It might surprise many, but Xiaomi has made numerous attempts in the "smart glasses" category. Putting aside its nascent VR glasses, Xiaomi has already released two generations of audio glasses and a smart glasses camera, demonstrating its considerable expertise.
Today, we've officially experienced the new Xiaomi AI Glasses. Do they reach new heights in user experience and offer a fresh AI experience?
Unassuming and understated appearance
Since they're glasses, the Xiaomi AI Glasses must first look like glasses. They feature a more traditional thick-framed design. It's no exaggeration to say that compared to some thick-framed glasses from fashion brands, they look more like ordinary glasses. This unassuming appearance complements the seamless wearability, making it a perfectly balanced, high-quality design.
The Xiaomi AI Glasses also offer a good fit. Officially, the weight, excluding lenses, is 40g. The model we had on hand, equipped with electrochromic lenses, actually weighed a mere 48g, making it a very comfortable sight.
The Xiaomi AI Glasses take full advantage of their thick-framed design. The right temple features a USB-C port for charging and power supply, while the left temple has a power button similar in size to the port. Additionally, the right temple has a touchscreen area supporting one- and two-finger touch and a camera button. You can also use voice to wake up Xiao Ai to activate functions, truly freeing your hands.
The front also features a relatively symmetrical design, with openings on both sides of the lens—the right for the lens and the left for the sensor. These openings, each with what look like rivets, further enhance the "thick-framed" look. Indicator lights on the inside and outside of the lenses illuminate when taking photos or recording videos. Speaking of which, we actually hope Xiaomi can provide a solution to physically cover the camera. After all, the current version can only prove "I'm recording," but not "I'm not." A solution similar to a lens cover might help reduce unnecessary disputes.
The version we received this time is equipped with electrochromic lenses. Sliding two fingers on the right temple adjusts the lens color, which is quite sensitive. I heard Xiaomi will also release a multi-color electrochromic version that can switch between different lens colors and shades, making it more fashionable. Of course, as a pair of glasses, it will also have a variety of fitting services, allowing everyone to choose according to their needs.
Solid imaging hardware, decent image quality.
The Xiaomi AI Glasses feature a more lightweight single-camera design. The sensor is the IMX681, a common sensor in the smartglasses market. It boasts 12 megapixels and supports up to 2K@30fps video recording (2304×1728 resolution, actually higher than the more commonly known 1440P). The focal length is slightly wider than the typical 23mm wide-angle main camera on mobile phones. We roughly estimate it's close to 20mm equivalent, which is quite close to the human eye's actual field of view.
As for actual image quality, let's take a look at the sample photos as usual. For a more compact sensor, its image quality is surprisingly good, producing images with good resolution in good lighting.
Of course, due to the limitations of the sensor, performance does decline slightly in moderate or even dark lighting conditions. Compared to mobile phone photography, it has higher lighting requirements.
As for video recording, thanks to its relatively high recording specifications (though other resolutions and frame rates are not currently available), the quality of first-person "viewing" videos is excellent, giving you a strong first-person experience. In good lighting, the image quality is also quite impressive. As a perspective for documenting life, the performance is truly impressive.
However, in average lighting conditions, there is some noticeable artifacts when moving your head or adjusting your perspective significantly. Considering the hardware level, this is understandable. We also look forward to future image quality options like 1080P, which may improve this minor issue.
Having discussed image quality, I'd also like to share my thoughts on "camera glasses." Compared to handheld devices, the lens is positioned much closer to the eye, eliminating the need for handheld camera movements, resulting in more intuitive images. Compared to head-worn pocket cameras or action cameras, it's less conspicuous and requires no additional accessories, making it easier to use. Of course, if you need more professional images, more specialized equipment will be more advantageous.
In the end, it all comes down to the saying: Being able to capture a picture is more important than capturing it well.
