Samsung opens pre-orders for AI-powered smart glasses with Warby Parker

A new wearable AI architecture

Samsung has officially opened pre-orders for its first Android XR smart glasses, which the company is branding as 'Intelligent Eyewear.' These glasses are designed to provide a hands-free experience with Google's Gemini AI assistant, allowing for real-time voice interactions and visual recognition. As Tech Times reported, the product is being sold through a partnership with Warby Parker in the United States and the South Korean label Gentle Monster.

A critical technical detail of this device is its 'split computing' architecture. Instead of running complex AI models directly on the glasses, the frames act as a sensor array while the heavy lifting is offloaded to a connected smartphone. This design choice allows the glasses to remain lightweight and thermally comfortable, as running large language models on a head-mounted device would require a much larger battery and complex cooling systems.

The glasses are powered by the Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1 processor, which handles essential tasks like camera sensor processing, audio routing, and wake-word detection locally. This ensures that basic functions remain responsive while the phone handles the computationally intensive tasks like live translation and natural language understanding. Consequently, the glasses require a compatible Samsung Galaxy AI phone to access the full suite of Gemini features.

Hardware and retail availability

The hardware specifications for the Samsung Intelligent Eyewear include a 12-megapixel camera capable of 3K video at 30 frames per second. The device also features an open-ear speaker array, a microphone array, and 64GB of onboard storage. To support long-term use, the integrated battery provides up to nine hours of active use, with an included charging case providing seven additional full charges.

For consumers who require corrective lenses, Samsung has built prescription capability into the product from the start. Unlike some competitors that retrofit lenses, these frames were designed to accommodate prescriptions from day one, utilizing Warby Parker's own optical labs in New York and Las Vegas. This partnership also provides a retail infrastructure of 364 stores, with 65 locations currently offering in-store demo appointments.

The launch features thirty different designs across two distinct collections. The Warby Parker collection includes familiar silhouettes like the Alden, Reid, and Wren in warm brown colorways. In contrast, the Gentle Monster collection offers slimmer, all-black profiles aimed at a different aesthetic. These different styles allow users to choose a pair that looks like conventional eyewear rather than a conspicuous gadget.

Ecosystem and compatibility

While the glasses pair with both iPhones and non-Samsung Android phones, the full experience is optimized for the Samsung Galaxy ecosystem. Owners of a compatible Galaxy AI phone will receive the complete Gemini experience, including real-time voice queries and contextual responses. Additionally, users who own a Galaxy Watch 9 can utilize gesture controls to trigger specific Gemini functions.

Samsung has confirmed that the glasses will work with iPhones, but the company has not yet published a full feature comparison for non-Galaxy users. It has been noted that certain experiences can only be realized within the Samsung ecosystem, leaving it unclear if iPhone users will receive a limited version of the AI features. This creates a significant distinction for potential buyers who are not already invested in Samsung's hardware.

The glasses also include specific hardware safeguards to address privacy concerns regarding cameras in public spaces. They feature two indicator LEDs—one for the bystander and one for the wearer—and include a tamper detection system that stops recording if the bystander LED is covered. Furthermore, Samsung has committed that audio and video data captured through the glasses will not be used to train its AI models.

Market position and future roadmap

Samsung is entering a market currently dominated by Meta, which holds a significant share of the display-less smart glasses category. While both Samsung and Meta use similar hardware baselines, such as the Qualcomm AR1 Gen 1 chip, they differ in their AI platforms and retail strategies. Samsung's focus on prescription integration and its partnership with Warby Parker serves as a primary differentiator for users who already wear corrective lenses.

The current Intelligent Eyewear is a display-free device, meaning it does not provide a heads-up overlay or a visual augmented reality layer. Samsung has indicated that display-equipped Android XR glasses are on the roadmap, though no specific release date has been confirmed. For now, the product serves as a complement to the Galaxy XR headset rather than a standalone replacement for high-end AR experiences.

Looking ahead, the next generation of hardware may move toward on-device AI inference. The Snapdragon AR1 Plus Gen 1 chip, which was announced in June 2025, includes a dedicated NPU capable of running small language models directly on the device. While Samsung's current glasses rely on the phone for this, future iterations may eventually allow for more independent AI capabilities without requiring a constant wireless connection to a smartphone.

How it works for the user

When a user puts on the glasses and connects them to their Galaxy phone, the device functions as a wearable sensor. The 12-megapixel camera can see the world, and the microphone array listens for the user's voice commands. Because the phone is doing the thinking, the user can ask complex questions about their surroundings or request live translations of a conversation they are hearing.

The 'split computing' model ensures that the glasses do not get hot on the user's face during these interactions. The AR1 Gen 1 chip handles the immediate task of capturing and encoding the data, while the phone's high-performance processor handles the logic. This allows for a seamless experience where the AI feels like it is living in the glasses, even though the actual processing is happening in the user's pocket.

For those who want to test the experience before committing, Warby Parker is hosting demos at 65 locations. These sessions include a full walkthrough of the Gemini pairing and interaction. This is a key step for consumers, as the primary value of the product—the natural language interaction with Gemini—is best understood through a live demo rather than a spec sheet or a product image.