Samsung Electronics introduced its Intelligent Eyewear at Galaxy Unpacked in London, with designs developed with global eyewear brands Gentle Monster and Warby Parker. The new lineup was first announced at Google I/O 2026 in May, when Samsung gave few details about design and functionality. At Galaxy Unpacked, Samsung confirmed the glasses include a built-in camera, open-ear audio, and support for Google Gemini. The first Android XR glasses are set to launch later this fall, though pricing details remain unknown.
Samsung has entered the smart glasses race with Intelligent Eyewear that brings together Android XR, Gemini AI, Qualcomm hardware, and styles from established eyewear brands, although pricing and availability remain undisclosed.
What the glasses actually do
Both designs run Android XR, without any screens inside to clutter the wearer’s sight. Users rely primarily on built-in speakers, and the glasses allow users to interact with Google’s Gemini AI hands-free. Google’s AI assistant can see the world around the wearer via the built-in camera, and the glasses can also summarize incoming messages, provide real-time navigation guidance, and support live translation.
Much like Meta’s audio-only smart glasses, the Gentle Monster and Warby Parker frames are screen-free, with a single camera sensor for photo and video and to give Gemini access to what the wearer is seeing, enabling features such as answering questions and real-time translation.
The glasses use a Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1 chipset to power AI features and interactive components. Battery life is said to last nine hours on a full charge, with up to seven additional full charges from the carrying case. Designed for everyday use, the eyewear pairs a lightweight frame and slim profile with the durability and comfort needed for daily wear.
Leaked software screenshots identified “One UI XR” as the software branding, according to SammyGuru. Pre-release reporting described a touchpad that summons Gemini on a long press and a dedicated camera button for photo and video capture. Two LED indicators are built in: one facing inward for the wearer, and one facing outward to signal bystanders when recording is active.
Design partners and pricing
On July 22, Samsung hosted Galaxy Unpacked July 2026 at Old Billingsgate in London, unveiling the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold8, and Galaxy Z Flip8, alongside the Galaxy Watch Ultra2, Galaxy Watch9, and its Intelligent Eyewear.
Samsung refers to the glasses simply as “Intelligent Eyewear,” and has confirmed no official product name, pricing, or launch date. Reports ahead of Unpacked placed the display-free first generation in the $379, $499 range; that range remains a rumor even after the reveal. Samsung’s roadmap is reported to include a second model, rumored under the codename Haean, adding a micro-LED display at prices reportedly ranging from $600 to $900; neither figure has been confirmed by Samsung.
James Choi, Samsung’s executive vice president overseeing the glasses’ R&D division, said the company is exploring gesture-based controls that would work through its smartwatch and Galaxy Ring products. That ecosystem integration is central to Samsung’s market strategy: buyers who already own a Galaxy foldable and Galaxy Ring would gain a hardware platform where each device reinforces the value of the others.
A crowded market getting more competitive
The Unpacked reveal drops Samsung into a smart glasses race that has accelerated in 2026. The wearables segment has been gaining momentum, as Apple Watch shipments jumped 21% in a single quarter. Repairability and build quality have also come under consumer scrutiny, with iFixit’s 9-out-of-10 score raising questions about how hardware companies design wearables.
A fall 2026 launch is planned for select markets, with no specific month or day given. A display-equipped version is expected to follow in a subsequent year. Samsung is entering a market where Meta holds a commanding position. Both Meta’s Ray-Ban glasses and Samsung’s Intelligent Eyewear are phone-paired camera wearables with built-in AI assistants, with the software stack as the key differentiator.
Global shipments of smart glasses are projected to reach 19.7 million units in 2029, up 109 percent from 9.4 million in 2024, according to IDC figures cited in industry reports.
Samsung previously introduced the glasses at Google I/O 2026 in May, where it confirmed a fall shipping window. The company did not disclose pricing or availability details at Unpacked. Samsung has not announced which markets will receive the first wave of units or provided a specific on-sale date.
