Google opens pre-orders for Gemini-powered smart glasses

Google opened pre-orders Thursday for its new Intelligent Eyewear line, built in collaboration with Samsung, Gentle Monster and Warby Parker, with Gemini integrated for hands-free help. The frames work with Pixel and Samsung phones as well as iPhones and go on sale in stores and online on December 10.

Gentle Monster’s collection offers six designs in colors including dark red, pink, gray and yellow, with tinted, clear, blue or brown lenses and prescription options on most frames; it starts at $449 and will be sold in the United States and South Korea. Warby Parker’s lineup includes three styles — Alden, Reid and Wren — in Pine, Saddle and Jet Black, starting at $395 for optical or sun versions with a range of prescription and lens options, available online and with guided demos at more than 360 Warby Parker stores. Google says the frames weigh around 41 grams, run up to nine hours on a charge, and come with a case that can recharge them up to seven times.

Saying “Hey Gemini” or tapping the frames lets wearers ask for information about what they’re looking at, get calendar checks from a glanced-at event poster, or request real-time speech translation across more than 70 languages via Google Translate, Google says. The glasses also add Gemini’s new Guided Vision feature, which gives conversational audio descriptions for people who are blind or have low vision, and — through a partnership with Aira — can stream the glasses’ camera feed to a human visual interpreter on request. A built-in 12-megapixel camera captures photos and video by button press or voice command.

On privacy, Google says camera images Gemini processes on the glasses aren’t stored in Gemini History and aren’t used for training AI systems or targeting ads, bystanders’ faces are automatically blurred before processing, and a light indicator shows when the camera is recording — with a full off switch available.

Why it matters

Google’s bet is that distributing Gemini-powered glasses through established fashion-eyewear retailers, not just through its own stores, is what turns smart glasses from a novelty into something people actually wear every day.