Even G1: first impressions

My long-awaited Even G1 arrived yesterday. Put simply, they are glasses that feel a bit like a scouter from Dragon Ball.

To conclude,This product is revolutionary. It feels like the start of a major change, just like when the iPhone was released. In this article, I'll review my first impressions honestly and subjectively.

Unboxing and first touch: Apple-like quality

From the moment I opened the package, I could feel the seriousness of this product. The included items, such as a charging case with a USB-C cable and a cleaning cloth, were carefully packaged, reminiscent of Apple products.

Pairing with a smartphone is surprisingly simple. Just download the dedicated app 'Even' and connect via Bluetooth, and you're done. It took about 10 minutes from initial setup to start using it, so even those who are not familiar with technology won't get lost.

Basic information

• Price: Main unit $599 + shipping $15 = approximately 91,598 yen

• Prescription lenses: Additional $149

• Clip-on sunglasses: $100 (essential for outdoor use, and I recommend purchasing a dedicated case as well)

• Purchase method: As of July 2025, there are no official sales in Japan. Import from the official website

• Technical conformity: Already obtained (no need for special application like Ray-Ban Meta)

• Language: Supports Japanese display and voice input, but no Japanese support

The moment of wearing: the completion of 'ordinary glasses'

To put it bluntly, they're basically ordinary glasses.

The frame is made of magnesium alloy with sandstone coating, and the temple is made of titanium alloy, making it extremely lightweight. For people who wear glasses all the time, it's so light that you won't even notice you're wearing them all day. In fact, I wore them to an event all day today, and no one pointed out that they were AR glasses, nor did anyone even notice that I had changed my glasses.

The design is also very sophisticated. There's no bulky gadget feel, and if you look closely, you might notice that the temples are a bit thicker, but that's about it. This is a design that doesn't try to hide, but rather blend in. It seamlessly integrates into your daily life without changing anything.

As for the display, I think it's best to check out the official video. As a buyer, I can say that the video doesn't exaggerate.

The 'divine function' I experienced first: real-time translation

This is truly an amazing feature.

From TED talks to everyday conversations with friends, almost perfect subtitles appear right in front of you. The translation accuracy is quite high, and I never felt like the conversation was being misinterpreted.This is not just a convenient feature, but an experience that makes language barriers a thing of the past.

I actually tried using it with an American friend, and it was more than I expected. Just being able to understand everything without worrying about missing something makes a huge difference. Until now, I always had to be on edge to make sure I didn't miss anything, but with the Even G1, I can see Japanese subtitles and the original text. When I look straight ahead, the translation is displayed, and when I look up, it switches to the original text. I don't even need to replay it, the answer is always right in front of me.Don't you think all conversations should have subtitles? It's a feeling of security that makes me think this way.

Basically, green text is displayed transparently in front of me, but it doesn't get in the way if I concentrate on what I'm doing. It's like 'it's in my field of vision, but I'm not recognizing it.' And then, when I suddenly think 'what did they just say?', the correct answer is written there.

However, it's not completely real-time, and there is a delay of several seconds to tens of seconds, which is something you should be aware of.

When changing the target language, it's mandatory to operate with a smartphone, which is a hassle. But honestly, I don't think I'll use it for anything other than English, so it's not a big deal for me. When using it with a completely unknown language, you might feel some goodness, but the roughness of the translation stands out, so I think it's better to use it as a supplement for languages I'm familiar with. In that case, when I'm assisted, like 'oh, I missed that! I don't understand... oh, it's written!', the sense of 'I was helped! I'm glad!' is heightened.

The 'quick note' that changes daily life: not missing the moment you think of

If I just talk while long-pressing the touch bar on the right, the audio becomes a text memo. This is really revolutionary.

From creating a shopping list to recording ideas that come to mind, I can take notes immediately. Task-related content is automatically converted to a bulleted list and displayed when I look up. I have a habit of looking up unconsciously and thinking 'what's next?', and it's very rational and moving that the task is displayed at that moment.

It's really helpful that when I talk about tasks casually, they're organized into a bulleted list. Quick Notes are organized in a good way by AI, and there's also a simple transcription function, but personally, I prefer Quick Notes.

Head-up display: an experience that surpasses Apple Watch

There's no waste in thinking "what's next?" during task intervals. This is because you can instantly check your task list or notifications just by moving your line of sight slightly. Japanese text is displayed in Chinese font, but it's displayed properly.

I was surprised that my concentration was maintained just by not having to glance down at my smartphone. This can completely replace the role of Apple Watch, it's a tool to keep your thoughts from stopping.

You don't even need to lift your arm to check the time. Just by looking up slightly, today's tasks, news, notifications, date, weather, and temperature are all displayed in your field of vision.

The amount of tasks displayed is also just right. Although it's probably unintentional, the device's constraints mean that only 4 lines, or 4 tasks, can be displayed at once. While it may seem inconvenient at first, this becomes a blessing for maintaining concentration. By limiting yourself to the top 4 tasks, you create a good constraint where you don't update the list until you've completed them, and as a result, you feel like your work efficiency has improved.

An unexpected byproduct: improving posture and navigation

This was an unexpected discovery, but the Even G1 also helps with preventing stooping. The head-up display is designed with the assumption that you'll be looking up slightly while maintaining a correct posture. Therefore, if you're stooping, you'll notice that you're not in a natural position when you try to look at the display, and you'll immediately realize that your posture is bad.

