Samsung’s first smart glasses are almost here. The company’s Intelligent Eyewear is reportedly set to launch in mid-December (despite claiming “this fall” for most of the year), giving owners of Galaxy phones and other Android phones a new alternative to Meta’s Ray-Bans. There’s a catch, though. They’ll only be available in two countries at first.
The new timeline comes from a ChosunBiz report out of South Korea, as SamMobile points out. Samsung will reportedly launch Intelligent Eyewear in the US and South Korea first, with China, Europe, and Japan getting them in 2027. That’s a few weeks later than earlier reports, which pointed to a November launch.
Pricing is still up in the air. According to the report, Samsung is still negotiating the final retail price.
What Samsung’s Intelligent Eyewear can do
Samsung first showed off its glasses at Google I/O in May, then gave a closer look at Galaxy Unpacked in July. They run Google’s Android XR platform, with Gemini handling the AI features. That means you can ask questions about what you’re looking at, get real-time translation, and use voice navigation without pulling out your phone.
Under the hood is Qualcomm’s Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1 chip, along with a 12MP camera, stereo speakers, and multiple microphones. Samsung says the glasses last up to nine hours on a charge, and the carrying case can top them up throughout the day.
There’s no display, though. Samsung’s first glasses are closer to Meta’s Ray-Ban glasses than to display glasses like XREAL’s AURA. Samsung is reportedly working on a second-generation model with a built-in screen for later.
Style should be one of Samsung’s strengths. It’s working with Gentle Monster and Warby Parker, and so far, it’s shown off four different designs in several colors and shapes.
Starting with just two countries makes sense. Samsung took the same approach with its Galaxy XR headset, launching in limited markets first to see how buyers responded before expanding.
The bigger question is price. Meta’s Ray-Ban glasses start at $449 for the Gen 3 models, and Meta just launched camera-free audio glasses for $349. Samsung will need to land somewhere close to that to compete, especially since Meta has a big head start.
I went hands-on with Google’s Android XR prototype glasses at I/O this year, and Gemini was the most impressive part of the experience. If Samsung can pair that with good-looking frames and tight integration with Galaxy phones like the upcoming Galaxy S27, it could give Meta its first real competition. Timing also matters here. With senators now pressing Meta on privacy, Samsung and Google will be under pressure to show how their camera-equipped glasses protect bystanders.
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