Introduction to Smart Glasses Competition

The market for smart glasses is becoming increasingly crowded, with numerous companies entering the fray. Recently, China’s Xiaomi has unveiled its own smart glasses, which, on paper, seem to outshine Meta’s Ray-Ban glasses in several aspects.

Key Features of Xiaomi’s AI Glasses

Xiaomi’s AI Glasses, priced at around $280, similar to Meta’s Ray-Ban glasses, offer several features that are noteworthy. One of the standout features is the ability to use the glasses for mobile payments through a combination of the camera and Alipay, Alibaba’s popular mobile payment system. This is achieved by scanning a QR code and then using the onboard voice assistant for confirmation. Although there might be concerns about accidental payments, the inclusion of voice activation and verification should mitigate this issue.

Electrochromic Lenses and Video Recording

Another significant feature of Xiaomi’s AI Glasses is the electrochromic lenses, which allow for manual adjustment between shaded and transparent modes. This feature is particularly useful for indoor wear and can be fine-adjusted according to the user’s eyesight or preference. Additionally, Xiaomi claims that its AI Glasses can record continuous video for an impressive 45 minutes, far surpassing Meta’s Ray-Ban glasses, which can only record up to three minutes of video at a time.

Comparison with Meta’s Ray-Ban Glasses

Xiaomi’s AI Glasses match Meta’s Ray-Ban glasses in several aspects, including a 12-megapixel camera, a voice assistant, and a five-mic array for voice calls. However, Xiaomi’s glasses allegedly have a longer battery life, lasting up to 8.6 hours on a single charge, compared to Meta’s four hours. Furthermore, Xiaomi’s glasses are capable of first-person video calls and livestreaming.

Conclusion

While there may be some skepticism about the claims made by Xiaomi, if its AI Glasses truly deliver on their promised features, they could potentially be the best smart glasses available. Although they do not feature an augmented display, they offer several significant advantages over Meta’s Ray-Ban glasses, including extended battery life, longer continuous recording time, and convenient features like mobile payments and manual lenges adjustment. If Xiaomi’s claims are accurate, Meta may need to reassess and improve its own smart glasses to remain competitive in the market.