Could these replace smartphones? INMO Air2 unboxing review
Well, folks, it's that time of the year again. No, not Christmas, but the arrival of some fancy new tech. This time, it's the INMO Air2, a pair of AR glasses that INMO promises will transport us to a world beyond reality.
And, unless you’ve had your head in a trashcan for the last 6 weeks you’ve probably noticed the world losing their sh*t over Apple’s new Vision Pro VR goggles. The tech world seems to be split between the Apple munching loyalists who think this product is a game-changer and the slightly more rational people (like me) who think that over £3000 for a pair of interactive ski-goggles is a little bit mad.
What’s more, there’s a few people who think Apple may have missed a trick, and AR glasses – like the INMO Air2 – might offer some cooler, more practical features without having to remortgage your grandma’s house to pay for it.
Looking back now on the ill-fated Google Glass, it's clear that it was a trailblazer ahead of its time. Despite its initial stumble, the concept of portable AR glasses that you could casually sport seemed rather ingenious.
That's where INMO, a leading brand in smart glasses development, enters the picture with their innovative INMO Air2. Derived from "In Mirror," INMO specializes in AR products and say they aim to create cutting-edge smart glasses for Gen-Z.
INMO is also not the only player at the AR revolution table right now. Various brands like Nreal, Rokid, and other notable players have also entered the fray over the last year, introducing their own glasses-style AR devices..
These glasses-style AR devices offer a different approach to virtual reality, focusing on seamless integration with the user's surroundings – like watching youtube on the Subway without walking into the glass door on your way out.
The Air 2 is the second pair of glasses from INMO, and as we’ve just received a pair hot off the press, let's dive in and see what these bad boys have to offer.
What's in the Box
Upon unboxing the INMO Air2, you'll find the AR glasses themselves, a charging cable that attaches to the glasses via four pins, a USB Type-C charging cable for the navigational ring, a setup manual, a lens cleaner, custom lenses for those with myopia, and a clip-on sunglasses effect for the front of the glasses.
Key Features
The INMO Air2 are apparently the world's first completely wireless AR glasses. That's right, zero cables. The battery life is around five and a half hours of continuous use and up to 55 hours of standby time. That's longer than some relationships I've had.
Equipped with a robust four-core 1.8GHz ZiGuang ZhanRui AI chip, 2GB of RAM, and a generous 32GB of storage, they should handle most aspects of the AR experience seamlessly. Fueling the experience is INMO's own AR operating system, IMOS 2.0, which appears to be a cleverly customized version of Android, though no official confirmation has been provided.
AR glasses are basically like having a cinema attached to your face, minus the sticky floors and overpriced popcorn. The glasses feature dual full-color micro OLED displays, providing a bright and crisp viewing experience equivalent to a 50-inch TV hovering about three to four meters away.
INMO have placed two cameras on the front for recording video and photos, and an LED battery light on one arm. Users can navigate using two buttons on the bottoms of the arms and two responsive touch panels on each side.
The INMO Air2 also boasts two pretty well-positioned speakers that deliver clear audio, although if you’d prefer to keep the content you’re watching private, you might want to lower the volume. Charging via a pogo pin takes about 115 minutes for a full charge and 45 minutes for 50%, offering fairly decent charging speeds for a device of this size.
The software on the INMO Air2 aims to optimize the AR glasses' display capabilities, presenting users with a familiar Android-like home screen and an accessible app drawer. While the selection of pre-loaded apps, including YouTube and TikTok TV, ain’t much different than your average couch potato experience, there is probably a scope for improvement in terms of app variety.
Some of the coolest features are the Translation, INMO GPT and Screen Mirroring. The INMO Air2 glasses come equipped with the INMO GPT app and OpenAI's GPT model. You can ask just about anything, from existential queries to why your dog is obsessed with the postman. It's all voice-controlled. Just simply speak and the glasses will answer.
The INMO Air2 also supports screen mirroring, turning your glasses into a personal cinema. Whether you're watching viral videos or sneakily playing games during a work call, the Apowermirror app links your device to the glasses.
And the built-in translation feature? Perfect for those awkward encounters with your multilingual relatives. The built in translation app is pretty simple to use and records and translates conversations right in front of your eyes
We liked:
The INMO Air2's wireless design is a standout feature. The navigation system is also impressive, with the touch panels and navigational ring offering a slick and intuitive user experience that’s really easy to get used to.
Paired by bluetooth, the ring doubles up essentially as a remote control allowing quick navigation through the interface.
In terms of design, the INMO Air2 is definitely impressive. The glasses are lightweight, weighing less than 100 grams, making them comfortable to wear for extended periods. The build quality is solid, with a combination of plastic and aluminum materials. The inclusion of multiple nose pads will also allow for customization and better comfort.
The micro-OLED display provides a translucent projector screen floating in front of your eyes, delivering a pretty immersive augmented reality experience. Although the display resolution is not the highest, it offers a decent media consumption experience, particularly for video content. The brightness settings ensure a pleasant viewing experience, and the glasses serve as a heads-up display.
But, what really impressed us were the translation and screen mirroring capabilities. The real- time translation feature could go a long way to removing the need for playing an awkward game of hand gesture charades whilst traveling.
And the ability to cast your phone to a portable screen almost removes the need, in our opinion, for bigger, bulkier devices that might just throw you over the hand luggage weight limit on those budget flights. It’s also a great option for video game fanatics.
Challenges
If we were being picky the resolution of the micro-OLED display could be higher to enhance text readability. The default nose pad was at first a little uncomfortable, but the inclusion of multiple nose pads in the retail version offers hope for better comfort.
We also hope to see an expanded selection of pre-installed apps and a browser to further enhance the software experience. However, it is important to note that the version we are testing is running on non-commercial software and INMO has mentioned that they plan to make improvements.
Battery life, although solid for its size, could be improved to provide longer usage time. Additionally, a standardized charging interface would be more convenient compared to the proprietary pogo pin interface.
Verdict
In conclusion, the INMO Air2 takes us on a cable free journey into the realm of AR glasses. These wireless spectacles let you adorn your face with a digital layer of information and content, whilst still functioning in day to day life.
At the $599 early bird price currently offered on Kickstarter, these bad boys are a significantly cheaper option than VR devices like the Apple Vision whilst still offering plenty of cool features and a glimpse into a realm of devices that INMO hopes will replace smartphones.
With its dual micro OLED displays, the INMO Air2 also offers a decent viewing experience that is definitely an enhancement on any smartphone. Sure, you might still feel a tad self-conscious wearing these glasses, but who cares? Embrace the cyborg look.
While there are some areas for improvement, like expanding the app selection and making the nose piece more comfortable, the INMO Air2 is still ahead of its time. So, if you're ready to embrace the AR revolution and turn heads while you're at it, the INMO Air2 might just be the futuristic eyewear you've been waiting for.
So Heyuppers, we'd love to hear from you! Head over to our community page and let us know if the INMO Air2 is a product you’d like to see on Heyup Tryouts. Additionally, be sure to follow our newsroom for more updates on the INMO Air2 as it heads towards a huge launch in the next few weeks and make sure to follow the kickstarter campaign.
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