HTC has launched the VIVE Eagle, a pair of AI-enabled smart glasses designed for everyday use, featuring music playback, voice assistance, photography, videography, and real-time language translation.

Designed with a Wayfarer-style look, the glasses weigh 48.8 grams, run on the Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1 chipset with 4GB RAM and 32GB storage, and include Zeiss UV400 lenses for eye safety.

Currently, HTC's VIVE Eagle is available only in Taiwan at a price of approximately NT$15,600 (about $520), with pre-orders open from August 14 to 31, including accessories and two years of VIVE AI Plus free.

Privacy is prioritized with local data storage, AES-256 encryption, and automatic recording disablement when the glasses are removed or obstructed, and all user data is stored locally and anonymized when using third-party AI services.

The main challenges for VIVE Eagle will be its price and competition from other Chinese companies, as well as upcoming products like Meta’s rumored $1,000 Hypernova AR glasses and Android XR collaborations.

HTC emphasizes VIVE Eagle as part of its broader ecosystem of XR hardware, software, and services aimed at both consumers and businesses.

HTC's Senior Vice President Charles Huang highlighted the product's goal to enhance personal expression and human connection by seamlessly integrating technology into daily life.

The glasses offer up to 36 hours of standby, around 4.5 hours of continuous music, support magnetic fast charging with a 10-minute charge providing 50% power, and include a 12-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera.

Connectivity features include Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3, with an IP54 rating for dust and water resistance, and they require pairing with a compatible smartphone.

The device is priced around $520 USD in Taiwan, with multiple frame color options and Zeiss sun lenses, though prices could fluctuate if released in the U.S.

The standout feature of VIVE Eagle is its AI capabilities, which allow integration with third-party AI services like ChatGPT or Google Gemini, and it includes an in-built AI assistant powered by these platforms.

The glasses employ an open-ear design with large acoustic drivers and virtual bass technology, providing rich spatial audio that minimizes sound leakage, allowing users to stay aware of their surroundings.