Brilliant Labs Frame

Brilliant Labs Frame
Basic Info
VR/AR	Augmented Reality
Type	Smart glasses
Subtype	AI Glasses, Open-Source AR
Platform	iOS, Android (companion app)
Creator	Brilliant Labs
Developer	Brilliant Labs
Manufacturer	Brilliant Labs
Announcement Date	February 2024
Release Date	February 2024
Price	$349 (standard), $448 (with prescription)
Website	https://brilliant.xyz/
Versions	Frame (3 color variants)
Requires	iOS or Android smartphone with Noa app
Predecessor	Brilliant Labs Monocle
Successor	Brilliant Labs Halo
System
Operating System	Custom firmware (open-source)
Chipset	Nordic nRF52840
CPU	ARM Cortex-M4 (64MHz)
GPU	N/A
Storage
Storage	Limited on-device
Memory	256KB RAM
SD Card Slot	No
Display
Display	0.23" micro-OLED with prism
Subpixel Layout	RGB
Peak Brightness	Bright (indoor visible)
Resolution	640 × 400
Pixel Density	High
Refresh Rate	20Hz (dot matrix)
Persistence	Low persistence
Image
Field of View	~20° diagonal
Horizontal FoV	~20°
Vertical FoV	~12°
Average Pixel Density	High
Peak Pixel Density	High
Foveated Rendering	No
Optics
Optics	Geometric prism (right eye)
Ocularity	Monocular (right eye)
IPD Range	N/A (monocular)
Adjustable Diopter	No (prescription-ready)
Passthrough	Yes (optical see-through)
Tracking
Tracking	No spatial tracking
Tracking Frequency	N/A
Base Stations	N/A
Eye Tracking	No
Face Tracking	No
Hand Tracking	No
Body Tracking	No
Rotational Tracking	IMU only
Positional Tracking	No
Update Rate	Variable
Tracking Volume	N/A
Play Space	N/A
Latency	Low latency
Audio
Audio	No built-in speaker
Microphone	Yes (built-in)
3.5mm Audio Jack	No
Camera	Yes (built-in)
Connectivity
Connectivity	Bluetooth LE
Ports	Mister Power magnetic charging
Wired Video	No
Wireless Video	No
WiFi	No (via phone)
Bluetooth	Bluetooth LE
Power	Rechargeable battery
Battery Capacity	Small integrated
Battery Life	All-day (10-20 min/hour use)
Charge Time	Via Mister Power case
Device
Dimensions	Standard glasses size
Weight	39-40g
Material	Translucent/opaque frames
Headstrap	None (temples)
Haptics	No
Color	Clear (translucent), Black, Smoke Gray
Sensors	Camera, microphone, IMU
Input	Voice (via phone), touch gestures
Compliance	FCC, CE

The Brilliant Labs Frame is an open-source augmented reality AI glasses device developed by Brilliant Labs, announced and released in February 2024 at $349. Representing a unique approach to AI-powered wearables, Frame combines a lightweight design (39-40 grams—within the normal eyeglasses weight range of 25-50 grams) with AI capabilities powered by OpenAI's ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Whisper, accessed through the Noa companion app. The glasses feature a 0.23-inch micro-OLED display bonded to a geometric prism optic, providing approximately 20° diagonal field of view with 640 × 400 resolution in the right eye—comparable to viewing an iPad held at arm's length. What sets Frame apart is its fully open-source software, with all design files, code, documentation, and tools available on GitHub, allowing developers and enthusiasts to customize functionality and build new applications. Key AI features include real-time language translation (text and speech), image recognition, internet queries, and voice-activated assistance. The glasses include a built-in camera and microphone for multimodal AI interactions, require no speaker (audio responses via paired wireless earbuds), and charge through the included "Mister Power" magnetic charging case. Available in three colors including a distinctive translucent variant that reveals internal components, Frame targets tech enthusiasts and developers seeking an affordable, customizable AI glasses platform.

History and Development

Brilliant Labs Background

Company founding:

• Hardware startup
• Open-source philosophy
• AI integration focus
• Wearable computing

Monocle Predecessor

Earlier product:

• Clip-on monocle display
• Open-source foundation
• Developer community
• Technical validation

February 2024 Launch

Frame release:

• CES 2024 showcase
• February availability
• $349 pricing
• Three color options

Open-Source Commitment

Development philosophy:

• GitHub code repository
• Hardware documentation
• Community contributions
• Developer ecosystem

Design Philosophy

AI-First Glasses

Core concept:

• AI assistant primary
• Multimodal AI integration
• Voice interaction
• Visual understanding

Open-Source Foundation

Development approach:

• All code on GitHub
• Hardware schematics available
• Community-driven
• Customizable platform

Normal Glasses Weight

Wearability achievement:

• Weight: 39-40 grams
• Standard eyewear range (25-50g)
• All-day comfortable
• Indistinguishable weight

Affordable Entry

Accessibility:

• $349 base price
• Consumer-friendly
• Developer accessible
• Low barrier to entry

Display Technology

Micro-OLED Display

Panel specifications:

