Xgimi MemoMind One: Camera-Free Smart Glasses with AI on Kickstarter

The launch of Xgimi's MemoMind One, the new camera-free smart glasses, marks a bold step in the AI-powered wearables market. Introduced at CES 2026 and available via Kickstarter since June 29, 2026, these glasses aim to stand out with their discreet design and focus on privacy. Andrew Liszewski, a reporter for The Verge, tested them and shared his impressions, highlighting both their potential and current challenges.

Xgimi, a Chinese company known for its all-in-one smart projectors, is expanding its product portfolio. Unlike AR glasses from companies like Meta or Snap, the MemoMind One skip cameras, contributing to a lighter and less intrusive design. This feature is key for those seeking wearable technology that doesn't draw attention.

I’m completely sold on the idea of having a screen floating in front of my eyes constantly feeding me useful information that no one else can see.

The core of the MemoMind One lies in its display, visible only to the wearer. They use a pair of micro-LED projectors and transparent waveguide prisms in each lens to create an interface. Although the screen color is a bright green, reminiscent of old Apple II computers, the experience of having a private screen floating in midair still feels futuristic. You can adjust the distance, position, and brightness, though in bright sunlight, visibility decreases if there isn't a dark background for contrast.

Weighing around 47 grams, the MemoMind One are comfortable to wear, despite their thicker-than-usual arms. These arms house batteries offering up to 16 hours of use, charging contacts, Harman Kardon speakers, and other electronics. However, audio privacy is a weak point: sound from the speakers is easily audible to those nearby, making them unsuitable for private calls or music in public.

Interaction with the glasses is done via a single button near the right hinge or through head movements. Activating the home screen displays basic information like time, battery level, date, and weather. It also includes four customizable sections that can show stocks, news headlines from predefined sources (no option to add custom RSS feeds), synced calendar events, and notifications.

While the MemoMind One promise to be an alternative to constantly checking your phone or smartwatch, their notification capability is limited. They show condensed versions of messages but do not allow reading full content or responding. This positions them more as a quick alert viewer than an interactive communication hub.

The integrated AI assistant is activated by pressing and holding the button or saying “hi, Memo.” The assistant responds to voice commands, displaying answers as text with the option to have them read aloud. The response time, about four or five seconds, is acceptable, and The Verge reporter found it more useful than the current version of Siri on his watch. However, there's no way to privately ask the AI assistant questions.

A double press of the button opens the “Quick Launch” section, customizable with three functions: a teleprompter that keeps up with your speaking cadence, on-the-fly captions for media content, and a voice recorder with near real-time transcription. The mobile app can generate AI summaries from these recordings.

The live translation feature, crucial for many, is found in “Listen-in Mode,” which generates translated transcriptions on the display. While speed and accuracy are good, they depend on how clearly the microphone picks up the other person. Additionally, it requires manually selecting languages in the mobile app, which detracts from a seamless experience.

Map directions, an appealing feature for glasses with a display, also have their limitations. Currently, they only work for walking and cycling directions, and destination searches must be done from the phone app, not directly with the glasses' AI. This reduces the convenience of having information directly in your field of view.

Xgimi has emphasized the privacy of the camera-free MemoMind One. However, the optional “Moments” feature raises concerns. This feature constantly records ambient audio to create a daily summary, often inaccurate, relying solely on sound. Xgimi plans to charge $19.99 a month for this premium service, but the reporter suggests keeping it turned off.

While the concept of glasses with screens holds exciting potential for the future, the MemoMind One don't fully convince for all-day wear just yet. Their features, though useful, are too dependent on the mobile app. Reporter Andrew Liszewski concludes that while the design is discreet and the potential exciting, more polished software and robust features are needed to justify their price, ranging from $399 to $879 depending on configuration and whether purchased via Kickstarter or at full retail.