Tencent-backed startup sells $600 camera-free smartglasses as AI wearables surge

Product and positioning

It has been reported that Even Realities, a startup backed by Tencent, is shipping a G2 smartglasses model priced at roughly $600 that allegedly contains no built-in camera. That’s a deliberate break from the selfie- and AR-first posture of earlier wearables — think fewer lenses, more listening and display. The optics and voice-driven features are pitched at users worried about privacy and public backlash. Not exactly pocket change, but for some consumers, peace of mind is worth the premium.

Market momentum

The launch lands amid a boom for the category. Omdia says AI smartglasses shipments jumped 322% year‑on‑year to 8.7 million units in 2025, a staggeringly fast climb that signals the product is moving beyond early adopters. Adoption is being driven by cheaper hardware, improving on-device AI and a raft of new use cases — from workplace wearables to everyday heads‑up notifications. Investors are noticing; so are regulators.

Why the cameraless angle matters

Why ditch the camera? Privacy, plain and simple. Cameras have been the lightning rod for social friction — banned in changing rooms, eyed warily in public spaces. A cameraless option removes that flashpoint and widens acceptance in places where wearable cameras remain taboo. It’s also a clever market play: differentiate on trust when features are otherwise converging.

What to watch next

If the numbers keep climbing, expect more variants: cameraless models for privacy-first customers, camera‑equipped devices for AR enthusiasts, and subscription services layered on top. Will this split the market into “see‑everything” and “see‑less” camps? Possibly. Either way, the smartglasses story is no longer niche. It’s becoming mainstream — fast.

Sources: ft.com