AI glasses, audio glasses
To be honest, despite being called AI glasses, the Xiaomi AI glasses' current functionality isn't particularly extensive, primarily focusing on visual and auditory functions. For example, they support object recognition similar to Xiao Ai's on mobile phones. Simply speaking triggers image recognition capabilities similar to those on mobile phones. The overall recognition efficiency is quite accurate and efficient, and the results are quickly revealed.
Even against a cluttered background, it can detect the foreground object and its corresponding information.
Based on this functionality, it enables more sophisticated functions, such as parking space registration, vehicle model identification, and QR code payment. It can even identify food calories and record them in the app. Combined with the wearable form factor of glasses, it's quite fun to use.
In addition, it supports simultaneous interpretation, supporting up to 10 voices. It can be used in conversations, meetings, and movie viewing scenarios. The translation efficiency and accuracy are very good, and the translated voice is very natural, which is very satisfying. It also has the ability to transcribe recordings and quickly generate meeting summaries, making it a more portable and seamless meeting solution.
Furthermore, for audio glasses, the sound performance is surprisingly good. According to Xiaomi, these glasses are equipped with 1810 dual-magnetic driver open-type speakers with anti-leakage sound. The listening experience is indeed quite good, with resolution comparable to flagship open-type speakers. The three frequencies are generally well-balanced, but the bass is less powerful than current true wireless earbuds.
For glasses, the soundstage is somewhat unique. Overall, it's quite wide, with clear and accurate positioning, but the sound has a sense of "floating above the ears," which is a characteristic of audio glasses. Incidentally, despite the open-type speaker design, the anti-leakage sound system is quite effective. We did a simple measurement and found that in a normal office environment, with people at least 1 meter apart and the volume at 50% (which is already quite loud), bystanders can barely detect any sound from the glasses. They need to move closer, around 30 cm, to have a clear sense of sound.
Battery Life and Charging Experience
With a size very similar to regular glasses, the Xiaomi AI Glasses are equipped with Xiaomi's vaunted Jinshajiang battery, with an official typical battery life of up to 8.6 hours.
We also simulated some typical usage scenarios. For example, when playing music at 50% volume for half an hour, the battery consumed 7%, or about 14% per hour. After recording a 10-minute video, the battery consumed 18%. Overall, for high-load scenarios like photography, the increase in power consumption is quite significant.
We also conducted a charging test. Starting from a 9% charge level, at which video recording automatically stops, it took approximately 33 minutes to charge to 100%. Charging from 10% to 80% took only 20 minutes, demonstrating excellent efficiency.
As a side note, due to the piano-lacquer finish on the temples, our temperature gun couldn't measure their actual temperature. However, from a real-world perspective, in a 27°C room, the entire body remained virtually heat-free during the entire charging process from low to 100%, which was quite surprising. On the other hand, with such low-temperature performance, the "wired-powered live streaming" scenario mentioned in Xiaomi's official promotional materials would be quite feasible.
Summary
To summarize the Xiaomi AI Glasses, we must return to their name. First, they are unassuming glasses. Neither the lenses nor the temples are overly impressive, and there are no displays inside or outside the lenses. Wearing them is both physically and mentally stress-free.
Within this restrained design, they offer a camera, audio, and a host of other smart features, making them a highly intelligent wearable smart product. They offer excellent audio performance, decent recording and video quality, and a user-friendly app, offering a range of fun gameplay without being difficult to get started. However, AI is still at a relatively early stage, with limited applications. Much like the AI assistants in our phones, these features likely won't be used very often in daily life.
The good news is that now that this form factor has arrived, we can expect even more. For example, it can be used in more scenarios, making it more convenient for the visually impaired; it can also be used to recognize gestures and remotely control other devices like phones; it can even be integrated with venues like museums to provide real-time commentary, and so on. The possibilities are vast.
All in all, the Xiaomi AI Glasses are a worthy starting point. Their lightweight fit and understated appearance make them a truly successful pair of glasses, and their camera and audio capabilities add even more value. If you're looking for a new perspective on capturing life, or want a more engaging audio glasses experience, these glasses are a worthwhile option.
