HTC Vive Eagle Review Finds $499 Smart Glasses Fall Short

According to Engadget, the Vive Eagle is modeled on the template Ray-Ban established in 2021. It uses a Wayfarer-style frame with Panto (round) or Square lens options in black or tinted translucent plastic. Two round cut-outs sit in the hinges on either side of the lenses: one houses the camera, and the other contains a white LED and its surrounding sensor. The LED is meant to warn people nearby that the wearer is recording.

The review tested the basic Panto model with non-prescription sunglass lenses, priced at $499 in the United States. The glasses weigh around 49 grams, or 1.7 ounces, a light weight that the review says makes users unlikely to feel confident about their ability to withstand rough handling. Engadget also describes them as being on the larger end of the spectrum, to the point that even on the reviewer's face they felt like Anna Wintour grimacing through a lackluster summer showcase. The package includes a Vive-branded faux-leather case that the review compares to an accessory available at any optical retail store.

Inside, Engadget reports, the Western version is the same product that arrived in Taiwan last year. It runs on a Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1 SoC with 4GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. The 235mAh battery lasts for 4.5 hours of music playback, three hours of calls, and up to 36 hours in standby. HTC does not give specifics about the stereo speakers embedded in the arms beyond describing them as "bass enhanced." There is a four-microphone array: one directional microphone in the nose bridge and three omnidirectional microphones. Bluetooth 5.3 and Wi-Fi 6E are included for transferring data between the glasses and a phone.

The camera in the left hinge is a 12-megapixel ultra-wide sensor, according to the review. It can shoot 3,024 x 4,032 stills and 1,512 x 2,016 vertical video. For slow-motion vertical video, it captures 120 frames per second at a reduced 960 x 1,280 resolution. Each video clip has a maximum length of 10 minutes, and HTC says the 32GB of storage can hold up to 3,000 photos or up to 50 videos.

Engadget notes that the Eagle has two buttons. The one on the left arm acts as an on/off switch and triggers the AI, while the one on the right controls the camera. A touchpad runs down the right side and lets users scroll and tap to answer calls, control media playback, and cycle through AI responses. The review praises the variety of physical controls, saying many smart glasses do not include enough of them.

Charging uses two exposed pins on the left arm for a proprietary magnetic connector. HTC is aware that smart glasses are no good if they are trapped in a charging cradle, according to the review, so the included 1.2-meter USB-C cable is long enough for users to walk around with the glasses on and a power bank in a pocket. HTC also sells Power Boost, a tiny 120mAh battery pack light enough to clip to the side of the glasses. The review says it is small enough to barely notice and provides at least half a battery's worth of charge while on the go.

The review says users will interact with the glasses by voice far more than by hand, using "Hey Vive" as the wake word. The system can trigger photos and video, answer AI questions, and examine things through the camera. The speakers are tuned for speech, which the review calls good for AI, calls, and podcasts but less so for music. Engadget describes the highs as tinny and the bass as either nonexistent or painfully crunchy, concluding that HTC's promised bass enhancement is not enough. While the review says the audio is better than some glasses, it advises users not to throw out their earbuds.

The review's central criticism is that HTC cannot compete with Meta on price or on the argument for camera-equipped smart glasses. Engadget says Meta makes enough money to burn billions pursuing any product category and has succeeded in dominating the camera-glasses world by spending heavily, even though the company still cannot explain why anyone needs a pair. The review adds that camera glasses can do almost nothing faster or better than a phone, but a cheap product with cultural cachet does not need to make that argument. HTC has neither advantage, so the Vive Eagle needed both a compelling reason to exist and a hardware and software experience that blows Meta's offering out of the water. According to the review, it does not do both.

Editor's Summary

HTC's Vive Eagle smart glasses are now available in the West at $499 after launching in Taiwan a year ago, but Engadget's review finds them pricey and unimpressive. The review highlights standard camera glasses features, a 12-megapixel camera, Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1 chip, and limited audio quality, while arguing HTC lacks Meta's resources and cultural appeal. It concludes the Eagle fails to provide a strong enough reason to choose it over Meta's products.