HTC launches AI-powered Vive Eagle smart glasses for $520. In Taiwan.

HTC has entered the competitive AI-powered smart glasses market with its new Vive Eagle smart glasses, featuring a built-in AI assistant, 12MP ultrawide camera, and built-in speakers. The move positions HTC alongside tech giants like Meta, Google, Samsung, and potentially Apple in the rapidly expanding smart eyewear category, though the glasses are currently only available in Taiwan for around $520.

What you should know: The Vive Eagle glasses offer AI-powered features that directly compete with Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses offerings.

• Wearers can use the built-in Vive AI voice assistant to translate text they’re viewing into 13 different languages through AI-powered image translation.
• The glasses support voice commands for recording reminders, asking for restaurant recommendations, and taking notes.
• At just 49 grams, they match the weight of Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses while including Zeiss sun lenses.

Key details: HTC has designed the Vive Eagle glasses with premium materials and multiple style options.

• The glasses come equipped with Zeiss sun lenses and are available in red, brown, gray, or black frame options.
• They feature a 12MP ultrawide camera for capturing photos and enabling AI visual recognition features.
• Built-in speakers allow for audio playback without requiring separate headphones.

The big picture: Smart glasses are rapidly becoming one of the most competitive categories in consumer tech as major companies race to create the next breakthrough wearable device.

• Meta has already established a foothold with its Ray-Ban and Oakley smart glasses partnerships.
• Google, Samsung, and Apple are all reportedly working on their own AI-powered eyewear solutions.
• The convergence of AI capabilities, miniaturized hardware, and stylish designs is driving renewed interest in smart glasses after earlier attempts failed to gain mainstream adoption.

What’s unclear: HTC hasn’t announced plans to expand the Vive Eagle glasses beyond Taiwan to North American or European markets, leaving potential global competition with Meta’s established products uncertain.