Business Insider/Lisa Eadicicco
- Amazon unveiled its first pair of smart glasses, the Echo Frames, which have Alexa built in.
- Unlike other earlier attempts at smart glasses, the Echo Frames have no display or camera.
- It's a strategic move by Amazon to move its Alexa virtual assistant beyond the home.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
Amazon on Wednesday unveiled its first-ever pair of smart glasses, the Echo Frames, which will be available on an invitation basis for $180.
Amazon isn't the first tech company to launch a pair of smart glasses, but its approach is vastly different than that of Google and Snap. Unlike Google Glass and Snapchat Spectacles, there's no camera on the Echo Frames. There's also no display on the Echo Frames; after all, the main purpose of the glasses is to make it easier to use Alexa on the go without reaching for your smartphone.
It's one of three new wearable devices Amazon unveiled during its big event on Wednesday. The company also announced an Alexa-enabled ring called Echo Loop, which, like Echo Frames, is part of the firm's Day 1 program, which allows customers to try new products and provide feedback to Amazon before they're ready for broader availability. The company is also releasing a pair wireless earbuds with Alexa built-in called the Echo Buds.
I had the chance to briefly try out the Echo Frames following Amazon's event, and here's what it was like.
