The problem with smart glasses, IMO, is that users have to put up with the bulk and the design. While smart glasses have slimmed down significantly to look more like regular eyewear in recent years, the designs are still uninspiring. That’s not to mention smart glasses aren’t exactly prescription-friendly without costing more. But what if I told you there is a gadget that will turn any regular eyewear into a smart glass? Enter GUIDE01, an ultra-lightweight smart display that will let you do just that.
This monocular smart glass [JP] from Japan imbues any eyewear, prescription or not, with smart functionalities, including timekeeping, AI translation, AI chat, push notifications, image display, and navigation. It does so by equipping your glasses with a tiny display mounted on the right side. Weighing a meagre 10 g (0.35 oz) and measuring just 69.8 x 17.7 mm, it is light and small enough for your existing glasses and barely noticeable when carrying it.
There are two parts to it—OK, maybe three if you include the charging case. The monocular device itself has two components: a bracket that installs on your glasses and the GUIDE01 module, which magnetically attaches to the bracket. GUIDE01 has some degree of articulation, allowing it to be positioned to suit your FoV. Speaking of FoV, it features a tiny full-color OLED with a 624 x 405 resolution and a 20° field of view, delivering glanceable information without pulling your eyes away from whatever you are doing.
It packs a 70 mAh battery that is good for up to 90 minutes on a single charge, and it takes just 10 minutes to fully charge. Though it is unclear what capacity is inside the charging case. The device is IP65 rated, so splashes and rain are a non-issue.
GUIDE01 was launched in Japan on crowdfunding site Green on November 12, with the campaign running until January 31, 2026. It has already far surpassed its 300,000 yen funding goal, having secured support from 372 backers contributing a total of 11,113,600 yen (around US$75,000). GUIDE01 Ultra-Lightweight Smart Display starts at 32,800 yen [JP] (about US$220) during the campaign.
Images: HappyLifeCreators Inc. [JP].
