Google Launches Gemini Smartglasses Starting at $395

Google has launched its first Gemini-powered smartglasses, developed in collaboration with Samsung, Gentle Monster, and Warby Parker. The glasses are available for preorder now and will ship on December 10.

Pricing and Availability

Warby Parker frames start at $395 and are sold only in the US. Gentle Monster styles start at $449 and will be available in the US and South Korea. Warby Parker offers three frames called Alden, Reid, and Wren, while Gentle Monster offers six styles. Google says the frames weigh about 41 grams.

Features

The glasses include a 12 MP wide-angle camera and custom open-ear speakers. Users can interact with Gemini by saying "Hey Gemini" or tapping a touch-sensitive area of the frame. The glasses support Gemini Guided Vision, which provides conversational audio descriptions for people who are visually impaired.

Privacy

Google says a recording light is on whenever the camera is active and the glasses will refuse to activate the camera if the light is covered. All glasses have a physical off switch. Google says it will not save images or videos captured by the glasses in Gemini history, and that none of that data will be used for training AI models or targeting ads. Data on the glasses is encrypted and remains encrypted during transit to the cloud, though it is not encrypted on Google's servers.

Compatibility

The glasses work with all iPhones from the 13 Pro onward. On Android, users need a Pixel 7 or newer or a Samsung Galaxy S or Z series device running One UI 9 or later.

Why it matters

The launch marks Google's latest attempt at intelligent eyewear after the Google Glass era. The devices rely on Gemini for functionality, and Google is emphasizing privacy features such as the recording light, physical off switch, and restrictions on live streaming and facial recognition to address concerns that have surrounded smartglasses for years.

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Sources

• arstechnica.com: Google pushes privacy angle as Gemini-powered smartglasses debut starting at $395 - Ars Technica
• mashable.com: Google launches Intelligent Eyewear collection with smart glasses from Gentle Monster and Warby Parker | Mashable

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.