Huawei x Gentle Monster are the glasses just launched on the Italian market by the Chinese giant. Don't think of them as traditional sunglasses though. In reality, all the technology necessary to transform them into real speakers is hidden inside them. But how do they work? How are they configured? Are they worth buying? We talk about it in this review!
Collaboration between China and Korea
Let's start from the base: why they are called Huawei x Gentle Monster and not "Huawei Gentle Monster"? In reality Gentle Monster it is not the name of the product but of a Korean company specializing in eyewear, both by sight and by sun.
The two brands have joined forces to create this gadget that leverages Huawei's hi-tech knowledge base and Gentle Monster's fashion expertise. In short, the idea is that of combine the know-how of two experts from their respective fields transforming an existing product - MY MA 01 sunglasses - into an accessory dedicated to the most technological consumers.
Huawei x Gentle Monster review: the technology
But what makes this accessory special? First of all we find two speakers placed in the middle of the two arms. The semi-open design and strategic position allow these glasses to create a sound field that is directed right towards your earsthus preventing the audio from spreading in other directions.
We also have available two microphones - one on each side - , which are used for both phone calls and to reduce ambient noise, and IP63 certification, which makes them resistant to water and dust.
Do not miss i controlli soft touch: by touching the rods you can answer calls, interrupt them, start playback or stop it. If you then take off your glasses while listening to music, it will automatically pause; instead, you just need to put them back on to start listening to your favorite songs again.
Ok, so far everything clear, but how are they recharged? For what you have a generous case that uses induction charging to give new energy to your glasses. In total you will have about 8 hours of autonomy, after which you will have to take advantage of the USB-C connector on the pouch and the supplied cable to be able to recharge this accessory.
[A quick and easy setup
Don't expect anything complicated. Using the Huawei x Gentle Monster is very simple: start Bluetooth, press the pairing button located on the underside of the case, search for “Eyewear” in the list of available devices and perform the pairing. The game is done. It's basically like using any pair of wireless headphones.
Plus you have the application Huawei AI Life - available only for Android - which allows you to check the battery status, to customize the commands associated with the double tap on both bars and to choose the language associated with those greeting messages that will greet you once you wear the glasses. The app also serves to update the firmware when necessary.
Download
QR-Code
HUAWEI AI Life
Developer:
Huawei Internet Service
Price:
Free
The user experience
But let's get to the facts. How do these glasses work in the field?
The audio is very good both for listening to multimedia content and for making calls. The microphones then work quite well: your interlocutor will hear you smoothly even when you are in noisy environments.
The real problem is privacy. We've done some testing to see if the sound is really limited to your ears, and to be honest, that's not always the case. Where you are has a lot to do with the usability of these glasses.
I'll give you a couple of examples.
SITUATION 1: you are in your car, you have other walks on the edge and you want to call undisturbed. In this case, the Huawei x Gentle Monster are not for you. In small, closed and silent environments, those around you will be able to hear every word, just as if they were calling.
SITUATION 2: go into a crowded bar to have a coffee, there is a lot of buzz and maybe some music. In this case you can continue talking or listening to the hits of the moment counting on a good level of privacy. In fact, the people next to you will hardly be able to perceive anything.
On balance they are therefore perfect for use on public transport, while walking or, in fact, for a quick coffee at the bar. In short, where there is already some noise and no one can concentrate on what you say.
Huawei x Gentle Monster review: buy them or not?
The aspects of these Huawei x Gentle Monster that I liked are different: I liked the design, I liked the sound quality and I was impressed by the goodness of the microphones. The battery is also convincing: it is difficult to wear sunglasses for more than 8 hours a day.
As far as privacy is concerned, however, it is very subjective since it depends on the type of use you intend to make of it.
The real sore point in my opinion is the price: 399 euros are not few. Of course, the same Gentle Monster model - therefore without speakers, microphones and all Huawei technology - costs around 250 euros, so we start from an important base to which the price of Chinese innovation is added. It is up to you to decide whether to make this investment in light of your needs and possibilities.
Huawei x Gentle Monster
Pro 
- Nice design
- Excellent sound quality
- Well the calls
- More sufficient battery
Cons 
- A bit sparse app
- High price
