CYBERSIGHT launched the Z1 on Kickstarter on October 29, 2026, pitching it as a pair of sports sunglasses that can stand in for the earbuds most cyclists and runners wear underneath. The Singapore company built open-ear speakers into a Z-shaped temple and paired them with software that raises or lowers the volume based on how fast you’re moving.
It’s an interesting idea for anyone who has fought with glasses arms pressing on earbuds
mid-ride. The specs below come from CYBERSIGHT’s launch materials and Kickstarter page. GeekExtreme hasn’t tested a pair yet, so treat performance claims as the company’s own until review units ship.
Key Takeaways
The CYBERSIGHT Z1 is a pair of open-ear audio sunglasses for cycling, running and outdoor training. Speakers sit in a dropped section of each temple, so your ear canals stay open to traffic and training partners.
Its headline feature is SpeedSync Audio, which uses the CYBERSIGHT app to raise volume as you speed up and lower it when you slow down or stop. A hybrid four-microphone array handles calls, and Bluetooth 6.1 Multipoint keeps the glasses connected to a phone and a smartwatch at once.
The Super Early Bird tier costs $129 with shipping and taxes included, against a planned retail price of 189 US dollars. CYBERSIGHT estimates shipping in December 2026.
Table of Contents
What Is the CYBERSIGHT Z1?
The Z1 is a set of wraparound sports sunglasses with audio hardware built into the frame. Instead of a separate headband or earbuds, sound comes from the temples. CYBERSIGHT calls the overall approach Sports Acoustic Architecture, meaning the frame shape, the fit and the audio system were designed together.
The most visible result is the temple itself. Each arm bends into a Z before it reaches the ear. According to CYBERSIGHT, that bend does three jobs. It deflects oncoming air away from your ear canal, it lowers the speaker so it sits closer to your ear, and it changes where the frame puts pressure on your head.
The problem CYBERSIGHT is targeting is familiar to most outdoor athletes. Its launch brief lists four complaints:
- Glasses arms and earbuds or headphone bands fighting for space behind the ear
- Earbuds slipping out with sweat and motion
- Reduced awareness of traffic when ears are blocked
- Music getting lost in wind noise at speed
The Z1 is the company’s answer to all four in one device.
From HUD Glasses to Audio Sunglasses
CYBERSIGHT isn’t new to Kickstarter. The company was founded in Singapore in June 2024 and launched Zenith, a pair of HUD sports glasses that display ride and navigation data in your field of view, on the platform in April 2025. CYBERSIGHT says that campaign raised USD 817,746 from more than 2,100 backers and shipped to more than 60 countries. A follow-up, Zenith Pro, launched in May 2026.
The Z1 goes in a different direction. There’s no display here. The focus moves from what you see to what you hear, while keeping the sports-eyewear base. That earlier delivery record matters for anyone weighing a crowdfunding pledge, since shipping on time is where many hardware campaigns struggle.
CYBERSIGHT Z1 Features and Specs
Most of the Z1’s features trace back to the frame design, with the app and lenses doing the rest. Here’s how each part maps to the problem it’s meant to solve.
| Component | What it replaces or fixes | Detail |
| Z-shaped temples | Earbuds and headphone bands | Directional open-ear speakers placed close to the ear canal |
| Aero fork in the temple | Wind noise at speed | Splits airflow and pushes it backward, away from the ear |
| SpeedSync Audio | Manual volume changes | Raises volume as you speed up, lowers it when you stop (app required) |
| Hybrid 4-mic array | Windy, muffled calls | 2 air-conduction mics and 2 bone-conduction sensors |
| Bluetooth 6.1 Multipoint | Re-pairing between devices | Phone and smartwatch connected at the same time |
| Rx lenses or insert | Separate prescription eyewear | Supports prescriptions with a combined sphere and cylinder power of up to 6.00D. |
Other listed specs include up to 6 hours of playback at 70% volume, IP54 dust and splash resistance, physical buttons plus touch controls, and black or white frames.