The map function is a bit of a hassle to set up, but it's a good experience once you start using it. I actually used it to go to the university, and when I was looking straight ahead, an arrow indicating the direction I should go was displayed on the left side of my field of vision, and a mini-map was displayed on the right side. When I looked up, the entire map was displayed. It's like a game's mini-map, and it's fun. By the way, be careful because the voice guide may come out of your smartphone at full volume.

Incredible battery life

As expected from the specs, after using it for 13 hours, the battery had decreased from 100% to around 65%. The case serves as a backup battery, but it's almost unnecessary if you're using it all day. The image shows the state of the battery when I got home and plugged it in for charging.

In this regard, the difference between this and the Ray-Ban Meta is clear. While the Ray-Ban Meta lasts 4 hours on its own and 36 hours with the case, the Even G1 can be used continuously for over a day. This is probably due to the benefits of the minimalist approach of not including a camera or speaker.

However, I feel like my smartphone's battery is being consumed quickly. It seems like it's clearly being used up by Bluetooth communication. In fact, when I went out with my iPhone 15 Pro (which was at 92% battery), it was almost dead after 7 hours.

If I were to list my complaints, it would be that the battery level of the main unit is not displayed on the head-up display. However, given that the battery lasts this long, it's possible that the developer's philosophy is that you don't need to check the remaining battery level daily.

Realistic constraints and limitations

It's not a perfect product. The touch control is located at the tip of the temple, so it can be difficult to operate if you have long hair, and the response can be slow at times. The Bluetooth connection can also be unstable at times.

The teleprompter function is quite difficult. It's unnatural to touch the temple to scroll, and the automatic scrolling also has poor timing. It would be attractive to have a collaborative operation with a ring-type device or the like. The Halliday AI Glasses are an example of this approach.

Silent mode can be activated by tapping the right temple three times, which puts it in non-notification mode. The dashboard also doesn't appear when looking up, and it can be deactivated with the same operation. However, it often doesn't respond well.

Confidence in the future: the era of smart glasses

The penetration of innovation is always continuous. Just as watches have evolved into smartwatches, it's inevitable that glasses will evolve into smart glasses.

The Even G1 is a product that gives me confidence in that future. The current value of 'fashionable means contact lenses' may come to an end this year. The overwhelming convenience of smart glasses will surpass the impression of being 'uncool'.

This is similar to what happened when the iPhone 3GS was released. Initially, it was a clumsy, unusual existence, but as its innovative functions became more widespread in society, people rationalized themselves, saying 'it's not uncool because it's popular', and it eventually became a symbol of refined design.

Is it worth 100,000 yen?

The Even G1 is not yet a perfect product. The display is monochrome, and it can't be called a complete AR experience. Many functions also rely on smartphone apps, which is an area for improvement.

However, this product has accurately grasped the 'essence'. By cutting out unnecessary speakers and high-performance cameras, it focuses its resources on the essential value. It beautifully shows the answer to what the Minimum Viable Product for AR glasses is.

Of course, as a 100,000 yen experience, there are also parts where the completion degree is inferior, and I can understand the feeling that it's not worth spending 100,000 yen on this experience. It's undoubtedly an interesting product, but it's not something I can wholeheartedly recommend to others.

At least in terms of practicality, whether it's worth 100,000 yen is a matter of personal opinion. Basically, it feels like Apple Watch has been integrated into glasses. Considering Apple Watch costs around 30,000 to 40,000 yen, it's a bit overpriced.

However, I recommend it to those who can pay for the fact that it's an exciting product. We can now experience a future that's closest to us, at a general consumer level. Among the many AR glasses out there, few have a finished app, are properly distributed, and have passed technical conformity, making them practical.

Isn't an Apple Watch enough?

Well, that might be the case for you, but I usually wear glasses. At this point, my thinking becomes a bit different.

Firstly, when you think 'I want to see notifications without my smartphone', you have two options. One of them is to 'get a new device', which includes Apple Watch and Even G1.

So, what about people who normally wear smart glasses? Instead of having the hassle of getting a new device like an Apple Watch, you can just make your smart glasses smarter. Of course, that's more convenient than having a new device.

The number of devices is like the number of shackles on your feet.

What about Ray-Ban Meta?

There are also opinions that say Even G1 is 'not recommended compared to Ray-Ban Meta'. However, I think that's a bit different, and Ray-Ban Meta is AI Glasses, not AR Glasses when you can't see. And while they may seem similar, they are completely different. Adding information to your existing vision like an overlay is like listening to music with AirPods while having a conversation, it's a positive experience. Ray-Ban Meta is not an addition to your existing life, but rather a swap. You can call Siri, take pictures, and listen to music with your smart glasses, but that's just integrating existing experiences, not adding overlay value. In that sense, comparisons are nonsense.

The beginning of the future

Some people may see Even G1 as 'a toy, not a tool', but when you actually use it, you can see that it's designed to be a 'functional tool' that can withstand daily use, and I feel that design philosophy in various aspects, such as the camera being removed.

What's important is the fact that this big change has already started. Even G1 is the starting point, and it has the potential to change our daily lives and the world from the ground up. By next year, we may be living in an era where contact lenses are considered old-fashioned.

There's no additional content, but if you'd like to support me, you can donate and help me out as a human sacrifice for 100,000 yen smart glasses. This month's rent was in danger of not being paid...

I also wrote a review after using it for a month, so please read that too.