Smart glasses that translate conversations in 2026: what each one does

Smart glasses translate conversations in two ways: they speak the translation into your ear, or they show it as text on the lens. Ray-Ban Meta uses audio, with a transcript in the Meta AI app. Meta Ray-Ban Display, Even G2 and Rokid's display model use text. Which one fits depends on the languages you need and whether you'll have a connection.

This guide is based on each company's own pages and help center, read on Oct. 31, 2026, plus Talaya pages we've already published. We have not tested any of these glasses, and prices are only given where we have already checked them.

The short version

Ray-Ban Meta: audio in your ear

Meta says that on Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 2), Oakley Meta HSTN and Oakley Meta Vanguard, translated audio plays through open-ear speakers. You start with "Hey Meta, start live translation," and Meta says a full transcript of every translation is visible in the Meta AI app. Our Ray-Ban Meta live translation guide walks through setup step by step.

Languages and offline use

On its translation page, Meta says Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 3) owners can download the language packs once and translate in English, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese and German "anywhere, even without Wi-Fi." The same page says that when the glasses are connected to the internet, Mandarin, Russian, Greek and many more languages become available.

Meta's help center gives the fuller list. It says the six languages above are available offline after you download the pack, "except on Ray-Ban Meta Audio." It lists 14 more that need Wi-Fi or mobile data: Hindi, Arabic, Russian, Swedish, Finnish, Chinese (Mandarin), Japanese, Korean, Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, Turkish, Greek and Dutch. The help page shows only "Updated: 2 weeks ago," so we can't date that list.

There's a gap between the two pages. Meta's translation page names Gen 3 for the offline packs, while the help center excludes only the Audio model. If you own an older pair, check which packs your Meta AI app offers before you travel. Meta also says live translation "works best online", so treat offline as the backup.

Signs and menus

Models with a camera can also translate printed text. Meta says the camera translates the text in your field of view, such as restaurant menus and street signs. That's separate from live speech translation.

Meta Ray-Ban Display: captions in the lens

Meta says that on Meta Ray-Ban Display the translation appears directly on the in-lens display, while Ray-Ban Meta delivers it through in-ear audio. Meta also says the Display shows live captions and translated subtitles in your line of sight.

Meta hasn't published a language list for the Display in the pages we read, and its July 27, 2026 update post doesn't name any, so we aren't giving a count. Check the languages the Meta AI app offers for your glasses before you rely on it. Our Display captions and translation guide tracks what's known, and the Meta Ray-Ban Display hub covers the rest of the product. Whether Display translation works offline isn't stated in the pages we read.

Even G2: translation on the lens, no camera

Even G2 has no camera, as our Even Realities explainer notes, so it translates speech only. Even says the glasses start recording when you turn on Translate and send the voice over Bluetooth to the Even Realities app. The company is direct about connectivity: "translation requires internet access through our app, as it uses the cloud to translate your conversation in real-time."

Languages

Even's FAQ says G2 supports 33 languages, from English, German, French, Italian and Spanish through Cantonese and Chinese to Hindi. The same page's heading says "Your world, in 35+ languages," which doesn't match its own FAQ. We quote 33 because that's the figure with a list behind it.

Three languages have a limit. Even says Arabic, Bengali and Hindi are one-way: they can be translated from, but not displayed on the glasses. Its support page adds that the glasses always display content in the input language to output language direction, and that reverse-direction translations aren't displayed.

What you see

The lens shows the translation, and Even says a tap on the TouchPad of the G2 or the Even R1 shows the original text (the R1 is the optional ring covered in our explainer). The phone app shows the original and translated text from both sides, so the other person can follow along on your phone. Even says there is no time limit on a session, though low battery or memory on the glasses or phone can interrupt it.

Even G2 starts at $599 in both frame styles, according to our Even Realities G1 and G2 explainer. For a price and display comparison with Meta's model, see Even G2 vs. Meta Ray-Ban Display.

Rokid: the biggest language count

Rokid says its online translation is powered by Microsoft Translator and supports 89 languages. For offline use, it lists six: English, Chinese, Japanese, French, German and Spanish. It says its display model shows translated speech as live text in the Micro-LED waveguide display.

Rokid adds a caveat worth reading: availability may vary by region, firmware version, app version and network condition. The page doesn't say which models in which countries get the offline languages, so confirm both counts for the exact model you're buying. Our Rokid Glasses guide and Rokid full-color AI glasses pieces cover the models.

Google: announced, not yet a choice

Google said at I/O on May 19, 2026 that its Android XR audio glasses will let you translate speech and writing, with audio that matches the tone and pitch of the speaker's voice, or look at menus and signs to hear a translation. Google said audio glasses launch first, "coming later this fall." The blog gives no language list, price or offline details. See Google I/O 2026 glasses and every Android XR device for the current picture.

What about accuracy?

None of the company pages we read publishes a measured accuracy figure, such as a word error rate, a percent correct or latency in milliseconds. They describe accuracy in words.

• Meta says its AI translation "prioritises real-time understanding over perfect phrasing", and its marketing promises "accurate, translated audio in real time."
• Even says Translate delivers "superior accuracy, fluency, and incredible processing speeds." It publishes microphone pickup distances instead, such as up to 2 meters (6.5 ft) in typical environments of 45 to 60 dB.
• Google's blog describes the feature but gives no accuracy claim.

This guide relies on the companies' own pages, not on independent accuracy tests. Without published figures, the safe reading is that these are tools for following everyday conversations, such as ordering a meal or asking directions.

How to choose

• You want audio and a camera for signs: Ray-Ban Meta. Meta publishes six offline languages and a longer online list, and the camera models translate menus and signs.
• You want to read the translation: Meta Ray-Ban Display or Even G2. Even needs internet; Meta hasn't said about the Display.
• You need the most languages: Rokid's 89 online is the largest published count, with the model and region caveat above.
• You'll be offline: Check the language you need against the offline lists above, and download packs before you leave.

Privacy

Even says G2 sends your voice over Bluetooth to its app, which translates it in the cloud. Before you use any of these in a meeting or a shop, read where Meta AI glasses data goes and smart glasses privacy for bystanders. If you're choosing glasses for a trip, our best smart glasses for travel guide covers more than translation, and the Ray-Ban Meta glasses hub lists the models. For noisy rooms, see Conversation Focus.