HTC Launches $499 Vive Eagle Smart Glasses With Privacy-First Features

In September, HTC launched its Vive Eagle smart glasses in the US, priced at $499, offering a privacy-focused alternative to Meta's leading devices. These glasses feature cameras for capturing photos and videos, built-in speakers for music and calls, and an integrated AI assistant. Users can enjoy 4.5 hours of continuous music playback and 36 hours on standby; an optional $49 Power Boost pack can extend usage. The Vive AI assistant utilizes OpenAI's ChatGPT or Google's Gemini without requiring user logins, ensuring anonymity while sacrificing some personalization features. For the first two years, Vive's AI Plus is complimentary, then shifts to a $2.50 monthly fee. An indicator light next to the cameras signals when recording, and users can stop capture by covering it or verbally commanding it. Footage is encrypted and stored directly on the glasses, requiring manual import via the app. Dan McDowell, HTC Vive's head of enterprise sales, emphasized to WIRED that the company is “not a social media company” and does not utilize data from the glasses to train AI models. Meta has encountered criticism regarding its indicator light, leading to software updates that disable the camera if tampering is detected. The Eagles are available in two designs: one with square lenses reminiscent of Wayfarers and another with a more rounded shape.