Linux PC in a pair of glasses: New AR glasses work without a smartphone

While conventional smart glasses such as the Ray-Ban Meta or Amazon Echo Frames essentially serve as extensions of a smartphone, Raven is taking a more independent approach with the Prism 1. The glasses are designed to function as a standalone Linux PC capable of running many applications without a connected smartphone.

Inside is a quad-core 64-bit ARM processor, paired with up to 4 GB of RAM and at least 32 GB of internal storage. The glasses run Raven OS, a Linux-based operating system designed to execute compatible ARM64 applications independently. According to the manufacturer, more than 25 applications will be available through a dedicated app store at launch, although the company has yet to reveal which ones. Raven mentions video playback, navigation and AI applications among the potential use cases.

Information is projected into the wearer's right-eye field of view through a full-color LCoS display. The virtual screen is said to be roughly equivalent to a 16-inch monitor viewed from an arm's length away. However, with a field of view of just 30 degrees, the glasses are likely better suited to compact information windows than expansive AR visuals. The Raven Prism 1 is primarily controlled through eye movements and voice commands. Alternatively, conventional input devices such as keyboards and mice can be connected via Bluetooth.

Raven also appears to place considerable emphasis on privacy. The integrated 13-megapixel camera features a mechanical cover, while dedicated indicator lights are designed to alert nearby people when the camera is recording. According to the manufacturer, eye movement data is processed locally. Cloud-based features are only supposed to access personal data with the user's explicit consent.

Unusual magnetic battery system

Another distinctive feature is the modular battery system called Raven Wings. These magnetically attached battery modules can reportedly be swapped even while the glasses are running. Two pairs of batteries and a charging case are included in the package. The connectors are also intended to support additional hardware in the future, including GPS receivers, cellular modems and AI accelerators.

Price and availability

Following their official unveiling at the Augmented World Expo (AWE) in Long Beach, California, the Raven Prism 1 became available for reservation on October 29. A reservation requires a $49 deposit, while the regular retail price is $1,499 (approximately €1,340). Considering the hardware on offer, that seems rather expensive – a sentiment shared by many users on Reddit.

The first units are scheduled to ship in January 2027, although the first two production batches are already fully reserved. New customers can currently only reserve units from the fourth batch, which is scheduled for delivery in summer 2027. Initially, Raven will only ship within the United States. A European launch has been announced, but no specific release date has been confirmed yet.