• Size: 0.23 inches
• Resolution: 640 × 400
• Type: Micro-OLED
• Bright, crisp imagery

Geometric Prism

Optical system:

• Prism bonded to display
• Right eye projection
• Monocular design
• ~20° FOV diagonal

Viewing Experience

Display perception:

• Like iPad at arm's length
• Glanceable information
• Text and graphics
• Low refresh (20Hz)

Display Characteristics

Visual features:

• Only illuminated pixels visible
• Dark background unlit
• Low intensity light
• ~2m projection distance

AI Features

Noa App Integration

AI platform:

• First-party companion app
• AI model access
• Feature management
• iOS/Android support

OpenAI Integration

ChatGPT capabilities:

• Conversational AI
• Question answering
• Creative assistance
• General knowledge

Perplexity Search

Internet queries:

• Real-time web search
• Current information
• Research assistance
• Answer synthesis

Whisper Transcription

Speech processing:

• Voice-to-text
• Speech recognition
• Language processing
• Audio understanding

AI Use Cases

Practical applications:

• Translation: Real-time text/speech
• Image Recognition: Scene understanding
• Internet Search: Live queries
• Voice Assistant: Hands-free help

Camera and Sensors

Built-In Camera

Visual input:

• Scene capture
• AI vision input
• Photo capability
• Recognition source

Microphone

Audio input:

• Voice commands
• Speech capture
• AI interaction
• Audio queries

IMU Sensors

Motion sensing:

• Accelerometer
• Gyroscope
• Head orientation
• Basic motion

Physical Design

Weight

Ultra-lightweight:

• Weight: 39-40 grams
• Normal eyewear range
• All-day wearable
• Barely noticeable

Frame Styles

Color options:

• Clear (translucent)
• Black (opaque)
• Smoke Gray
• Visible electronics (clear)

Materials

Construction:

• Lightweight frame
• Quality hinges
• Durable build
• Fashion-acceptable

Prescription Support

Vision correction:

• Prescription-ready
• $99 additional cost
• Standard lens fitting
• Accessibility

Battery and Charging

Battery Life

Power specifications:

• All-day with moderate use
• 10-20 minutes per hour
• Integrated battery
• Efficient operation

Mister Power Case

Charging solution:

• Magnetic charging case
• Included with purchase
• Extended battery via case
• Portable charging

Power Management

Efficiency:

• Nordic nRF52840 efficiency
• Low-power Bluetooth
• Display power management
• Optimized firmware

Connectivity

Bluetooth LE

Wireless connection:

• Bluetooth Low Energy
• Phone pairing
• Data transfer
• AI access via phone

Smartphone Required

Dependency:

• iOS or Android phone
• Noa app required
• AI processing on phone/cloud
• Constant connection

Audio Output

No speaker:

• External earbuds recommended
• Phone speaker option
• Bluetooth audio pairing
• Personal audio choice

Open-Source Platform

GitHub Repository

Code availability:

• Full source code
• Firmware
• App components
• Documentation

Hardware Documentation

Design files:

• Schematics available
• Component information
• Modification guides
• Development resources

Developer Community

Ecosystem:

• Community contributions
• Third-party apps
• Feature extensions
• Shared improvements

Customization

Flexibility:

• Custom AI integrations
• App development
• Firmware modification
• Personal workflows

Comparison with AI Glasses

Feature	Brilliant Labs Frame	Ray-Ban Meta	Even Realities G1	INMO Air2
Type	AI AR glasses	Camera glasses	Smart glasses	Standalone AR
Display	640×400 micro-OLED	None	640×200 waveguide	640×400 OLED
AI	ChatGPT/Perplexity	Meta AI	Even AI/ChatGPT	INMO GPT
Camera	Yes	12MP	No	Yes
Open Source	Yes (fully)	No	No	No
Weight	39-40g	50g	44g	99g
Price	$349	$299	$599	$899

Strengths and Limitations

Strengths

• Ultra-lightweight (39-40g)
• Fully open-source (GitHub)
• ChatGPT/Perplexity/Whisper AI
• 640×400 micro-OLED display
• ~20° FOV prism optics
• Built-in camera + microphone
• Affordable ($349)
• Prescription lens support
• Developer-friendly platform
• Three color options

Limitations

• No built-in speaker (needs earbuds)
• Monocular display (right eye only)
• 20Hz low refresh rate
• Requires smartphone connection
• No spatial tracking
• Limited field of view (~20°)
• Small display
• Early-stage app ecosystem
• Battery limited for heavy use

Technical Specifications Summary

Specification	Details
Display	0.23" micro-OLED, 640×400
FOV	~20° diagonal
Optics	Geometric prism (right eye)
AI	ChatGPT, Perplexity, Whisper
Camera	Yes (built-in)
Microphone	Yes (built-in)
Speaker	No (use earbuds)
Weight	39-40g
Connectivity	Bluetooth LE
Open Source	Yes (fully)
Price	$349 ($448 with Rx)

See Also

• Brilliant Labs
• AI Glasses
• Open-Source Hardware
• ChatGPT
• Perplexity AI