Even G1 vs G2: which should you buy in the UK?

If I were buying my first pair of Even glasses at the configuration prices we checked, I’d lean towards G2. The extra £100 buys improvements to the display and hardware, while you can leave the £239 R1 ring out of the order if you don’t need it. If you already own G1 and use them happily, though, this is a much more expensive decision than a £100 upgrade.

That distinction gets lost quite easily when two generations sit next to each other in a shop. A new buyer is comparing two complete purchases; an existing owner is deciding whether to buy the glasses all over again, potentially with another set of prescription lenses.

This is a research-led buying comparison, not a claim that we’ve worn both pairs. We’ve checked Even’s UK configurations and product documentation, and the links here aren’t affiliate links.

The UK price difference, with and without lenses

Even’s G1 A configurator showed £499 for green frames with non-prescription lenses and no sun clip. The G2 B page showed £599 before prescription lenses or accessories. Both offer single-vision lenses from £149, which produces these starting totals:

The prescription totals are calculated from the published starting lens charge, not personal quotes. Confirm your prescription, chosen frame and delivery total before paying. Sources: G1 A configurator, G2 B configurator and R1 price.

There’s a small pricing snag worth mentioning. Even’s store overview advertised G1 A “from £442”, but the selected green, non-prescription configuration totalled £499. We’ve used the configuration total rather than assume the lower price applies to the same pair. If you see £442, follow it through to the exact colour and lenses you want before comparing it with G2.

At £499 against £599, I’d find G2’s extra cost easier to justify for a first purchase. A genuinely available, suitable G1 at a lower price deserves another look, particularly if you only want a few of its existing functions.

G2 gives text more room

Neither pair is a substitute for a large colour screen. They put green text and simple information into your view, which is useful if you want directions or a prompt without taking your phone out. G2 increases the display resolution from 640 × 200 to 640 × 350 and the refresh rate from 20Hz to 60Hz, according to Even’s specifications. G1 specifications and G2 specifications.

For someone reading a script or following captions, I’d pay more attention to how comfortably the words sit in view than to a brightness figure in isolation. Take a short piece of text to a demonstration, ask to see it on the glasses and try scrolling through it. A larger display is a reason to investigate G2, but we haven’t tested the two side by side and can’t tell you how much easier it’ll be on your eyes.

Both keep cameras and speakers out of the frame. That may make them easier to introduce at work than camera glasses, although microphones and transcription still deserve a conversation with the people around you. Camera-free doesn’t mean every meeting is automatically an appropriate place to use them.

You don’t need to buy G2 just to get directions or a teleprompter

G1 already lists navigation, translation, Teleprompt, notifications, Even AI and transcription. Those aren’t all new G2 features, and a buyer who wants directions on a walk or occasional presentation notes shouldn’t be talked into an upgrade on that basis. Even’s G1 feature list.

G2 adds a stronger emphasis on Conversate, which can provide contextual prompts and summaries around a conversation, along with access to the Even Hub app ecosystem. We’d judge those against something you actually expect to do. If meeting support is the attraction, ask to see the current workflow; if there’s a particular Hub app you want, check its requirements rather than buy on the promise of more apps arriving. Even’s current G2 features.

Both use a companion phone app, so bring your own phone to a demonstration if possible. Try the language and task you need, and ask what requires an internet connection. Our UK feature tracker is a useful companion to the broader G2 review, but neither replaces checking a particular workplace setup or specialist requirement.

The R1 is an option, not part of the base price

R1 costs £239 and currently controls G2, not G1. You can buy and use G2 without it; the ring gives you another way to tap and scroll without repeatedly reaching up to the glasses. That could be appealing during a presentation, but it’s a sizeable extra if you’re still finding out whether you like wearing a display. Even’s R1 information.

We’d start without it unless discreet hand control is a specific reason for buying. You can then make the decision with some experience of your own, rather than treating every accessory in the configurator as essential. Don’t buy R1 for G1 in anticipation of a future compatibility update, either: that isn’t what Even currently supports.

Already own G1? Look at what’s bothering you

Even quotes up to 1.5 days of battery life for G1 and up to two days for G2. Those are manufacturer estimates, not our test results. G2 also has a redesigned connection architecture; Even says it changed the internal component layout and wired the two sides together to improve stability. G1 battery information, G2 specifications and Even’s engineering explanation.

If your G1 already lasts through your routine and reliably handles the features you bought it for, I wouldn’t replace it simply because G2 exists. If you regularly struggle with the display space, want R1 control or have connection problems that support hasn’t resolved, there’s a more specific reason to try the newer pair.

Remember to price the whole replacement. A prescription G1 owner moving to G2 is looking at a new purchase from £748 at the published entry lens price, before any trade-in or resale proceeds they can actually obtain. We haven’t assumed either of those will reduce the bill.

Try them before ordering custom lenses

Even’s direct-store terms distinguish non-prescription returns from custom prescription orders. Non-prescription glasses have a 14-day return window, subject to conditions and potential shipping deductions, while prescription cancellations are limited to the first 24 hours. That doesn’t remove your rights if something is faulty. Read the terms for your exact order before paying, especially if you’ve never tried the display. Even’s return policy.

For progressive lenses, use an authorised optical partner rather than assume the online single-vision price covers them. Even also says its manufacturer warranty applies to purchases through its official store and authorised retailers, not unsupported second-hand purchases. Even’s purchasing guidance.

Two questions worth clearing up

Can either pair take photos or play music?

No. These are camera-free display glasses without built-in speakers. If photos, music and hands-free calls are your priorities, look at the alternatives in our AI glasses buying guide before choosing either Even model.

Can I reuse my G1 prescription lenses in G2?

Don’t budget on it. We haven’t verified a lens-transfer service between generations. Ask Even or an authorised optician about your exact pair and work from a new-lens quote unless they confirm otherwise.