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Google Glass competitor emerges with better specs, bolder mission

Updated Dec 19th, 2018 8:41PM EST
Oculon Smart Glasses Preview

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Google Glass probably won’t be the next iPad, but it could very well end up spawning a new era of wearable computing that moves off the wrist and onto the face. Google isn’t the only company working on connected eyewear at this early stage, however, and a new competitor emerged this week at the annual Computex trade show in Taipei, Taiwan. Oculon Optoelectronics claims it is developing a device similar to Google Glass that will have a better display, longer battery life and a price tag that is lower than what Google will charge for Glass. Dubbed Oculon Smart Glasses, the device was shown off in prototype form earlier this week.

Oculon’s Smart Glasses will feature a 720p HD display, a dual-core Cortex-A9 CPU built by Rockchip, a 2,100 mAh battery and a 5-megapixel camera along with bone conduction speakers, a microphone, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and optional cellular connectivity. Oculon also says the device will support speech recognition and gesture controls at launch.

Laptop Magazine spent some hands-on time with the device and came away somewhat impressed. To be fair though, the Oculon Smart Glasses look like a sad school project for the time being, held together by exposed glue and even tape in some areas.

The company has a bold mission though, and it seems to be on the right track so far. If it can deliver on its promises at the $500 price point it’s aiming for, the company could certainly become an unexpected contender in the wearables market if it manages to launch soon and secure solid distribution deals.

Another photo of the Oculon Smart Glasses prototype follows below.

Zach Epstein
Zach Epstein Executive Editor

Zach Epstein has been the Executive Editor at BGR for more than 10 years. He manages BGR’s editorial team and ensures that best practices are adhered to. He also oversees the Ecommerce team and directs the daily flow of all content. Zach first joined BGR in 2007 as a Staff Writer covering business, technology, and entertainment.

His work has been quoted by countless top news organizations, and he was recently named one of the world's top 10 “power mobile influencers” by Forbes. Prior to BGR, Zach worked as an executive in marketing and business development with two private telcos.