Samsung’s camera glasses ship Dec. 10 from $395, working with iPhones too

Samsung said in its official announcement that its Gemini-powered Intelligent Eyewear goes on sale on Dec. 10 in the US and South Korea, with pre-orders open from Nov. 12 and US prices starting at $395.

Two brands, 30 designs and a $395 floor

The glasses were developed with Google, which supplies Gemini, and sold through two eyewear partners. Warby Parker offers 14 variations across three frame designs and sells only in the US, starting at $395. Gentle Monster offers 16 variations across six frame styles, priced from $449 to $489 depending on the model, and sells in both the US and Korea. Warby Parker sells through its retail and online channels, while Gentle Monster sells through its own online store. Samsung also plans hands-on demos at select Samsung retail locations from Dec. 10.

Samsung lists the glasses at roughly 41 g. The charging case weighs 194.5 g for Gentle Monster and 166.8 g for Warby Parker. Inside is a Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1 platform with 2 GB of memory and 64 GB of storage, which Samsung notes is partly taken by preloaded software. The camera takes 12MP HDR photos and records video at 3K and 30 fps, or at 2K. Four microphones and two open-ear speakers handle audio, and control is by touch and voice.

Samsung rates the battery at up to 9 hours per charge and up to 72 hours with the case. The glasses have IPX4 protection, Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.4. They carry no display, so everything comes back as sound.

It pairs with Galaxy, Pixel and iPhone

Compatibility is wider than Samsung’s own phones. The glasses work with Galaxy S, S FE, Z Fold, Z Flip and Fold Ultra models running One UI 9.0 or later, and with Pixel 7 and later on the September 2026 Android 17 update. They also work with iPhone 13 and later, with at least 6 GB of RAM, on iOS 26.6 or later. Bixby is available only on Galaxy phones, and Gemini is the main assistant.

Samsung describes the use cases as asking about what the wearer sees, including landmarks and objects, with follow-up questions. Others are capturing a whiteboard, having Gemini summarize it and saving it to Samsung Notes; translating menus; and getting Google Maps directions. The glasses can also sort and read notifications aloud and handle calls and messages by voice.

The privacy measures are a notable part of the package. An external LED shows when the camera is active, and the wearer gets an inner light and a sound cue. According to Samsung, capture is disabled if the LED is covered or faulty. It also says Gemini Live filters out surrounding voices, including bystanders’, and that visuals Gemini collects are not used for model training or ad targeting. The glasses are designed for users 18 and older, with age verification needed for activation and app downloads. These are Samsung’s own claims, and the announcement does not describe any independent testing.

Priced against Meta’s camera glasses

Samsung is entering a category Meta already occupies. According to 9to5Google, Meta’s latest smart glasses cost $299, and its most premium model, the Oakley Meta Vanguard, sells for $499. Samsung’s $395 to $489 range therefore sits above Meta’s entry price and below that top model. The same report says Samsung had promised only a “reasonable” price in the premium range when it first showed the glasses in July, so the figures now confirm that positioning.

The pitch differs as well. 9to5Google notes that Samsung positions the glasses as a phone companion, much as a smartwatch is, while Meta markets its devices for a post-smartphone era. Samsung’s support for iPhone and Pixel suggests it wants buyers beyond its own phone base, though the Galaxy-only Bixby is a small reminder of who gets the fullest experience. The design deals with Warby Parker and Gentle Monster also give it prescription-style frames that a tech brand alone would struggle to offer.

This follows Samsung’s push into wearables, such as the Galaxy Ring sleep apnea risk feature we covered earlier this month.

What the announcement leaves unsaid

Several details are missing. The release covers only the US and South Korea, and Warby Parker’s models are US-only. Samsung gives no dates for other regions, and the announcement does not mention prices in Korea. Battery life, camera quality, and Gemini’s accuracy are Samsung’s figures and have not been independently checked. Nor does the page say whether a camera-free version is planned or what happens to the images the glasses capture beyond the training and ad-targeting statement. Reviews after Dec. 10 will show how the claims hold up in daily use.