Google and Samsung officially unveiled their first "Intelligent Eyewear" at Google I/O 2026 today, with audio-only AI glasses confirmed to launch this fall. The hardware is built by Samsung and Qualcomm, with two distinct frame designs from Gentle Monster and Warby Parker. The glasses run Android XR, the same operating system that powers Samsung's Galaxy XR headset launched in October 2025, and use Gemini AI for translation, navigation, and answering questions about what the wearer is looking at.
Google officially confirmed the glasses will pair with both Android phones and iPhone, putting them in direct competition with Meta Ray-Bans on Apple's turf before Apple ships its own version.
Both styles share the same hardware underneath: a camera on each side of the frame, a single button on the right arm to summon Gemini, and built-in speaker grilles on the inside of the temples. Other than the tiny camera pods in the corners, they just look like normal-ish glasses
Gentle Monster
Gentle Monster's design leans into the Korean luxury eyewear brand's signature aesthetic, shown in sunglasses form with bolder, fashion-forward frames. Google describes them as "disruptive yet refined." This is the pair for someone who would have bought Gentle Monster sunglasses anyway and wants the AI baked in.
Warby Parker
Warby Parker’s design is cleaner and more traditional, the kind of frames you’d comfortably wear into an office all day (privacy concerns aside). Google and Warby Parker have repeatedly emphasized lightweight, wearable designs that blend naturally into everyday life rather than looking overtly futuristic.
Though pricing has not yet been officially confirmed, pre-keynote leaks put the Samsung hardware in the $379 to $499 range with a 12-megapixel Sony camera, Qualcomm Snapdragon AR1 chip, and a 50-gram frame. Google and Samsung said hardware details would arrive "in the coming months."
What Gemini actually does
Gemini handles the practical stuff most people would actually use: decoding a confusing parking sign you're staring at, telling you whether the restaurant you're walking past is any good, ordering an Uber without pulling your phone out, capturing a photo of something while your hands are full of grocery bags. Walking directions know which direction you're facing so they tell you to turn at the actual right time instead of after you've already missed the turn. Real-time translation matches the speaker's voice when it plays back, so a conversation in a foreign language still sounds like the person you're talking to.
How do they compare to Meta Ray-Bans?
Spec for spec, the leaked Samsung hardware and current Meta Ray-Bans are nearly identical: same chip, same camera resolution, similar weight, no display on either. One visible difference: Samsung's design has two cameras (one per temple) while Meta Ray-Bans have just one. Meta's reportedly upcoming Ray-Ban Gen 3 will jump to a faster Snapdragon AR1+ chip and extend the camera's AI session time from roughly 30 minutes to hours. The real difference between the two ecosystems is what AI runs on top. Gemini powers Samsung. Meta AI powers Meta.
The fall launch puts these glasses on shelves before Apple's first smart glasses, which Bloomberg reports won't arrive until 2027 at the earliest. For iPhone users who want AI-powered glasses now, Samsung is the first option from outside Meta's lineup. Samsung is expected to formally launch its version at Galaxy Unpacked in London on July 22. Both Gentle Monster and Warby Parker have launched dedicated "Intelligent Eyewear" pages where interested buyers can sign up for launch updates.
Follow our Samsung Galaxy Roadmap for the latest updates on Samsung’s new “Intelligent Eyewear.”