On November 12, 2026, Google and Samsung opened pre-orders for Intelligent Eyewear — the first Android XR glasses created jointly by the two companies. The frame designs were devised by Warby Parker and Gentle Monster, while Samsung assembled the electronics. Sales begin on December 10 in the US and South Korea.
On the outside these are ordinary frames, but inside there is a Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1 processor, 2 GB of RAM and 64 GB of built-in storage. The glasses weigh about 41 grams, and this figure depends on the model: for Gentle Monster the range is roughly from 39,6 to 43,9 grams, for Warby Parker — from 40,4 to 42,6. The secret to the lightness lies in splitting the computing: the glasses offload part of the load onto a connected smartphone. That is precisely why the device does not work without a phone.
The 12-megapixel camera shoots video at 3K resolution at 30 frames per second, and supports HDR and image stabilization. Two open speakers and four microphones let you talk to the assistant by voice without taking your phone out of your pocket.
The main feature is Gemini. The assistant can be summoned with the phrase “Hey Gemini” or by touching the frame. It answers questions about what is in the frame, translates speech and text into more than 70 languages via Google Translate, provides turn-by-turn navigation via Google Maps, and checks the calendar if you have photographed a poster. Samsung gives an example: photograph the whiteboard at a meeting, ask Gemini to make a brief summary and save it to Samsung Notes on a Galaxy device.
The Guided Vision feature, which works through Gemini Live, is designed for people with visual impairments: it provides a spoken audio description of what is happening. If needed, through Aira you can connect a live visual assistant who sees the image from the camera. At launch, Guided Vision, Aira and Audible work only with Android smartphones.
The battery lasts up to 9 hours under mixed use — including conversations with Gemini, music, video recording and notifications. Together with the charging case, battery life reaches 72 hours, and the case can charge the glasses up to seven times. The glasses have no display; Samsung says that glasses with a screen will appear later.
Compatibility depends on the device. Pixel devices are supported starting from the seventh series and provided they have the Android 17 update from September 2026. Galaxy S and Z work with One UI 9.0 and newer. iPhone — starting from 13 Pro; according to Republic World, iOS 26.6 or newer and at least 6 GB of RAM are required, which in practice sets the boundary at 13 Pro.
Prices start at $395 for the Warby Parker models: that is three designs, 14 variants, optical and sunglasses versions. Gentle Monster costs from $449 to $489 and offers six designs in 16 variants. In total, 30 variants across nine frames are available. Prescription lenses can increase the final cost. For comparison, Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3 cost from $449, so the most affordable Warby Parker model is cheaper by $54. Pre-orders are placed on the Warby Parker and Gentle Monster websites, while in-person demonstrations are held in Warby Parker stores.
Privacy is the most discussed part of the project. Google and Samsung state that Gemini's visual data is not used to train models or show ads and is not saved in Gemini history. An external LED indicator lights up when taking photos and videos for the gallery, and if it is covered or damaged, recording is blocked. The faces of bystanders are automatically blurred before Gemini processes the frame. One question remains, as noted by industry publications: Samsung has not explained whether the blocking persists throughout the entire recording.
Unlike Ray-Ban Meta, the bet here is placed on Google services — Maps, Translate, Calendar. If you want stylish glasses with a voice AI and a camera without a display, and you have a compatible phone, Intelligent Eyewear is worth considering. The device will face a real test after December 10, when ordinary buyers begin using it.
