Xiaomi's Mijia Smart Audio Glasses: A Stylish Blend of Tech and Comfort

Smart glasses are rapidly evolving, and Xiaomi's latest entry, the Mijia Smart Audio Glasses, carves out a niche with its elegant design and practical functionalities. While not the most advanced iteration on the market, these glasses offer a compelling blend of premium aesthetics and useful features. Integrating built-in speakers within the temples, they deliver an open-ear audio experience, reminiscent of having wireless earbuds seamlessly integrated into your eyewear. This innovation provides a discreet and comfortable way to stay connected throughout your day.

Beyond audio playback, the Mijia Smart Audio Glasses are equipped with a quad-microphone array, ensuring crystal-clear, hands-free calls. A standout feature is the ability to record conversations and ambient sounds, adding a layer of utility for professionals, students, or anyone needing to capture spoken information on the go. We experienced the Titanium version, priced at €199, a testament to its premium build. Other available styles include browline and pilot, with the latter boasting UV400 protection. Our Titanium unit's traditional lenses effectively block 25% of incoming blue light, making them an ideal companion for extended screen time.

The Titanium model distinguishes itself as the lightest in the collection, weighing just over 34 grams, including the lenses. This impressive lightness is partially attributed to the slender 5mm plastic temples. For those requiring vision correction, the lenses are easily interchangeable with prescription alternatives. Furthermore, the glasses boast an IP54 rating for dust and water splash resistance, assuring durability against moderate rain and everyday environmental factors. This thoughtful design ensures that the smart functionality doesn't compromise the core purpose and comfort of eyewear.

Comfort is paramount for daily wear items, and the Mijia Smart Audio Glasses excel in this regard, proving comfortable enough for all-day use, though slightly heavier than standard prescription glasses. Control is intuitive, managed via large, well-spaced touch sensors positioned at the midpoint of the temples. These sensors reliably register taps, ensuring effortless interaction with your audio and smart features. The retail package also impresses, featuring a sophisticated faux leather spring-top pouch, a cleaning cloth, and a uniquely designed magnetic charger that neatly connects to both temples and terminates in a universal USB-C port.

Xiaomi claims an impressive 13 hours of audio playback on a single charge, with a full recharge from empty to 100% taking approximately an hour. The build quality truly stands out as excellent, suggesting that these smart audio glasses will strongly appeal to traditional glasses wearers who also rely on wireless earbuds or headphones. The convenience of a two-in-one solution is a significant draw, especially for individuals who wear glasses for extended periods and appreciate the freedom from additional ear-covering devices.

While the built-in speakers offer adequate sound for casual listening and calls in quiet environments, they don't deliver exceptional loudness or fidelity. However, they integrate a privacy mode, purportedly minimizing sound leakage, though its effectiveness at higher volumes remains to be fully evaluated. Connectivity is robust, thanks to Bluetooth 5.4, supporting dual-device pairing—a common and welcome feature in modern wireless audio devices. Our brief testing revealed solid connectivity with both an iPhone 17 Pro and a MacBook Pro 14, affirming their versatility. Wear detection sensors further enhance the user experience by automatically pausing and resuming media playback when the glasses are removed or put back on.

The accompanying Xiaomi Glasses app, while somewhat minimalist, provides essential controls. Users can reassign gesture functions, manage connected devices, and organize recordings. An innovative built-in recording feature, activated by a long-press on either temple, allows for capturing calls and any audio played through the glasses. Additionally, the glasses can read incoming notifications aloud, provided the necessary permissions are granted within the app. These features consolidate the Mijia Smart Audio Glasses as more than just audio devices, adding genuine smart capabilities to daily life.

In essence, the Mijia Smart Audio Glasses may not be the most feature-packed smart eyewear available, but they offer a compelling package of premium construction, comfortable wear, pleasing sound quality for everyday use, and clever functionalities like audio and call recording. Looking ahead, the absence of a camera feels like a natural next step for future iterations. It will be fascinating to observe Xiaomi's strategic moves in the competitive and rapidly evolving smart glasses market, as they continue to refine their offerings.