I Tried $600 Smart Glasses For A Week

Summary

In this review, Alex tests North's Focals smart glasses, designed to reduce phone dependency. With a holographic display and Loop controller, Focals offer notifications, weather updates, and even Uber calls. Despite initial excitement, Alex finds the glasses uncomfortable, with a glitchy display and unreliable voice commands. They earn a 3/5 rating, showing potential but needing improvement for everyday use.

Takeaways

• 👓 Focals are smart glasses developed by the Canadian start-up North, designed for everyday use to reduce reliance on smartphones.
• 📡 They feature a holographic display on the right lens for notifications and information, controlled by a ring called the Loop via Bluetooth.
• 🌐 The glasses integrate with Alexa, allowing users to ask questions and receive answers through a built-in mic and speaker.
• 🚖 Focals can facilitate actions like calling an Uber, showcasing their potential as a hands-free tool for daily tasks.
• 📏 The glasses are custom-fitted to the user's head size and inter-eye width to ensure the hologram aligns perfectly with the eyes.
• 🤔 The GPS feature was found to be less accurate, as it failed to reroute when the user intentionally made a wrong turn.
• 😟 Discomfort was reported when wearing Focals for extended periods, with the glasses feeling heavy and sliding down the nose.
• 🔋 The Loop's battery life was shorter than the glasses, requiring more frequent charging, which could be inconvenient.
• 🌤️ The holographic display was not always clear in sunlight, necessitating the use of sun clips for better visibility.
• 📱 Despite the aim to reduce phone usage, the user still had to resort to their phone for certain tasks, indicating limitations in the glasses' functionality.
• 🔄 North has been adding new features like music controls and transit updates, suggesting ongoing development to enhance user experience.

Q & A

What is the name of the smart glasses mentioned in the script?

The smart glasses mentioned are called Focals.

Which company manufactures Focals smart glasses?

Focals are manufactured by the Canadian start-up North.

What is the primary purpose of Focals smart glasses?

The primary purpose of Focals is to make users rely less on pulling out their phones by providing notifications and other information directly in front of their eyes.

How does the holographic display on Focals work?

The holographic display on the right lens of Focals shows notifications and information directly from the user's phone.

What is the Loop and how does it interact with Focals?

The Loop is a small ring that controls the Focals smart glasses, allowing users to navigate and interact with the display via Bluetooth.

What is the role of Alexa in Focals smart glasses?

Alexa is integrated into the Focals glasses, enabling users to ask questions and receive answers through the built-in mic and speaker.

What was the user's experience with the GPS feature of Focals?

The user found the GPS feature neat but experienced disappointment when it failed to reroute after making a wrong turn, indicating a lack of accuracy.

How comfortable were the Focals smart glasses for the user during the test period?

The Focals glasses were uncomfortable at times, felt heavy, slid down the user's nose, and were bulky on the sides.

What challenges did the user face with Alexa integration in noisy environments?

Alexa had difficulty connecting and understanding commands in loud or noisy environments, leading to frustration for the user.

What was the user's final rating for the Focals smart glasses?

The user gave Focals a rating of 3 out of 5, indicating that they were not an ideal everyday wearable for them.

What additional features has North added to Focals since the user's trial period?

North has added new features such as music controls and transit updates to the Focals smart glasses.