HTC is taking aim at the growing AI smart glasses market with the VIVE Eagle, a pair of camera-equipped glasses with privacy as a key selling point.
Alongside a 12-megapixel camera capable of 3K video, the glasses pack VIVE AI features including live translation, meeting notes and hands-free assistance.
The VIVE Eagle is available to order from today (September 2) in Europe, North America and Australia, starting at £429/$499/€469. North American shipments start immediately, while European customers will have to wait until 21 September.
HTC wants privacy to be part of the hardware
Camera-equipped glasses inevitably raise privacy questions, particularly for people being filmed without their knowledge. HTC says it has designed the VIVE Eagle to address some of those concerns directly.
A notification LED illuminates or pulses whenever the camera is taking a photo or recording video, and its brightness automatically adjusts depending on the surroundings so it remains visible. The glasses also use multiple sensors to prevent recording if the LED is obscured, damaged or compromised. Recording is also disabled when the glasses aren’t being worn.
There’s also an optional setting that lets people nearby say “Stop filming” to halt recording.
Photos and videos are encrypted and stored locally on the glasses, with users deciding whether to import them into the VIVE Connect app or a connected cloud photo service. HTC also says data remains tied to the original user’s account, meaning another person can’t access it simply by pairing the glasses with a different smartphone.
For AI requests, HTC says VIVE Eagle can use either OpenAI or Google Gemini models, with requests de-identified when third-party LLMs are used. HTC also says VIVE AI doesn’t use user data to train its AI models.
A 12MP camera and plenty of AI
The VIVE Eagle’s 12MP camera can record 3K video with electronic stabilisation, while images and videos are optimised vertically for easier sharing. There are four microphones, including a directional microphone, alongside noise cancellation for clearer calls and recordings.
The glasses can translate more than 100 languages using image-to-text translation, while VIVE AI supports real-time speech translation in more than 90 languages. They can also record meetings and provide detailed notes afterwards.
HTC has included 4GB of RAM and support for Google Gemini on Android phones and Siri on iPhones.
The open-ear directional speakers are designed to provide stereo audio while limiting sound leakage. Battery life is rated at 4-6 hours of constant active use, with up to 36 hours of standby time.
Fast charging is a useful addition, reaching 50% in 10 minutes and 80% in 23 minutes. HTC is also selling a £45/$49/€49 VIVE Eagle Power Boost battery that adds up to 80% more battery life and weighs 8g.
The glasses are available in Square and Pantos designs, with clear, sun and adaptive ZEISS lens options. HTC says VIVE AI Plus is included for two years with eligible purchases.
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