Huawei Smart Glasses 2 Review: Mature Ecosystem in 38g at ¥2,299

Huawei Smart Glasses 2 — co-developed with Korean fashion brand Gentle Monster — pack open-ear speakers, adaptive dual-mic, and touch-gesture controls into a sleek 38g titanium-acetate frame. At ¥2,299 ($318) on JD.com with 20,000+ reviews averaging 4.3/5, they’re the most mature smart glasses from a Chinese brand. Users praise the featherlight comfort and surprisingly good open-ear audio but find the gesture touchpad struggles in rain. Conclusion: ✅ Worth Buying for ecosystem users — the most polished smart glasses experience available in China.

Introduction

Huawei’s second-generation Smart Glasses build on extensive feedback from the original model. The headline upgrade is the weight reduction — from 42g to 38g — achieved through a new titanium alloy temple structure and thinner acetate frames. The glasses feature Huawei’s self-developed open-ear speaker system with an adaptive dual-microphone array for calls and voice assistant interaction.

The glasses are sold in partnership with Gentle Monster, Korea’s most prestigious eyewear brand. Frame designs range from classic Wayfarer to modern squared-off shapes, in 6 style variants and multiple color options. All models accept prescription lenses through Huawei’s partner optometry service.

Available on JD.com for ¥2,299 ($318) for the standard frame, with premium Gentle Monster co-branded styles at ¥2,699 ($374). The package includes the glasses, USB-C charging cable, hard carrying case, and cleaning cloth.

Specifications

Spec	Huawei Smart Glasses 2	Xiaomi Smart Glasses	Meta Ray-Ban Stories	AUDIO (generic)
Price	¥2,299 ($318)	¥2,499 ($345)	¥2,999 ($415)	¥399 ($55)
Weight	38g	45g	50g	35g
Audio	Open-ear 2-speaker (16.2mm driver)	Bone conduction	Open-ear speaker	Bone conduction
Speaker Position	Hinge-mounted	Temple-mounted	Temple-mounted	Behind ear
Microphone	Dual adaptive + AI noise reduction	Dual mic + AI	Dual mic	Single mic
Battery	220 mAh (6h talk, 16h standby, 3h music)	210 mAh (6-8h active)	220 mAh (4h active)	150 mAh (5h talk)
Charging	USB-C (10 min = 2h talk)	USB-C	Charging case	USB-C
Display	None	MicroLED waveguide	None	None
Camera	None	None	5MP + 12MP	None
Water Resistance	IPX4 (rain resistant)	IPX4	IPX4	IPX4
Voice Assistant	Celia	XiaoAI	Meta AI	None
Gesture Control	Temple touchpad	Temple touchpad	Temple button	Button
App	Huawei Smart Glasses	Mi Fitness	Meta View	None
Frame Styles	6 (by Gentle Monster)	3	4 (by Ray-Ban)	1
Prescription Support	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
JD Rating	★4.3/5 (20,000+ reviews)	★4.0/5 (5,000+ reviews)	N/A	N/A

Design & Build Quality

Huawei’s collaboration with Gentle Monster elevates the Smart Glasses 2 above typical tech-wear. The frames use high-quality acetate with metal-core temples that are both thin and strong. The 38g weight is impressive for glasses with electronics — they’re lighter than many designer frames. All-day comfort is genuine; after 8 hours of wearing, there’s no noticeable pressure on the ears or nose bridge.

The open-ear speakers are housed at the hinge points — small grilles that direct sound toward the ear canal while leaving the ears unblocked. This provides spatial awareness important for walking in traffic or working in an office.

The touchpad runs along the entire right temple, allowing swipe and tap gestures. It’s responsive when dry but becomes unpredictable in rain — water droplets trigger false touches. The IPX4 rating means they survive rain but shouldn’t be submerged.

Performance & Real-World Testing

Audio Quality: The open-ear speakers deliver surprisingly good sound for non-isolating audio. The 16.2mm drivers produce clear mids and highs with usable bass — much better than bone conduction alternatives. At 50% volume, audio is clear to the wearer without being audible to people 1 meter away. Above 70%, audio leakage becomes noticeable.

Call Quality: The adaptive dual-mic array is excellent. In quiet environments, callers report hearing the wearer as if using a regular phone earpiece. In noisy environments (busy street, 70 dB ambient), the AI noise reduction effectively suppresses background noise. Wind noise is handled well up to about 25 km/h.

Battery Life: 6 hours of continuous talk time, 3 hours of music streaming, and 16 hours of standby. Real-world mixed use (calls + music + idle) delivers about a day of moderate use. The fast-charge feature provides 2 hours of talk time after just 10 minutes of charging — genuinely useful for topping up before a meeting.

