Why the Even Reality G1 is the smart glasses to beat in 2025 – and I tested a few pairs

I have Even Reality G1 smart glasses for several months now. Although I couldn’t wear them continuously every day, I did wear them for about 30 days. My friends say these are stylish and “don’t look like a gadget”, which is their biggest win.

So far, we’ve seen a number of innovations in smart glasses, including camera-enabled smart glasses. AI Meta Ray-Bans, Bose glasses speakers and TCL RayNeo AR glasses, but Even Reality G1 is not among them. They have screens and microphones but no speakers or cameras. The G1 is a smart combination of a minimalist feature set that feels just right, where technology takes the back seat and lifestyle takes the front seat.

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The Even Reality G1 smart glasses need more polish, but from what I’ve experienced over the past few months, they’re improving with each upgrade. You might not want to spend $600 on a pair of smart glasses, but these are very tempting.

The future is here

The Even Realities G1 has a Fully Adaptive Optical System (HAOS), which is a fancy way of saying two small screens. As shown in the header image and vice versa in the image above, only two rectangles can be seen on both lenses responsible for displaying information at an angle. These are usually not visible to others.

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When you tilt your head upward, the micro-LED optical engine projector displays green digital text at a resolution of 640 x 200 pixels. The resolution may not be impressive to smartphone spec-obsessed brains, but this is a great display. It is clearly visible in daylight and you can easily make out the details.

You can adjust the angle for the glance feature in the app. For example, I have it set to 20 degrees, so whenever the glasses detect that my head is tilted at 20 degrees, they will display the screen. The dashboard shows the time, notes, number of notifications, etc. It seems like this might interfere with the actual view but it doesn’t because you are consciously activating the screen instead of it being present forever.

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Even Reality has bonded two lenses to create digital lenses, but these don’t feel any heavier than my regular glasses. Unlike other bulky smart glasses, the G1 is very comfortable. I love my Meta Ray-Bans, but they’re even heavier than my regular pair of sunglasses. However, I didn’t feel any fatigue in the nose pads during the review process.

The weight distribution favors the arms rather than the frame. As a result, the G1 is very comfortable. You can also buy prescription lenses (for an additional $150) and use them as regular specs like I do.

The remaining hardware includes the battery, gesture pads, screwless hinge, microphone, and antenna for interacting with the phone app via Bluetooth. Initially launched with a circular design, they later added another option — Even G1 B — with a rectangular frame. The frame has a matte finish and is made of solid magnesium, while the arms are silicon-coated for better grip.

They come in a case similar to a regular glasses case, which can charge them up to 2.5 times. However, it was difficult for me. Many times, I found the glasses were not charged to 100%, even though the previous case was only charging once.

What the Even Reality G1 smart glasses can do

Even Reality G1 has six main features. Here’s how they work and how I’d like them to improve.

1. Notice

When connected to a phone (almost always), the G1 displays the number of notifications on the dashboard. You can access these notifications by tilting your head up to see them temporarily, or using trackpad gestures if you want to see them later.

It’s a nice trick, but it’s missing two things. You cannot reply to notifications. I wish even AI could help me reply by dictating a message. Second, the notification needs to be deleted manually. They are not deleted even after you view them on your phone, which creates friction in the user experience.

2. Translation

This feature is very useful when traveling to a place where you don’t speak the language. I tested it with my limited French and Spanish and the results were accurate. You choose one of 13 supported languages, and when a person speaks in that language, the glasses display the translation on the screen.

However, this feature is one-way. You can translate what other people are saying, but you can’t hold a conversation unless they also have a translation device. One potential solution could involve glasses translating their language and your smartphone translating your language into theirs.

3. Take quick notes

I would love to add reminders using QuickNote on the G1. When you press and hold the right trackpad, the glasses will display “Quick Notes”. I used it to jot down tasks and ideas for the day.

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Notes are now displayed on the panel when you look up next. I would like to be able to choose which notes appear on the dashboard through the app. Sometimes I jot down ideas to do later, while other times I need reminders to complete tasks before the end of the day.

4. Navigation

If you like cycling, you will love this. G1 can display turn-by-turn navigation without checking your phone. It’s not distracting because the navigation is always present instead of being activated with just a glance. It’s great for walking and cycling. The catch? You need to set your destination through the Even Reality app.

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I like the integration with Google or Apple Maps and the ability to request navigation glasses. With the built-in microphone, this seems possible.

5. Remote prompt

The G1 acts as a teleprompter for presentations. Your audience won’t notice you’re reading from a screen. Simply add your script to the app and it will appear on the projector screen, bolding the words in real time. This is one of the slickest features.

6. Even AI

Powered by Perplexity, Even AI can perform simple tasks such as calculations and unit conversions. However, it needs to be faster. I would rather use my smartphone than wait for the query to be completed. This feature is still in testing.

ZDNET Buying Tips

Like every other first generation product, the Even Reality G1 is harder to get into. These glasses are expensive at $599for an additional cost prescription lenses ($150) or clip-on sunglasses ($100) to double as sunglasses. Furthermore, most features need more refinement.

The Even Reality G1’s hardware is excellent, and the glasses can easily last all day. I charge them every night before going to bed. Over time, they only improve with each update. I see the vision and agree if Even Realities continues to refine the feature set. Features like dashboard customization, Google Maps integration, and voice-activated navigation will make the G1 even better.

These are promising smart glasses which I don’t want to put down.

This article was originally published on January 5, 2025 and updated on January 18, 2025.