Samsung is entering the screenless smart glasses market in mid-December by launching Intelligent Eyewear, powered by Android XR and the Gemini model, in South Korea and the United States.
Expected launch date and initial sales markets
Limited initial release and phased expansion strategy
Technical specifications and design in collaboration with Gentle Monster and Warby Parker
Challenging Meta’s dominance and privacy controls during recording
Frequently asked questions
Expected launch date and initial sales markets
Samsung Electronics is preparing to start selling its first AI-powered smart glasses, named Intelligent Eyewear, in mid-December, beginning with the South Korean and United States markets. The ChosunBiz newspaper stated in a report published on October 30, citing electronics industry sources, that Samsung has already finalized the release window and initial market list, while the final price remains under discussion. According to Gadgets 360, Samsung has not yet officially confirmed the launch date or the list of countries included in the initial rollout.
This timing comes slightly later than previous media reports; on October 1, The Investor reported that a Samsung official confirmed to The Korea Herald launch plans for November. The specialized publication SamMobile noted that Samsung had initially promised only a fall 2026 release for the glasses, and the November launch target may have been overly optimistic.
Limited initial release and phased expansion strategy
According to the ChosunBiz report, European, Chinese, and Japanese markets will not be part of the first wave of commercial launch. This represents a much narrower start compared to the Galaxy S26 smartphone series, which rolled out to over 120 countries this year. An industry official told the Korean newspaper: “Since this is an entirely new product category, we will expand sales regions after verifying initial demand and user interactions in South Korea and the United States.” Gadgets 360 noted that Samsung followed the same phased approach with the Galaxy XR mixed reality headset, which launched in Korea and the US last October and reached the UK in July.
Technical specifications and design in collaboration with Gentle Monster and Warby Parker
The new smart glasses run on Google’s Android XR platform and the Gemini artificial intelligence model. The glasses do not contain any optical display screen; a built-in camera and microphones capture what the wearer sees and hears, while audio responses come exclusively through built-in speakers, according to The Investor. Functional features include real-time translation, audio navigation, and capturing documents or meetings that are then automatically organized inside the Notes app on Galaxy phones. The glasses rely on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1 chip, and the battery lasts up to 9 hours on a single charge, while the charging case provides up to 7 additional full charges. Renowned eyewear brands Gentle Monster and Warby Parker contributed to the frame designs, with Samsung showcasing 4 design styles so far: two at Google I/O in May, and two at the Galaxy Unpacked event in London in July.
Challenging Meta’s dominance and privacy controls during recording
Samsung is entering a market currently led by Meta Platforms, which manufactures its smart glasses in partnership with the Ray-Ban brand. Counterpoint Research found that global shipments of AI glasses jumped 263 percent year-over-year in the first half of 2026. Screenless models accounted for 96 percent of total shipments, with Meta alone capturing 94 percent of this category, according to The Investor report. In South Korea, privacy concerns emerged ahead of the official launch, though Samsung confirmed that internal and external LED lights on the frame will illuminate to show when the glasses are recording, and the camera will automatically stop working if the external light is covered. ChosunBiz concluded its report by noting that the yet-to-be-determined price, alongside the practical utility users find in the glasses daily, will determine their success in the early stages.
Frequently asked questions
Q: When and where will Samsung launch its Intelligent Eyewear smart glasses?
A: Samsung will begin selling the glasses in mid-December 2026 in the South Korean and United States markets as a first phase before expanding to Europe, China, and Japan.
Q: What processors and operating systems do Samsung’s smart glasses rely on?
A: The glasses run on Android XR and Google’s Gemini model, and use Qualcomm’s Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1 processor with a battery lasting up to 9 hours.
Q: How did Samsung address privacy concerns and secret recording in its new glasses?
A: Samsung equipped the frame with internal and external LED lights that illuminate during recording, with a feature to immediately turn off the camera if the external light indicator is covered.
Q: What is Meta’s market share in the screenless smart glasses market?
A: According to Counterpoint Research data for the first half of 2026, screenless glasses make up 96 percent of global shipments, and Meta holds 94 percent of this sector.