Even Realities G2 just got a full wear test from TechRadar. Lance Ulanoff’s review, published September 13, 2026, treats the camera-free waveguide glasses as a privacy antidote to “pervert glasses” backlash — then asks whether half-smart software is worth $599 before prescription glass.
We covered G2’s IFA privacy pitch on September 5. This is the longer take: a week of daily wear, monochrome binocular MicroLED waveguides, voice-driven teleprompter, walking-only navigation, and an optional $249 Even R1 ring for gestures and wellness readouts.
What the review liked
Design is the clear win. TechRadar calls the titanium-and-magnesium frames among the most normal-looking smart glasses the reviewer has worn — thin, light, and comfortable enough to replace everyday prescriptions. The binocular green waveguide (listed at 640×350, up to about 1,200 nits, ~98% passthrough) sits slightly above eyeline as a floating monochrome panel. Brightness holds outdoors. The camera-free stance is the product’s social argument: four mics for input, no speakers, answers as on-lens text via Even AI.
Teleprompt is the standout feature. Import txt, Docx, or PDF in the iPhone app; on-glass text advances by voice recognition instead of a fixed scroll speed. News feed scrolling and glanceable dashboard complications (time, battery, temperature, notification count) work once the stem gestures stick. Battery on the thin frame is rated around two days (192 mAh); the reviewer saw roughly three days of intermittent use, with a 2,000 mAh case good for about seven recharges.
Where it stalled
Software is the mixed bag. Stem taps are finicky enough that the reviewer often landed in the wrong mode with no confirmation. Notifications for texts, Slack, and email were unreliable. Even AI (“Hey Even”) has no broad phone access — Notes and shopping lists failed; Quick List bugs aborted commands. Translate needs languages pre-set in the app rather than auto-detecting. Navigation is walk or cycle only; Even Realities intentionally omitted driving directions on distraction grounds, which the review disputes for monochrome HUD glances.
Price is the other friction. At $599 / £599 / AU$649, plus roughly $150–$350 for prescription lenses and $249 if you want the R1 ring, G2 costs more than camera-and-speaker Meta frames that do less display work. TechRadar’s scorecard lands Value, Software, and Battery at 3.5/5, Design at 4/5, and Display at 4.5/5. The verdict line is blunt: stylish camera-free hardware, but too many features still send you back to the phone.
How it sits next to RayNeo iO
Same week, camera-free display glasses are having a review moment. Our RayNeo iO full review coverage (The Ghost Howls, September 10) also praised captions and battery while flagging comfort and Life Log audio privacy. G2’s official sheet lists about 36 g, IP65, prescription from −12 to +12, and no camera by design. TechRadar’s piece does not replace a buying guide — it is a dated wear report that camera-free is necessary but not sufficient.
Primary source: TechRadar’s Even Realities G2 review (September 13, 2026). Spec and pricing cross-checks: Even Realities G2 product page. Earlier site context: Even Realities G2 Leans Into Camera-Free Privacy at IFA and RayNeo iO Full Review.