Even Realities introduces G2 smart glasses, emphasizing productivity over recording. With a unique design and features, they aim at professionals in multilingual environments.
Washington DC, United States Jul 11, 2026 ALN: In recent years, tech executives have suggested that glasses could become the next major interface for consumer hardware. However, today's smart glasses often depend heavily on smartphones, even with advanced hardware. Even Realities' G2 smart glasses follow this trend, featuring a premium design and a neon-style heads-up display visible in various lighting conditions, yet their functionality is significantly reliant on phone connectivity, which can be unreliable and frustrating.
Unlike competitors like Meta, Even Realities adopts a different approach. Their devices showcase a monochrome heads-up display that presents text and information in green, resembling a neon board.
Notably, the G2 smart glasses lack cameras and speakers, a deliberate choice aimed at prioritizing productivity over recording, alleviating concerns for those nearby about being filmed.
The G2 represents an upgrade from the G1 model released a few years prior. It boasts a brighter 1,200-nit display (compared to 1,000 nits on the G1), four microphones (up from two), and a display area that is 75% larger. Additionally, the new display features a 60Hz refresh rate, a significant improvement over the 20Hz of its predecessor.
In my experience using the G2 over the past few months, I noticed a marked improvement in connectivity with the phone. Initially, the glasses frequently disconnected from the app, nearly leading me to abandon them. However, subsequent app updates have alleviated this issue.
Targeted at professionals who frequently attend meetings, give presentations, or travel to multilingual countries, the G2 smart glasses aim to enhance productivity.
The glasses are lightweight at just 35 grams and come in two frame designs. Constructed from magnesium alloy with titanium alloy temples, they offer a comfortable fit. Although I primarily work from home and didn't wear them all day, the lenses provide UV protection, making them suitable for outdoor use.
According to the company, the G2's battery can last up to two days on a single charge under typical usage. The glasses come with a protective case capable of recharging them up to seven times before needing to be plugged in. While I didn't test the two-day claim, the battery lasted long enough for me to return them to the case without running out of power.
The case is substantial and not pocket-friendly, but it is sturdy, ensuring the glasses fit snugly inside.
The G2 glasses serve as a companion for schedules, reminders, and notes. Users can activate them by tapping the stem-based controls. A double-tap on the control pad reveals a dashboard displaying upcoming meetings, stock updates, and top news.
While the G2 can display real-time phone notifications, I found the pop-ups to be unreliable. Given that my phone is usually within reach, I didn't find much utility in this feature.
A long press on the temple control opens a menu with functions such as notifications, Translate, Conversate, Teleprompt, to-do lists, and Navigation. The Translate feature allows users to converse in different languages. During the recent Global Connect Show in China, I utilized the glasses while engaging with company representatives, and the translation was sufficient for me to follow conversations in Chinese. I also tested it with journalists speaking French and Spanish. However, the downside is that the other party won't understand unless they also use the app.
The Navigation feature displays turn-by-turn directions on the heads-up display, although it requires setting routes through the Even Realities app instead of using Google or Apple Maps. I found the directions clear but encountered inaccuracies with addresses, making it less reliable for unfamiliar locations. However, I can see cyclists or motorbike riders benefiting from this feature once the accuracy is improved.
Initially, the Conversate feature merely provided a live transcript of conversations, which seemed redundant since recording apps already fulfill that function. However, the company later added a "prep notes" feature that surfaces context by allowing users to add notes or documents ahead of meetings. This feature lets the AI reference them during discussions or provide short explainer bubbles for concepts as they arise. For instance, during a briefing on energy, a bubble for "Green Hydrogen" appeared, and tapping it displayed a definition. This was genuinely useful, although I wouldn't want such transcripts or bubbles for every conversation.
Central to these features is the built-in assistant, Even AI. Users activate it with a wake word and can ask questions or add items to their to-do list. However, it often misunderstood my requests, and responses were lengthy paragraphs that streamed across the screen without an option to skip ahead.
Despite having four microphones, Even AI frequently struggled to activate or misheard me in outdoor settings. While ambient noise in India may have contributed, I expected better noise handling from a modern device.
The G2's screen was generally legible, but I had to manually adjust brightness in bright rooms. I would prefer a manual brightness control integrated into the glasses rather than relying on the phone app.
Even introduced a companion ring called the R1 alongside the G2, designed to control the glasses through a touch surface instead of the glasses' own controls. However, its price and functionality don't justify the cost.
While the ring functions well, I found it challenging to identify scenarios where it was necessary, given that the touch-sensitive temples on the glasses already perform the same tasks.
Additionally, the ring includes health tracking features such as heart rate, calories, steps, sleep, and SpO2 monitoring. Personally, I would prefer a dedicated ring like Oura or Ultrahuman for health tracking rather than an auxiliary function for a device meant to control the glasses.
This added functionality raises the ring's price to $249, which is steep. If I frequently used my smart glasses, I might consider a lower-priced controller ring with a mic for issuing commands to the AI assistant. As it stands, I would skip the R1.
Smart glasses are emerging rapidly. While camera-equipped models like the Meta Ray-Bans are gaining popularity, companies like Meta, Snap, and others are racing to develop glasses with color screens. Only a few Chinese manufacturers, such as Rokid and Inmo, are producing glasses with a similar neon-display style.
Priced at $599, the Even G2 offers solid hardware in a lightweight, attractive frame. The company is also working on enhancing customization by supporting third-party apps, though I didn't find any compelling enough to encourage frequent use. They are more of a novelty, appealing to those who enjoy experimenting with new technology.
While the hardware is commendable, finding a clear everyday use case for these smart glasses remains challenging, except for roles that require constant translation or teleprompting.
Even's strategy of omitting cameras and speakers aligns with their focus on productivity, a direction I support. However, having recently achieved unicorn status, the company must develop more first-party software to ensure the glasses become an essential tool for daily use.
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