---
title: "Google and Samsung Open Pre-orders for Intelligent Eyewear: Early Reviews"
description: "Google and Samsung have opened pre-orders for Intelligent Eyewear featuring Android XR and Gemini. Early reviews praise the design but note voice assistant glitches and questions regarding battery life."
date: 2026-11-12T19:21:54.621Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/google-samsung-intelligent-eyewear-preorders-reviews
tags: [smart-glasses, google, samsung, android-xr, gemini, warby-parker, gentle-monster]
author: "Alexander Buran"
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Google and Samsung Open Pre-orders for Intelligent Eyewear: Early Reviews

![Black smart glasses with cameras on the sides of the frame on a white background.](https://xab.info/media/2026/11/12/google-samsung-intelligent-eyewear-predzakazy-obzory/google-samsung-intelligent-eyewear-predzakazy-obzory-1.webp)

## Key Points

- Intelligent Eyewear pre-orders opened November 12, 2026, with sales starting December 10 in the US and South Korea.
- The Android XR-powered glasses weigh ~41g, feature a 12MP camera, speakers, and up to 9 hours of battery life, but lack a display.
- Warby Parker offers 3 models starting at $395; Gentle Monster offers 6 models starting at $449.
- Reviewers praise the design and Gemini's speed but note translation delays, recognition glitches, and battery life concerns.

On November 12, 2026, Google and Samsung opened pre-orders for their Intelligent Eyewear, developed in collaboration with frame manufacturers Warby Parker and Gentle Monster. Full sales will launch on December 10, initially in the US and South Korean markets, with expansion to other countries, including Europe, expected later. Warby Parker offers three models starting at $395, while Gentle Monster offers six variants starting at $449. The glasses run on the Android XR platform and feature a 12-megapixel camera, microphones, and speakers, but lack a built-in display. The device weighs approximately 41 grams, with a claimed battery life of up to nine hours.

### Design and Control: Nearly Like Regular Glasses

9to5Google editor Abner Li, who spent about an hour with the device, praised its design. According to him, the new product feels almost identical to regular glasses despite the built-in electronics: the weight is evenly distributed along the frame, and control is available via voice, touch gestures on the temple, and compatible Pixel Watch and Galaxy Watch devices. Li noted that while he preferred the touch panel at the start, he gradually relied more on voice commands. CNET reviewer Scott Stein, who tested final versions at Warby Parker and Gentle Monster demo spaces in New York, also liked the frames' appearance and low weight; the devices reminded him of current Ray-Ban Meta glasses, though he noted that tighter Gemini integration with Google services gives these new products additional capabilities.

### Gemini in Action: Speed and Live Translation

Li noted that Gemini Live reacts noticeably faster to queries compared to the May demonstration: Google reduced latency and optimized the assistant's responses for use in glasses. However, the reviewer admitted he was not yet sure if voice control works fast enough for everyday use. Stein was particularly impressed by the automatic speech translation: during one demonstration, several robotic heads spoke different languages, and Gemini translated their remarks through the built-in speakers. The journalist listened to the translation for about ten minutes, noting that the system occasionally experienced minor delays and glitches. The glasses can recognize written text in over 70 languages and deliver translations that account for different speakers' intonations. Victoria Song of The Verge gave the AI capabilities a higher rating: during her test, Gemini translated French, Spanish, Korean, and German without pre-selection, and in another scenario, it translated a conversation from English and Thai into Japanese.

### Camera, Sound, and Google Service Integration

Li was positively impressed by the camera: in his estimation, the 12-megapixel sensor provides good initial image quality, and photos are quickly transferred to a connected smartphone. The glasses also allow for video recording up to 90 seconds, though the journalist could not fully verify the built-in speakers' performance as a headphone replacement. Stein, in turn, noted the adequately loud speaker volume and fast photo transfer to a Pixel smartphone. Song tested Gemini’s integration with Google services: the assistant recognized a concert poster, added the event to a calendar, found flight information, and simultaneously provided walking directions and museum schedules. Sometimes, the system corrected its own object recognition errors independently.

### Limitations and Battery Questions

Despite their strengths, reviewers pointed out several issues. In other tests, Gemini recognized items on shelves, compared products, and answered questions about objects in front of the camera, but struggled with some tasks: sometimes it refused to read a sign, citing too much distance even though Stein could clearly see the text, and in one case it answered "eight minutes" to a question about whether a 45-minute restaurant wait was worth it. Controlling music playback with temple gestures felt confusing to the journalist. The main questions, according to Stein, remain the reliability of Gemini in everyday conditions and actual battery life—these characteristics, in his assessment, will determine how useful the new glasses truly are.

## Fact-Check & Sources

- [Google и Samsung открыли предзаказы на смарт-очки с Android XR — первые обзоры неоднозначны](https://3dnews.ru/1151222) - Source: pre-order and launch dates, pricing, specs, quotes from Abner Li, Scott Stein, and Victoria Song.
- [Google и Samsung открыли предзаказы на смарт-очки с Android XR — первые обзоры неоднозначны](https://3dnews.ru/1151222/google-i-samsung-otkrili-predzakazi-na-smartochki-s-android-xr-pervie-obzori-neodnoznachni) - Первоисточник: даты предзаказа и продаж, цены, характеристики, цитаты Абнера Ли, Скотта Стайна и Виктории Сонг.
- [Умные очки от Samsung уже здесь. Мы знаем цену, время автономной работы и дату выхода.](https://samsungmagazine.eu/ru/2026/11/12/samsung-smart-glasses/) - Confirms $395/$449 pricing, Dec 10 date, ~41g weight, up to 9h battery, Android XR and Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1 platform, 30 frame variants.

## FAQ

### When do Intelligent Eyewear sales begin?

Pre-orders opened November 12, 2026, with full sales beginning December 10, 2026, in the US and South Korea.

### How much do the smart glasses cost?

Warby Parker offers three models starting at $395, and Gentle Monster offers six variants starting at $449.

### Do the glasses have a display?

No, the device lacks a built-in display; it features a 12MP camera, microphones, and speakers, and runs on Android XR.

### What is the battery life and weight of the glasses?

The weight is about 41 grams, and the claimed battery life on a single charge is up to nine hours.

### What issues did reviewers note?

Journalists cited delays and glitches in speech translation, occasional object recognition errors, confusing gesture controls, and expressed doubts about real-world battery life and Gemini's reliability.