
All-day wearable

Limitations

Small FOV (19°)
Low resolution (480×480)
Monocular only
Limited AR capability
Battery life
Premium price

Technical Specifications Summary

Specification	Details
Display	Waveguide, 480 × 480 (right eye)
FOV	19° (28° adjustable)
Brightness	700-4000+ nits
Processor	Quad-core ARM A53
Memory	1GB RAM, 8GB storage
Camera	8MP autofocus
Audio	Stereo speakers, microphone
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.0
Battery	2-3 hours active
Weight	90g
Price	$999

References