Samsung has stepped into the world of wearable eyewear with its AI-powered glasses, introduced at the Galaxy Unpacked event in London. This marks the company’s first venture into wearable eyewear within its Galaxy lineup. Two distinct frame designs were presented: one by Gentle Monster and another by Warby Parker. The key feature of these frames is their similarity to regular glasses, aimed to promote everyday use without appearing tech-heavy.
Design and Functionality
Journalists who tested the glasses before the event reported that they were incredibly light, making the internal electronics feel almost unreal. James Choi, Samsung’s EVP and head of XR R&D, emphasized the importance of all-day wearability. He stated that maintaining a lightweight frame is critical for smart glasses because if the frames are too heavy, their style becomes irrelevant.
The design by Gentle Monster is sleek and minimalistic, featuring thin arms and a uniform black color. The top edge runs flat and curves softly at the bottom. Warby Parker’s design offers warmer tones with deep brown colors and a gently curved brow, providing flexibility without overstepping aesthetic boundaries. Samsung worked closely with both brands to ensure the frames fit comfortably around the forehead and ears—an essential detail for a device designed for prolonged wear.
The Glasses’ Capabilities
The glasses focus primarily on audio features, with an additional camera component. Unlike Meta’s Ray-Ban AI glasses, Samsung’s eyewear does not have a display or projection capability. Users interact through voice, touch, and gestures integrated with a paired Galaxy Watch. The Qualcomm Snapdragon AR1 Gen1 chip powers the device, ensuring efficient energy and heat management within the compact frame.
Google Gemini acts as the AI engine, offering functionalities such as real-time navigation, language translation, notification summaries, and location-based recommendations. The built-in camera allows users to share live viewpoints during calls, capture notes from a whiteboard, or translate text in real time.
Sameer Samat, Google’s Android Ecosystem President, remarked, “Google and Samsung share a vision to integrate intelligence into daily life. Powered by the Android XR platform, these glasses combine excellent design with Gemini’s advanced AI, offering hands-free assistance throughout the day.”
Battery Life and Availability
The glasses provide nine hours of battery life on a single charge, and the charging case offers seven additional full charges. Samsung has not disclosed the pricing or precise release date but confirmed a fall launch in selected markets. A price range of $379 to $499 has been speculated since spring, according to VR.org. However, Samsung has not confirmed these figures.
With Meta Connect set for September 23, Samsung has limited time to lead the market. The collaboration with Gentle Monster and Warby Parker may offer unique retail distribution opportunities through these brands’ existing networks, which include physical stores and optical fitting services. Samsung COO Won-Joon Choi expressed that the eyewear aims to integrate AI assistance seamlessly into everyday life without needing constant phone access. Whether enough people are ready for such a shift may depend on the glasses’ appeal when Gemini’s features aren’t actively in use.
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