ZOE Waveguide Breaks 70° Barrier, Unlocks Immersive AR Glasses at Scale

• Lumus introduced its ZOE waveguide with a field of view over 70°, alongside an upgraded Z-30 and a preview of Z-30 2.0 at CES 2026.
• The new models aim to balance immersive AR experiences with lightweight design and manufacturability using standard optical glass.

Lumus has unveiled three next-generation waveguides that expand its optical engine lineup for consumer augmented reality eyewear. Debuted at CES 2026, the announcement is headlined by the company’s first geometric waveguide to surpass a 70° field of view called Zoe. Also announced were an optimized version of the Z-30 with higher brightness, and a preview of Z-30 2.0, a thinner and lighter variant still in development.

With ZOE, Lumus brings wide-field immersion into reach for consumer AR, crossing the 70° FOV threshold while delivering 1080p resolution, full-color fidelity, and natural transparency. Manufactured with standard optical glass and integrated into Lumus’ established mass-production processes, Lumus says ZOE demonstrates that wide-FOV AR can now be achieved without compromising image quality, comfort, or scalability. Lumus highlights use cases such as spatial entertainment, multi-app productivity, and new modes of communication enabled by this level of optical performance.

As part of the announcement, Lumus also highlighted its updated Z-30, which delivers 40% higher brightness in a compact 11g form factor. Z-30 2.0 previews a 30° waveguide engineered around a new ultra-thin design that is 40% thinner and 30% lighter than previous versions. Both models extend Lumus’ portfolio across a range of AR experiences, from immersive content to glanceable, all-day wear.

Lumus’ CES 2026 showcase follows what it called a “milestone year” in 2025, when it provided the waveguide for the Meta Ray-Ban Display AR glasses. According to Lumus, that launch “set a new bar for what consumer AR can deliver and accelerated the entire category.” With ZOE, the upgraded Z-30, and Z-30 2.0 on the way, Grobman said the company is “introducing the next evolution of optical engines that will underpin the coming generation of AR glasses.”

🌀 Tom’s Take:

Cracking 70° FOV without sacrificing size or manufacturability makes ZOE a critical leap for AR glasses. It is the kind of breakthrough needed to help headworn AR ready itself for the mainstream.

Source: PR Newswire / Lumus

Disclosure: Tom Emrich has previously worked with or holds interests in companies mentioned. His commentary is based solely on public information and reflects his personal views.