Even Realities G1: The Ideal Smart Glasses [Hands-On Review]

I’ve been a bit doubtful about AR and VR glasses over the years. While the technology is undeniably impressive—especially with devices like the Vision Pro blowing my mind—their bulky and somewhat obtrusive designs often make them seem more like gadgets than genuine tools for everyday use. Even the sleeker styles, such as the Meta Ray-Bans, still carry the weight of oversized frames and built-in cameras. So, when I encountered the Even Realities G1 at CES and tried them on, I was genuinely amazed. Here’s why.

I’ve been using the Even Realities G1 daily for the past two weeks. During this time, I’ve been around numerous people, and one of the standout features is how few realized I was wearing smart glasses. That aspect initially attracted me—the design, the premium materials, and how they resembled high-quality everyday eyewear.

Quick Overview

The most fitting way to describe these glasses is as a contemporary version of a pager combined with a heads-up display (HUD) integrated right into the lenses. While they offer much more functionality, that’s the fundamental concept. They fulfill the criteria for smart glasses without aiming to replace devices like cameras, phones, or headphones. Instead, they deliver timely information with some cool features that clarify why these glasses generate so much excitement.

Here are the specifications of these glasses:

• Micro-OLED display (one in each lens)
• Holistic Adaptive Optical System (HAOS), the waveguide display technology used
• Green monochrome display
• 1000 nit brightness
• 20Hz refresh rate
• 25-degree field of view
• 640×200 resolution
• Two microphones
• Ambient brightness control
• 1.5 day battery life, with up to 6 days using the charging case
• Exclusively Bluetooth-powered
• Touch-sensitive controls
• Constructed from magnesium and aluminum

All this is contained in glasses that weigh less than 40 grams. For comparison, the average glasses in the US weigh about 28 grams, while the Meta Ray-Bans weigh 50 grams. I’ve worn them for entire days of 8-12 hours, and they genuinely feel like regular glasses—especially since most of the technology is positioned behind the ears.

Given their normal appearance and absence of cameras or speakers, many may wonder about their functionality. Prepare to be surprised.

Dashboard & Notifications

When you wear the glasses and look straight ahead, they appear to function like low-hue blue light glasses, showing almost nothing. A slight angle might reveal two small rectangles on the lenses, which resemble a bifocal design. However, upon tilting your head up, the Dashboard activates, revealing their impressive capabilities.

All displayed content comes in a green monochrome aesthetic. While seemingly limited in color, it effectively conveys text and images like maps, stock updates, and icons. Your dashboard provides various information like the time, outside temperature, the number of notifications, and your next calendar event. You can opt to display quick notes, news updates, stock prices, or a live map of your current location. Size-wise, the dashboard appears as a 2-foot by 1-foot screen roughly five feet away. You can customize how near or far this content can be through the app. While it’s challenging to illustrate its extent well, the dashboard gives a solid idea of its capabilities.

The notifications feature is perhaps the most practical aspect of this product. Within the app, you can customize which notifications you want to receive on your lenses, how they show up in the dashboard, and how long they remain visible. Initially, I had numerous apps sending notifications, but within a few days, I streamlined it to just my essentials, like messages and calls. Notifications can pop up in real-time—even without activating the dashboard—allowing you to maintain eye contact and engagement with others around you.

However, it’s worth noting that currently, you can only dismiss notifications directly; replying to them requires using your phone.

Additional Features Worth Mentioning

There are several core functionalities that elevate the Even Realities G1 experience:

Quick Note & Transcription

Using the touch-sensitive tips at the end of each temple, users can activate a quick note feature by holding down on the right temple tip. You can transcribe spoken notes directly into the Even Realities App, saving both a text and a voice recording for later use.

Translation

This feature offers real-time translations of spoken language into text, supporting 22 languages (with more to be added). Simply activate the translation feature in the app, select the languages, and begin speaking—your conversation will display translated text on the lenses. I’ve only demoed this feature, but I plan to test it out in Paris next month, so stay tuned!

Navigation

The Navigate feature excels as it visually enhances the green monochrome interface for walking or biking directions. After entering a destination through the app, the glasses will provide turn-by-turn directions directly in your field of view, including estimated time, your speed, and distance, along with a map. While it’s difficult to capture the clarity of this experience, users will find it remarkably sharp with no pixelation.

Teleprompter

As a content creator on YouTube, the teleprompter functionality sold me on these glasses. You simply upload your script into the teleprompter section of the app, and the text will hover on your lenses. The built-in microphones adjust the text scrolling speed according to your reading pace. This feature allows you to present without the audience knowing you’re using a teleprompter, making it an essential tool for video creators.

Even AI

In a world where smart glasses wouldn’t be complete without an AI assistant, Even Realities integrates its own AI assistant, currently in beta. You can choose between Perplexity or ChatGPT as your AI engine. By pressing and holding the left temple, you can engage the assistant and vocalize your request. The AI then provides responses through text on the lenses, which appear within 3-6 seconds. Additionally, all your past interactions with the assistant are saved in the app for future reference.

Final Thoughts

In summary, the Even Realities G1 glasses integrate enough technology to enhance their usefulness while avoiding the pitfalls of traditional smart glasses that aim to encompass entire smartphones. If these were merely regular glasses, I’d consider them for their aesthetics and craftsmanship alone. However, their advanced display, combined with several practical features, adds modern flair and value. They seamlessly fit into everyday life without drawing excess attention, allowing users to activate functionalities as necessary without alerting those around them.

There’s always room for improvement, like incorporating text response capabilities through voice commands or enhancing touch sensitivity and responsiveness. Nevertheless, I believe these glasses represent the future of wearable tech, and I recommend that Apple take notes from this innovative design.

Pricing and Availability

The Even Realities G1 is available in two models: the G1A, featuring a round design like mine, and the G1B, which sports a more traditional square look. The G1A offers three color options while the G1B has two. Starting at $599, they’re positioned as a premium product rather than competing with lower-priced alternatives like the $300 Meta Ray-Bans. These glasses cater to a distinct market, and I haven’t seen others quite like them. For those requiring prescription lenses, there’s an additional charge of $149. They are currently available for purchase.

If you seek the least intrusive wearable tech that still delivers substantial functionality, these might just be the right choice for you.

I’d love to hear your thoughts. Would you consider wearing these? What features would you want from smart glasses? Are you in the market for such technology? Should Apple enter this product category?