Lumus Unveils Upgraded Z-30 Optical Engine for AR Glasses at AWE

In Augmented Reality News 

June 10, 2025 – Lumus, a developer of reflective waveguide technology for augmented reality (AR) eyewear, has unveiled an enhanced version of its Z-30 optical engine at AWE USA 2025 in Long Beach, California. The company will also feature its Z-50 optical engine, designed for more immersive AR use cases.

The Z-30, which first debuted earlier this year, is built on the company’s Z-Lens waveguide architecture and offers a 30-degree field of view. The updated model includes a smaller projector, improved power efficiency, and increased brightness. Lumus stated that it expects the Z-30 to reach a luminance efficiency of up to 7,000 nits per Watt in the coming months, aimed at enabling outdoor-capable AR displays.

“Z-30 is more than ready for mass-market consumer glasses,” said Ari Grobman, CEO of Lumus. “It’s compact enough to fit inside standard eyeglass frames, powerful enough to function in daylight, and efficient enough for all-day use.”

Designed for daily-use applications such as messaging, navigation, real-time translation, and glanceable notifications, the Z-30 is positioned as a discreet AR solution suitable for all-day wear both indoors and outdoors.

Also on display at AWE will be the company’s Z-50 optical engine featuring a 50-degree field of view. Lumus stated that the Z-50 is designed for applications requiring greater immersion, such as media streaming, collaboration, and interactive fitness. As such, the engine balances color fidelity, image sharpness, and luminance in a compact form factor that resembles everyday eyewear.

Lumus also noted that while the AR industry has seen progress in immersive capabilities, challenges around brightness, battery life, and hardware design remain key hurdles to mainstream adoption. To address these barriers, the company will highlight additional innovations in power efficiency, miniaturization, and overall optical engine performance, alongside its Z-30 and Z-50 optical engines.

“Lumus is building the optical foundation for the AR glasses era,” added Grobman. “From compact optical engines to wide field-of-view for next-gen immersion, we offer optical engines for every design application – and we’re just getting started. As the demand for more capable, more wearable AR systems grows, our optical engines and manufacturing capabilities are already aligned with what comes next.”

Lumus will be located in Meeting Room PR6 at AWE 2025, where attendees can demo both the Z-30 and Z-50. For more information on the company, click here.

Image credit: Lumus