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) |