For the past four months, an individual has been using the Even Realities G1 glasses, which have drawn numerous comments about their new frames. However, only two friends inquired if the glasses were “smart.” Given past experiences of wearing Google Glass in public, this level of technological anonymity is quite noteworthy. The design of the glasses does not call unnecessary attention to the wearer’s face, presenting an appealing aesthetic that people might genuinely want to adopt.
Unlike Clark Kent, who tapped into his superpowers by removing his spectacles, this mild-mannered reporter gains access to real-time language translation, artificial intelligence, turn-by-turn navigation, and a personal assistant by keeping the G1 glasses on.
Most smart glasses, such as the Ray-Ban Meta, utilize Bluetooth audio. In contrast, the G1 glasses are equipped with a small but efficient heads-up display known as the Holistic Adaptive Optical System, or HAOS. Upon close inspection of the lenses, a faint rectangle can be discerned in each eye—this is where a micro-LED optical engine projects clear, green digital text (640 x 200 pixels). Looking up, depending on the angle set in the accompanying app, reveals a virtual text homepage appearing to float approximately five feet in front of the viewer. Despite the advanced technology, these glasses feel remarkably lightweight and unassuming.
The lens design incorporates two bonded lenses, yet remains as thin and light as traditional eyewear. Prescription lenses are available for an additional $129 and function effectively, though there may be occasional glimpses of the projector screen in bright sunlight.
The ends of each arm of the glasses house rubbery nodules containing the battery, buttons, and antennae for real-time data exchange with a phone via Bluetooth. While slightly heavier than standard eyewear, the design, which distributes the weight away from the nose, maintains comfort. The frames are constructed from solid magnesium with a cool matte finish, and the temples are coated in silicon for enhanced grip. Screwless hinges and a classic oval shape contribute to the stylish design, even before the device is powered on.
The charging case is similarly well-designed and can recharge the glasses up to 2.5 times. The glasses themselves possess a 60-mAh battery, providing sufficient power for 1.5 days.
The primary purpose of the G1 glasses is to complement, rather than replace, a smartphone by offering a simplified interface that provides assistance and information when necessary, then disappears when not needed.
Once the app is installed and the glasses are synced, looking up allows access to a screen displaying the date, time, battery level, and upcoming appointments (given the appropriate permissions). Users can also receive messages and notifications from social and messaging apps. However, they cannot respond to messages, which is somewhat puzzling considering the presence of onboard microphones and transcription software.
The right side of the main display serves as the QuickNotes area. Activating the small box on the right arm prompts a note stating “Quick Note Recording.” Spoken words are saved and displayed on the screen during the next glance. If a date, time, or place is mentioned, the AI assistant adds it to the diary. This feature is particularly beneficial for those who utilize voice notes. Although not a typical user of such notes, the feature proved useful for remembering names and job titles during meetings with new people.
For language translation, users can open the Translate box on the Even Realities app, select from 13 languages (such as Mandarin, Japanese, and Korean), and choose a target language, for instance, English. When someone speaks in the selected language, the G1 glasses listen, translate, and display the translation on the heads-up display.
However, the system does not function like a Babelfish. While it works satisfactorily in one-on-one scenarios, such as understanding a partner’s rusty Spanish or rewatching “Squid Game” without subtitles, it operates as one-way communication without another pair of glasses to translate English for the other person.
