Chips & Hardware
Even Realities launches $599 G2 smart glasses without cameras
Newly minted unicorn Even Realities has launched its $599 G2 smart glasses, opting for a camera-free, productivity-focused design that relies heavily on phone connectivity.
Even Realities, which has recently reached unicorn status (a private valuation above $1 billion), has launched its second-generation G2 smart glasses for $599. The glasses deliberately skip cameras and speakers, a design choice meant to keep the focus on productivity rather than recording, so people around the wearer don’t have to worry about being filmed.
The G2 brings a clear hardware jump over the G1, released a few years ago:
- Display area 75% larger than the G1’s
- Brightness of 1,200-nit, up from 1,000 nits on the G1
- Refresh rate of 60Hz, up from 20Hz on the G1
- Four mics, up from two on the G1
- Total weight of 35 grams
The upgraded screen is still a monochrome (single-color, green) heads-up display — a transparent display that overlays information without requiring the wearer to look away — giving it the neon-board look Even Realities is known for.
The company claims that, based on typical usage, the G2’s battery can last up to two days on a single charge, and its protective case can recharge the glasses up to seven times before needing to be plugged in itself. But like other smart glasses on the market today, the G2’s functionality relies heavily on its connection to a paired phone, which can be unreliable and frustrating. Alongside the G2, Even Realities launched the R1, a $249 companion controller ring meant to replace the glasses’ own touch controls — though its price and functionality may not justify the cost, especially since the glasses’ touch-sensitive temples already do the same job.
Even Realities is betting that this camera-free, productivity-first approach can set it apart from rivals like Meta, which favors camera-equipped designs. But the company still needs to build out stronger first-party software to give the G2 a clear everyday use case beyond jobs heavy on translation or teleprompting.
Why it matters
Even Realities has newly reached unicorn status, and it’s betting that skipping cameras and speakers in favor of a productivity-focused, neon-style heads-up display is the right direction for smart glasses — a bet that puts it at odds with camera-first competitors racing to add color screens and recording features.