Google and Samsung open pre-orders for Gemini intelligent eyewear from US$395

Gentle Monster has six designs in bold colours, including dark red, pink, grey and yellow.[1] Google says most of those frames can take a prescription, and that the line starts at US$449 in the United States and South Korea.[1] Samsung prices Gentle Monster from US$449 to US$489 by model, in 16 variations on the six frames.[2]

Warby Parker has three styles, Alden, Reid and Wren, optical or sun, from US$395 in Pine, Saddle and Jet Black, with prescription, width and lens options.[1] The collection is at warbyparker.com, and a guided demo can be booked at more than 360 Warby Parker stores.[1] Samsung counts 14 variations on those styles and 30 designs across both brands.[2]

Google says the frames weigh around 41 grams and last up to nine hours, and that the case can recharge them up to seven times. Both vary with use and settings.[1] On standard lenses, prescriptions excluded, Samsung's range is 39.6 to 43.9 grams for Gentle Monster and 40.4 to 42.6 grams for Warby Parker. It rates the battery at up to nine hours, or up to 72 hours with a charged case in a mixed-use scenario.[2]

The wearer says "Hey Gemini" or taps the frame.[1] Google says that brings help with whatever is in view, turn-by-turn Google Maps directions in the ear, and, when asked, real-time Google Translate speech translation in more than 70 languages, with automatic language detection.[1] Samsung's examples include a landmark question with follow-ups, a whiteboard summarised into Samsung Notes, and a menu translation. It says those visual, translation and navigation features can vary by app, language, region and network.[2]

Guided Vision is audio description for people who are blind or have low vision, and for small print or finding everyday items. Google says it is AI, can make mistakes, and is not a medical device, a clinical vision aid, a mobility aid or a replacement for a white cane. It is not for navigation, safe-travel guidance, obstacle detection or other safety-critical tasks. At launch, Guided Vision and Aira need a compatible Android phone, and may need a subscription or membership. "Hey Gemini, open Aira Explorer" streams the camera to a professionally trained human visual interpreter.[1]

A 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera shoots photos and video from a button or a request to Gemini, with HDR and image stabilisation. Open-ear speakers handle music, messages and calls. Audible is Android-only at launch.[1] Samsung lists two open-ear speakers, four microphones, 12MP HDR stills at 3,024 by 4,032 pixels, and video at 3K and 30 frames a second or at 2K, with video HDR up to 2K.[2]

Samsung lists the Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1 platform, touch and voice controls, 2GB of memory and 64GB of storage, with usable space depending on preloaded software, plus Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.4 and IPX4 under water and dust resistance. On Galaxy phones, split computing offloads some processing to the phone, and Bixby works only with Galaxy phones. Samsung says Gemini needs an internet connection.[2]

Google's phones are Pixel 7 series and above on the Android 17 September 2026 update or later, Galaxy S, Galaxy S FE, Galaxy Z Fold, Flip and Fold Ultra series on One UI 9.0 or higher, and iPhone 13 Pro and above.[1] Samsung lists those Pixel and Galaxy families, and iPhone 13 and later with at least 6GB of RAM on iOS 26.6 or later.[2] Google says the glasses need a Google account from the United States or South Korea, for someone 18 or older, and that Gemini requires setup.[1] Samsung requires age verification, for users 18 and over, before activation and app downloads.[2]

Pre-orders are online and in store at Gentle Monster and Warby Parker, with demos at select stores of those brands and at select Google Stores.[1] Samsung says pre-orders are in select channels and locations, and that demos at its stores start on 10 December.[2]

Google says camera visuals from Gemini are not saved in Gemini History and are not used to train models or to target ads. The glasses are designed to redact bystanders' faces before Gemini processes those visuals. A gallery photo or video turns on an indicator light, recording is designed to stop if that light is covered or disabled, and an off switch lets the frames be worn as ordinary glasses.[1]

Samsung says only the wearer can start the camera. An LED shows that it is on, the wearer gets light and sound, and capture stops if the LED is covered, not working, or the glasses come off. Samsung states the same limits on training, ads and face redaction.[2]

Buyers can reserve Warby Parker from US$395, or Gentle Monster from US$449 to US$489, for 10 December through those two brands.[1][2] Quartz reported the pre-order opening from US$395.[3] Google limits use to adult accounts in the United States and South Korea.[1]