Z-Temple Audio and Wind Management
The dropped section of each temple aims sound straight into the ear without covering it. You still hear cars, other riders and your surroundings. Above it, the angled fork works as a small wind deflector. CYBERSIGHT says this cuts wind noise at cycling and running speeds, which is usually where open-ear audio falls apart.
SpeedSync Audio and Adaptive EQ
SpeedSync Audio adjusts volume and sound balance to your pace through the CYBERSIGHT app. Speed up and the music gets louder to stay above the wind. Slow down or stop at a light and it drops, so you can talk to your group without reaching for a button. A separate real-time adaptive EQ reshapes the audio curve while you move, with CYBERSIGHT claiming fuller bass at speed.
Hybrid Microphones for Calls
Each temple holds one air-conduction microphone and one bone-conduction sensor. The air mics pick up surrounding noise so it can be reduced. The bone-conduction sensors pick up the vibrations of your voice directly. Combined, they’re meant to make you easier to hear on calls
when the wind picks up.
Lenses and Prescription Options
The base lens is Covestro Makrolon LQ-grade optical polycarbonate, which is impact-resistant and shatterproof. It’s layered with a REVO coating for UV400 protection, infrared reduction and glare control, hard coatings against scratches, hydrophobic coatings that shed water and oil, and an anti-reflective coating. You can choose high-contrast or photochromic lenses.
For athletes who need correction, CYBERSIGHT offers one-piece prescription sport lenses or a removable Rx insert, both up to 6.00D. The Rx lenses use Mitsui Chemicals MR-7 resin, which the company says keeps vision clear to the edges.
Balanced Fit
Standard sports glasses clamp at the nose pads and behind the ears. The Z-frame moves those contact points and spreads force across the frame. CYBERSIGHT says this noticeably reduces pressure in both spots, which matters most on long rides and runs.
Who the Z1 Is For
The obvious audience is road cyclists and runners who already wear sports sunglasses and listen to music or podcasts while training. Riders on busy roads get the most from the open-ear design, since nothing blocks the sound of approaching traffic. Hikers and other outdoor athletes fit the profile too.
Glasses wearers are a smaller but important group. Prescription support is still rare in audio eyewear, and the Z1’s two Rx routes give near-sighted athletes a way in without stacking eyewear.
Phone, Smartwatch and App Compatibility
With Bluetooth 6.1 Multipoint, the Z1 stays paired to a phone and a compatible smartwatch at the same time. CYBERSIGHT’s demo scenario is a Garmin watch playing music while a call comes in on the phone. The glasses switch to the call and go back to the music afterward, with no manual switching.
Through the phone, you can also hear workout cues from compatible fitness apps and use Siri or Gemini. SpeedSync Audio needs the CYBERSIGHT app. The launch materials don’t list a full compatibility chart for watches or apps, so check the Kickstarter page before pledging if that’s a deciding factor.
Release Date, Price and How to Back It
The CYBERSIGHT Z1 Kickstarter campaign launched on October 29, 2026, and Kickstarter has tagged it a Project We Love. The Super Early Bird tier costs $129 with shipping and taxes included and is limited to 2,000 units. It includes the Z1 sunglasses, a protective carrying case and accessories.
That’s a 32% discount on the planned retail price of 189 US dollars. Pledges are charged in Singapore dollars, though campaign images show USD. CYBERSIGHT estimates worldwide
shipping in December 2026, and every pair carries a one-year global warranty. You can back it on the CYBERSIGHT Z1 Kickstarter page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do the CYBERSIGHT Z1 sunglasses block your ears?
No. The speakers sit in the temple near your ear, not inside it. Your ear canals stay open, so you can hear traffic and people around you while music plays.
Can you get the Z1 with prescription lenses?
Yes. CYBERSIGHT offers one-piece prescription sport lenses or a removable Rx insert, both supporting correction up to 6.00D.
How long does the battery last?
CYBERSIGHT rates the Z1 for up to 6 hours of playback at 70% volume. Charging time hasn’t been published yet.
