View image in fullscreen Sensors are hidden in the frames that can detect your head position and interactions such as taps to the side of the glasses. I could very easily work these into my daily routine without too much effort, and I love seeing boundaries being pushed in the “headphone” space. The concept is you're getting a decent pair of sunglasses with a pair of headphones that don't actually go in your ears.

Unlike video-based AR platforms, Bose AR delivers audio feedback based on your GPS location and which way you're facing, thanks to a nine-axis head motion sensor in the sunglasses. The Bose Frames’ headline feature is that they're also a pair of wireless headphones, and for speakers that don’t actually sit in or on your ears, these sunglasses are rather impressive. Bose has an answer for this though as the Frames also come in a smaller, more rounded form factor, named “Rondo”.

A tiny gold button – to match the gold-plated steel hinges – is tucked under the right arm, and is the only control on the Frames. Your product remembers the last several devices it connected to so it can quickly reconnect to them. Charging is fairly slow and needs a proprietary magnetic USB cable that snaps on to the inside of the right arm. Don't expect the big bass you get from a standard set of headphones and they can distort a bit at higher volumes.

To update your product, you can either connect it to a computer with a USB cable and then visit the Bose update site or you can update it wirelessly from the free Bose Connect app on an Android or iOS device. However, if you’re intrigued by the functionality of the Bose Alto and don’t have too high expectations regarding audio reproduction, the convenience and comfort offered by these hands-free audio sunglasses will certainly hit all the right notes. Featuring a selection of limited-edition colours, these replacement lenses are easy to interchange for a look that’s all your own. Granted, the arms are a bit thicker and wider near the ears, where traditional sunglasses would taper, and there’s a small gold button for turning them on and controlling music. You don’t feel as though you’re wearing headphone tech, but rather that you’re listening to music from a very nearby source that doesn’t change in intensity as you move around.As for AR applications, I admit I didn’t spend a ton of time with them, namely because my primary phone runs Android (hint). The term “smart glasses”’ might conjure up visions of Google’s ill-fated Glass, but the Bose Frames are not in the same league. Listening to your tunes while still being able to hear the great outdoors while sitting in the garden or park in brilliant sunshine is thoroughly enjoyable. When I'm on the phone, I have full use of both hands, and my ears are fully open and situationally aware. Winning one marks it out as a design of great quality and distinction – a special product in its class, on the grounds of either performance, value for money, or usually both.