Chinese smart glasses challenge Meta.

While major tech companies are racing to integrate cameras into smart glasses, a Chinese startup is taking the opposite approach – completely eliminating cameras to prioritize privacy.

Even Realities launches G2 smart glasses without cameras or speakers for $599 - Photo: Even Realities

This represents a different approach in the current smart glasses race.

According to the technology website The Verge, Even Realities, a startup based in Shenzhen, China, is aiming to become a direct competitor to Meta with two new products: the G2 glasses and the R1 control ring.

Instead of competing on features, the company chose a different approach: no camera, no external speaker, focusing on protecting privacy in the context of increasing user concerns about the collection of personal data.

Smart glasses look... just like real glasses.

In recent years, smart glasses – especially Meta's Ray-Ban – have expanded to integrate cameras, microphones, and social media connectivity. Users can record videos , take photos, or live stream with just a quick tap. But this has come with growing concerns: many people feel watched because they can't tell when they're being recorded, even though the device has a notification light.

It's not just a subjective feeling. A study published on the PubMed Central medical library website shows that people wearing cameras often feel "watched," leading them to become reserved and change their behavior in everyday situations. This is precisely why smart glasses with cameras can easily create awkward situations in communication.

Even Realities chose to address the problem at its root. The G2 glasses have neither a camera nor an external speaker. According to the tech magazine Wired, removing the camera solves the biggest concern for users and makes the glasses look more "normal" to others.

This approach also makes the device lighter, more compact, and easier to wear all day. Some tech websites have commented that the G2 is one of the rare glasses that looks like real glasses, rather than a piece of technology attached to the face.

Despite lacking a camera, the G2 is equipped with numerous AI features: displaying notifications, providing directions, translating languages, and suggesting conversations in real time – all through a micro-LED system integrated into the lenses.

Included is the R1 ring, which allows users to control the device with small finger movements without touching the glasses or talking to the device in a crowded place.

Moderation - an advantage or a limitation?

The difference between Even Realities and Meta lies not only in the products, but in their vision for the future of smart wearables. Meta represents a familiar development direction: the more data, the more features, the better. Cameras, microphones, and AI combine to create a connected ecosystem for a seamless experience.

Even Realities takes the opposite approach – minimizing controversial elements and retaining only what is truly essential. The company calls this a "human-centric" approach.

Currently, smart glasses are still a new market. While the products are impressive, they haven't yet become truly widespread – partly due to their high price, and partly because users don't yet feel a real need for them.

The question is: what do users really want in a device worn on their face every day? If technology is a priority, glasses with cameras are clearly more appealing due to the numerous features available. But if users value privacy and comfort in communication, options like Even Realities have an advantage.

Removing the camera meant Even Realities missed out on some attractive features. But in return, they created a differentiated product in a market that tends to be all "similar."

In a context where users are increasingly sensitive about their personal data, this direction is not without opportunity, and perhaps it is precisely this "restraint" that makes Even Realities a noteworthy competitor to Meta.

Even Realities G2 and its notable specifications.

Even Realities is a start-up based in Shenzhen, China, focused on developing smart wearable devices with privacy protection in mind. Their G2 glasses were launched at a price of $599. The R1 control ring is designed to be included as a controller for the glasses.

A notable feature of this duo is the absence of a camera or external speaker – a deliberate choice aimed at users who prioritize discretion and comfort in daily communication, rather than maximizing functionality.

THANH HIEP

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/kinh-thong-minh-trung-quoc-thach-thuc-meta-20260410100808332.htm