Let’s be honest: earbuds and headphones can be a pain, especially while you’re working out. Wouldn’t it be cool if you could listen to music from inside your sunglasses?
If you’ve been keeping up with the latest in lifestyle, you’d know that I’m talking about Chamelo Eyewear’s Music Shield sunglasses. A Men’s Journal writer took this pair of sunglasses out to join her outdoors, and they performed beyond her expectations!
The music quality was good and didn’t spill out. The lenses also have impressive tint-changing technology. The sunglasses were a great fit despite being on the larger side of the size range. Heck, even I was impressed!
Smart sunglasses that are geared toward those who are active outdoors?! Are these the future of sunglasses? Let’s dive in!
Chamelo Eyewear just debuted in 2024, and the company is already making waves with its sunglasses. Several technology features make Chamelo sunglasses seem “futuristic” and next-level. They are:
Chamelo Lens Technology
Chamelo’s lenses feature innovative liquid crystal lens technology. This technology won recognition from Time Magazine. They called the technology one of the best inventions of 2024.
Put simply, Chamelo lenses are designed to either manually or automatically adjust to changing light intensity and personal preferences.
The brand’s Eclipse™ line has a feature called Autopilot that will adjust the tint of the lenses automatically. You can also change the tint manually via the right arm of your sunglasses or by using the Chamelo app. The Music Shield sunglasses have these lenses.
Eclipse™ lenses are different from photochromic or transition lenses. Transition lenses depend on chemical reactions to change light intensity. Chamelo’s lenses, on the other hand, use crystal film technology, which allows faster response time to changing light conditions. The crystal molecules react to electrical signals, instead of relying on chemical reactions to the sun. This means that the user is in control.
This same technology is in Chamelo’s Prismatic™ Color-Changing Lenses. For Chamelo sunglasses with these lenses, you can change the color of your lenses with one swipe of your right temple arm.
Prismatic™ lenses have hues categorized as either ‘calm’ or ‘energy.’ This aligns with a 2018 study by ZEISS, which studied emotional reactions to lens color. With these lenses, you don’t just have eyewear that you can mix and match with your outfit. They also match your mood!
So, with this proprietary lens technology, you can switch tint or color in just 0.1 sec. Amazing, no?!
Built-In Audio
Sporty Woman Wearing Wrap-Around Sunglasses
Apart from the tint-adjustment capability, it is the built-in audio that makes the Music Shield sunglasses stand out. Sure, you can just wear your earbuds, but they can be cumbersome when you go out to actually do something. Hiking, running, or even just your regular gym sessions will make you sweat, and this can cause your buds to slip out or malfunction.
Music Shield sunglasses have open-ear speakers built in. These are tested to provide clear sound while allowing you to hear ambient noise. You can enjoy your music or podcast via Bluetooth connectivity and still remain aware of your surroundings.
Long Battery Life
The sunglasses’ audio battery life lasts up to 6.5 hours. For tint or color adjustment, you can look forward to up to 100 hours of battery life. It takes 30 minutes to charge up to 80% capacity. This should be more than enough for one whole day of tint-changing, a gym session, and a quick day hike.
IPX4 Water Resistance Rating
With sunglasses that are going with you on rugged adventures, an IPX4 water resistance rating is a major plus. They’re sweat-proof and water-proof. So, rest assured, you can sweat all you want, take the sunglasses out to sea, or climb mountains without damaging their electronic parts or compromising their performance.
Elevated Standard Features
The Music Shield sunglasses also come with standard sports sunglasses features. These include wrap-around coverage, 100% UV rate protection, and lightweight frames.
Downsides of Chamelo Music Shield Sunglasses
No pair of sunglasses is perfect. Here are a few things to consider when it comes to Chamelo eyewear.
Tint Range
The tint-changing capability is great, but note that the range is limited to 17% to 63%. This means that you might not get enough shade under intense light. Conversely, the lenses might not lighten enough under dim lighting conditions.
Charging Requirements
Chamelo sunglasses need to be charged regularly, especially Music Shield sunglasses, which have a built-in audio feature. If you travel a lot or keep a very busy schedule, keep this in mind. Don’t forget your charging cables, and always check your battery’s power.
