Smart glasses have always faced an uphill road to acceptance. Not only is it an uncomfortable proposition to place a computer on your nose, but the privacy aspect has been bothering people since the days of Google Glass. Now, Google is ready to take another step towards “smart glasses” for the Gemini era after having teased its plans a couple of times. The first glasses are available for pre-order today from Gentle Monster and Warby Parker, but they’re not an impulse purchase.
These devices are a collaboration between Google, Samsung and the aforementioned eyewear designers. Gentle Monster and Warby Parker have each designed a few different frames, with options for clear and tinted lenses. Samsung provides the computer hardware that fits inside it and Google takes care of the software.
Warby Parker has designed three frames for Google glasses, called Alden, Reid and Wren (see above). They are available with standard optical and solar lenses in Pine, Saddle, and Jet Black colors for $395 and up. Warby Parker only sells devices in the US. Gentle Monster has gone a little further with six styles, but Google hasn’t told us any names for them yet. They come in dark red, pink, gray and yellow colors and are available with clear, tinted, blue or brown lenses. The Gentle Monster styles start a little higher at $449 and will be available in the US and South Korea.
Google says all the frames weigh around 41 grams, which isn’t terrible, but definitely near the top for glasses overall. Naturally, they will weigh much more when you take the lenses into account. That will also determine the final price. So far, we only have starting prices for these devices, including non-prescription lenses.
The setup here is similar to the Ray-Ban Meta glasses we’ve seen for a few years. There are no screens on the lenses, but you can interact with the AI system via voice or by activating the built-in camera. The experience should be similar to using Gemini Live on your phone, but it will be much easier to activate the AI. You can say “Hey Gemini” or touch a touch-sensitive area of the frame to start interacting with the robot.
