AI gadgets: glasses, recorders and speakers
Meta's camera glasses dominate this category, with more than 7 million sold in 2025, but Kenning does not recommend them for now because claims that contractors reviewed intimate footage are still with the ICO and a US court. Plaud's recorders are the gadget people keep paying for, and Even Realities sells camera-free glasses for captions and translation. Recording other people carries duties under UK data protection law once it goes beyond personal use, and the Alexa+ service behind the Echo range is reviewed under home and family.
Updated monthly.
Kenning's picks
Ranked by Kenning score out of 25. Tools scoring 12 or less are marked not recommended.
Plaud (NotePin S, Note Pro)
Plaud is the AI gadget people actually pay for, ranked 16th by consumer spending in a16z's October 2026 list. The £159 NotePin S and £169 Note Pro record at a button press, and reviewers and owners praise the transcripts and summaries. The free plan covers 300 minutes a month, and Trusted Reviews says the paid plans feel expensive.
Best for People who sit in a lot of meetings, lectures or interviews and want notes afterwards
Amazon Echo (Dot Max, Studio, Show 8, Show 11)
The 2025 Echo range, from the £99.99 Echo Dot Max to the £219.99 Echo Show 11, was built for Alexa+, which reached the UK as a free Early Access trial in March 2026. Reviewers praise the sound and design, while user reviews owners of the Show 11 complain of lag, ads on the screen and worse sound than the cheaper Show 8. Alexa+ is free with Prime and £19.99 a month without it once the trial ends, and every request now goes through Amazon's cloud.
Best for Households that want a voice assistant for music, timers and smart-home control
Ray-Ban Meta AI glasses
The best-selling AI glasses by a long way, and reviewers rate them mainly as a hands-free camera and headphones with Meta AI added on. Owners in user reviews say the AI is clumsy and the battery runs down fast with heavy use. Reports that contractors reviewed intimate footage led to an ICO letter and a US class action that is still open.
Best for Hands-free photos, calls and music on the move
Oakley Meta (HSTN and Vanguard)
The same Meta AI and camera as the Ray-Ban models in sportier frames, from £399 for the HSTN and £499 for the wraparound Vanguard. Stuff gave the Vanguard 4 out of 5 for fitness use, while T3 found the Garmin and Strava link clunky and the camera no match for an action cam. Claims that contractors viewed intimate footage led to an ICO letter and a US class action, and both are unresolved.
Best for Runners and cyclists who want music, calls and POV clips without earbuds
Even Realities G2
The G2 looks like an ordinary pair of glasses and has no camera, which removes the main bystander worry with Meta's models. Wired scored it 6 out of 10, praising the display and comfort but not the software, and user reviews owners describe dropped connections alongside real help with captions for hearing loss. At £599 before prescription lenses, it suits people with a clear use such as captions, translation or speeches.
Best for Glasses wearers who want live captions, translation or a teleprompter in view
Meta Ray-Ban Display
The first mainstream glasses with a built-in screen went on sale in the UK on 23 September 2026 at £749, including the Neural Band. Reviewers rate the display and wristband highly but call it an early-adopter product with thin app support and short battery life, and several user reviews owners returned theirs. Claims that contractors viewed intimate footage led to an ICO letter and a US class action, and both are unresolved.
Best for Early adopters who want messages, captions and directions in view
More tools
Brilliant Labs Halo
Open-source AI glasses with a small display and camera, aimed at tinkerers.
Halliday glasses
Display AI glasses that project a small screen into view for prompts, translation and notifications.
Omi
Open-source AI pendant that listens to conversations and turns them into notes and memories, sent to the cloud.
rabbit r1
Pocket AI gadget with a screen, camera and push-to-talk button, now running rabbit's OS3 agent software.
Ray-Ban Meta Audio
Camera-free Ray-Ban Meta glasses with open-ear speakers and Meta AI by voice, launched September 2026.
Rokid Glasses
AI glasses with a camera and green in-lens display for translation, teleprompting and AI answers.
soundcore Work (Anker)
Coin-sized clip-on AI voice recorder from Anker that transcribes and summarises through the soundcore app.
UMEVO Note Plus
Budget magnetic AI voice recorder that clips to a phone and records calls and meetings for transcription.