Limited Styles
Music Shield sunglasses are large wrap-around sunglasses that come in three hues. There are other Chamelo sunglasses with either the tint-changing or color-changing lenses. There are just around 10 styles/models for now. If you’re used to a wide selection of sunglasses styles, shapes, and hues, then you might find what’s available lacking.
Price Accessibility
Because these are some of the more technologically advanced sunglasses available, they come with premium pricing. The Music Shield sunglasses currently retail for around $279.
Of course, these limitations don’t diminish what Chamelo has accomplished in changing the sunglasses landscape. It just means there’s room for more innovation when it comes to marrying sunglasses and technology.
Chamelo Eyewear Marketing and Reception
Music Shield and Chamelo Eyewear, in general, have been positioned as sunglasses for those with an active lifestyle. Two-time NBA All-Star Stephon Marbury is the Chief Brand Officer for the company. He is the company’s main spokesperson, and his profile highlights how his role is at the intersection between sports, fashion, and technology. He is backed up by Phoenix Suns ophthalmologist Dr. Jay Schwartz, who is listed as the company’s Optical Advisor.
The company and its marketing efforts are very fresh. After all, the business was just founded in 2024 by its CEO, Reid Covington. Partnering with two NBA legends (yes, a team ophthalmologist is a legend too!) and winning accolades from Time Magazine are masterful ways of getting your target audience to take notice.
And people are paying attention. Case in point, the writer from Men’s Journal who shone a huge spotlight on Music Shield sunglasses.
The downside with all this attention is that people expect a lot, and a young company might not be able to deliver on promises as easily.
The review from Men’s Journal is great and honest, yes. And others agree with this assessment. There are a lot of positive reviews on Trustpilot.
Christopher Ritchie, for instance, is happy with his purchase:
“Great product! Instant tint adjustment, comfortable fit and long battery life. The sound quality is awesome too!”
Jabez Razon even calls the sunglasses visionary:
“Visionary style! I bought a pair of Chamelo Aura sunglasses hoping for sleek tech-meets-fashion — and in many ways, they delivered. The color‑changing lenses are genuinely cool, shifting smoothly between hues. The frames feel lightweight and comfortable, and charging is fast. But the experience wasn’t without serious issues.”
Dianna DiLapo claims the sunglasses exceeded her expectations:
“Love the color changing lenses. The sound quality far exceeded my expectations, I struggle with earbuds staying put during outdoor activities and these sunglasses solve that problem.”
Victor Perez Gutierrez, on the other hand, got a defective product that hasn’t been replaced:
“Defective product, no response from support. I ordered the Chamelo Shield directly from chamelo.com at the end of September.
The glasses arrived defective — the tinting function doesn’t work and they won’t charge (the red LED lights up briefly and turns off).
I immediately contacted support and filled out the warranty claim form, but I haven’t received any response or solution for over a week.
Very disappointing for a product at this price. Still waiting for a replacement or refund.”
So, Is Chamelo Eyewear the Future of Sunglasses?
It does look like Chamelo Eyewear is heading in the right direction. It has successfully implemented smart technology into a product that people need and actively use. The company has introduced lens technology that’s a game-changer, and no one else had it before 2024. They are getting positive reviews from their target audience.
And, sure, there are negative reviews, but perhaps these are only growing pains… kinks the company can iron out in time and with some reorganization.
The future for Chamelo Eyewear looks so bright, you gotta wear shades!
TL;DR
The Music Shield sunglasses from Chamelo Eyewear are getting great press with a recent Men’s Journal review.
The eyewear brand stands out with its proprietary lens technology, one of Time Magazine’s best inventions of 2024.
They also offer built-in audio, long battery life, an IPX4 water resistance rating, and improved standard features, like 100% UV protection and a lightweight design.
Limitations with these sunglasses include limited tint range, charging requirement, limited styles, and price.
Chamelo Eyewear has the backing of a couple of NBA celebrities, including Stephon Marbury, and it has been received fairly well by its target audience.
Negative reviews mention order fulfillment and customer support issues.
The future remains bright for the one-year-old company.
My life rotates through five lenses: distance and reading glasses, sunglasses, contacts, and my diving mask's lenses. If I'm not writing, I'm in the kitchen, gym, or under the sea.