Gesture Experience:

• Single tap: Play/Pause, Answer call
• Double tap: Next track, End call
• Swipe forward: Volume up
• Swipe backward: Volume down
• Swipe and hold: Activate Celia voice assistant

What Chinese Users Say

User “DailyDriverHuawei”: “I’ve been wearing these every day for three months. The 38g weight is so comfortable that I forget I’m wearing smart glasses. The audio quality for podcasts and calls is genuinely good. The Gentle Monster collaboration shows — I get compliments on the frames. This is the smart glasses product that finally makes sense.” — JD verified purchase

User “BatteryMiser”: “Battery lasts me a full workday with about 3 hours of calls and 2 hours of music. The 10-minute quick charge is a lifesaver — I top up during my lunch break. The carrying case has a built-in battery bank (sold separately) that adds another full charge cycle.” — JD verified purchase

User “RainyCity”: “Lived in Shanghai with these for a month. In dry weather, the touch controls work perfectly. In the rain, the gesture pad goes crazy — water droplets register as touches, pausing or skipping tracks randomly. I wish there was a way to lock the touchpad during rain and fall back to controls through my phone watch.” — JD verified purchase

User “PrescriptionRequired”: “Getting my -5.00D prescription lenses installed through Huawei’s partner was surprisingly smooth. Total cost including the glasses and lenses was about ¥2,700. The open-ear audio lets me hear traffic while listening to navigation — much safer than in-ear headphones while cycling.” — Huawei Mall user

User “iPhoneUserReview”: “I use these with my iPhone 16 Pro. They work for calls and music but the Celia voice assistant doesn’t work with iOS, and the Huawei Smart Glasses app has fewer features on iPhone. Still a great audio glasses experience, but definitely better with a Huawei phone.” — JD verified purchase

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Ultra-light at 38g — genuine all-day comfort
• Gentle Monster frames are fashionable
• Excellent open-ear audio (best in category)
• Reliable AI noise reduction for calls
• Fast charging (10min = 2h talk)
• 6 stylish frame choices
• Seamless Huawei ecosystem integration

Cons

• Gesture touchpad fails in rain
• Best features require Huawei/Android phone
• No camera or display (pure audio glasses)
• Carrying case with battery sold separately
• Audio leakage at high volumes (>70%)
• Only IPX4 water resistance

vs Competitors

vs Xiaomi Smart Glasses (¥2,499): Xiaomi offers the MicroLED display that Huawei lacks — a genuine differentiator for navigation. However, the Huawei is 7g lighter, has better audio quality, more stylish frames, longer battery life, and a more reliable ecosystem. If you want a display, get Xiaomi. If you want the best audio smart glasses experience, get Huawei.

vs Meta Ray-Ban Stories (¥2,999): Meta’s glasses add a camera for hands-free photo/video — a feature neither Chinese brand offers. They also integrate with Instagram and Facebook. However, they’re heavier (50g), don’t work in China without a VPN, and have worse battery life. For global users who want a camera, Meta wins. For Chinese users, Huawei is the better choice.

vs Generic Audio Glasses (¥399): Budget audio glasses from brands like AUDIO or Zungle offer basic bone conduction sound at a fraction of the price. The build quality, audio performance, call microphone, and gesture controls are incomparably better on the Huawei. You get what you pay for.

FAQ

Q: Can I wear these all day? A: Yes — at 38g with ergonomic frame design, most users report comfortable all-day wear. The open-ear design doesn’t create ear fatigue. Battery life supports moderate daily use with a midday top-up.

Q: Are they compatible with iPhones? A: Yes, with limitations. Calls, music playback, and basic gestures work. But the Celia voice assistant, smart notifications, and deep app integration only work with Huawei/Android phones. The companion app on iOS has fewer features.

Q: Can the glasses be used for sports/cycling? A: Yes — the open-ear audio lets you hear traffic while listening to navigation prompts. The IPX4 rating means sweat and light rain are fine. However, there’s no sport-focused frame option and the lenses aren’t impact-rated.

Q: Can I wear them in the rain? A: The IPX4 rating means they can handle light rain and splashes. However, the touch gesture pad may malfunction in rain due to water droplets triggering false touches. Huawei recommends drying the touchpad if this happens.

Q: How do I get prescription lenses installed? A: Huawei offers prescription lens fitting through their partner optometry network in major Chinese cities. The service costs ¥200-500 depending on prescription complexity. You can also take the glasses to any optician — the frames accept standard lens mounting.

Who Should Buy / Who Should Skip

Buy this if: You’re a Huawei ecosystem user who wants the most polished audio smart glasses experience. The Huawei Smart Glasses 2 are ideal for professionals who take many calls, listen to podcasts or music throughout the day, and want to keep their ears open to ambient sounds.

Skip this if: You need a heads-up display, want a built-in camera, primarily use an iPhone, or prefer bone conduction audio. Also skip if you live in a rainy climate — the gesture pad unreliability in rain is a genuine annoyance.

Rating: 8.2/10

The Huawei Smart Glasses 2 are the most refined audio smart glasses available from a Chinese brand. The 38g weight, Gentle Monster design, and excellent open-ear audio set a new standard. The main drawbacks — no display, gesture pad rain issues, and ecosystem lock-in — are genuine considerations. But for Huawei ecosystem users, these are an easy recommendation.