RayNeo's iO camera-free smart glasses boast an AI-agnostic version of the Siri Recap feature coming to Apple Watch — and I’m not sure if I love or hate it

At IFA 2026, I had the opportunity to try out the RayNeo iO smart glasses, which impressed me with their sleek design and AI capabilities. Like Meta Ray-Bans, these specs offer a camera-free, HUD-enhanced experience, but I was hesitant to fully embrace them due to privacy concerns and the limitations of camera-free functionality.

However, RayNeo's app and controls were far superior to those of similar models I had tested, with quick feature loading and seamless navigation between apps. The iO glasses offer a variety of features, from notification popups and memos to real-time translation, AI assistance, and stock price access. The standout feature is Life Log, which records conversations and activities to create detailed diary notes, similar to Apple's upcoming Audio Intelligence tools on Apple Watch.

RayNeo emphasized that the AI transcribes and summarizes in real-time, with all processing occurring on device, ensuring privacy and data control. While I appreciated the accessibility aspects of the live captioning feature, I found the Conversation Assistance tool to be intrusive and unwanted. Despite my initial reservations, these camera-free smart glasses show promise and could be an excellent option for those who prefer privacy-focused designs, especially as the backlash against camera-equipped specs grows.