The Raven Prism 1 aims to be more than just another pair of smart glasses. It is equipped with its own Linux operating system, eye tracking controls and a strange battery architecture that means that it can operate many computer functions without the need for a smartphone. The glasses are now available for reservation for the first time – although they come with a hefty price tag.
Raven’s Prism 1, by contrast, is not merely a smartphone extension, but a device that operates more autonomously. The glasses are supposed to be a standalone Linux PC that can run numerous applications without needing to connect to a mobile phone.
Inside is a quad-core 64-bit ARM processor, paired with up to 4 GB of RAM and at least 32 GB of internal storage. The glasses are running Raven OS, a Linux-based operating system which is designed to run compatible ARM64 applications separately. By the time the launch, over 25 applications will be available via a dedicated app store, the manufacturer said, though the company didn’t disclose which ones. Among the possible use cases Raven mentions are video playback, navigation and AI applications.
Information is projected into the wearer’s right-eye field of view through a full-color LCoS display. The virtual screen is approximately the same size as a screen 16 inches wide, viewed at a distance of one arm’s length. But the 30 degree FOV is more appropriate for a small information window than for a large AR visualization. The Raven Prism 1 is mainly operated by eye movements and voice control. Other standard input devices, like mouse and keyboard, can be paired with Bluetooth.
Raven also seems to value privacy in a big way. The integrated 13-megapixel camera features a mechanical cover, while dedicated indicator lights are designed to alert nearby people when the camera is recording. The manufacturer says that eye-movement data is processed on-site. Personal information should only be accessed for the user’s express consent through cloud-based features.
A unique magnetic battery system.
One of the unique things is the battery system known as Raven Wings. These battery modules can be magnetically attached and are said to be replaceable even during use. The box contains 2 pairs of batteries and their charger. The connectors also will be able to accommodate future expansion of the system, such as GPS receivers, cellular modems and AI accelerators.
Price and availability
Raven Prism 1 launched on October 29 after its official unveiling at Augmented World Expo (AWE) in Long Beach, California. The deposit to reserve a car is $49 (around €1,340) and the regular sale price is $1,499. With the hardware they have, that doesn’t sound that cheap, does it? (Again, many users on Reddit commented along these lines).
The first units are scheduled to ship in January 2027, although the first two production batches are already fully reserved. Currently, only new customers are able to reserve units from the fourth batch, which will be delivered this summer 2027. Initially, Raven will only ship within the United States. A European launch has been announced but a date has not been confirmed yet.
