I've tried three different pairs of smart glasses in the same day and one was noteable simply because it didn't say "Ray-Ban" or "Meta" on it. That was the new Vive Eagle, with built-in camera and ring-fenced access to multiple AI chatbots.
The concept of the Vive Eagle glasses isn't a million miles from the established Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses with camera – the third generation of which was launched just days ago – but there are some key differences as well as similarities.
Like the Ray-Ban Meta, the 'smart glasses' are designed to pair with your phone and offer AI assistance via a chat bot you talk to (there is no 'screen' or display), and they have a built-in camera which lets you take 3MP video or capture photos – and lets the AI "see" its environment.
The 12MP camera can power AI features like visual translation, too (live translation is an option, but you'll need your phone out to share the conversation).
There are speakers above each ear in the arms of the glasses; these have 'virtual bass' to reduce noise leakage.
Where things differ significantly from Meta's product is that the AI does not belong to HTC/Vive, and so – I was told – the company has been keen put privacy first. Meta, on the other hand, uses its own AI, and interactions with it are used by Meta as part of the development of its LLM.
To be clear, this isn't the same as Meta keeping your photos and videos, which are protected by the company's policy.
Because Vive isn't working on a LLM, there is what can be seen as a significant advantage – it can use both Gemini and ChatGPT for its functionality. That offers choice.
"Wait! What about the fact that those services use personal data as part of their development?" you might ask. Well, for now at least, the Vive Eagle doesn't allow you to connect to your personal chatbot account – so it can only get the plain answer. Fine for queries like "What is the weather going to be like?" or "Read this to me in English" but there will be some who may actually prefer
This is a feature that'll be looked at, I was told. In the meantime, you have your phone's assistant accessed effectively as if through headphones – be that Google Assistant or Siri.
The Vive glasses boast a button on either side. There is a status LED that faces the user (just in the bottom right of your field of view) and another facing out (with tamper sensors).
In terms of style, they might not be called 'Ray-Ban' but there are a number of colorways, including the black pair with sunglass-style lenses I am testing, as well as red and brown alternatives and clear glass. There are more rounded frames, called Pantos, and more square ones (as pictured). Lenses are Zeiss, a name that'll please readers here!
The lightest pair is 48.5g and they do feel light to wear, but a nice touch is that a small additional battery can be magnetically attached without adding a lot of weight if you need a boost. This may detract from the style, of course, depending on your hair!
Check our guide to the best camera glasses.
