The Galaxy XR headset is great for gaming and professional use, but it’s not something you’ll want to wear when going out. Instead, you can wear the new smart glasses that Samsung introduced at its Galaxy Unpacked event.
The digital side of things is a collaboration between Samsung, Google, and Qualcomm. The specs run Android XR on the Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1 chipset. Unlike the XR2+ Gen 2 chip inside the Galaxy XR, the AR1 chip is specifically designed for thinner and lighter smart glasses.
Samsung Smart Glasses Designed by Gentle Monster
The glasses feature the Google Gemini AI Assistant, a version made for wearables. It can view the world around you through a built-in camera for additional context. For example, it can take a picture of a whiteboard and organize the information in your Notes app. The camera can also be used as a camera by recording first-person video or showing things around you in a video call.
Glasses can summarize long messages and read important information to you. They also provide a real-time translation feature for people traveling abroad who do not speak the language.
They can also help you move around the city with real-time navigation to a selected location and if you are on a sightseeing tour they can provide information about your surroundings.
Samsung smart glasses designed by Warby Parker
There are several ways to control glasses. The first is a hands-free option with voice commands. The second is to use touch-sensitive areas on the temples of the glasses. Additionally, you can control the glasses through a connected device.
If you’re looking for a display on these glasses, you won’t find one – they’re focused on audio feedback. Samsung’s press release said the glasses aim to bring AI closer to people “as they walk, work, communicate and discover, without the need to initiate every interaction with a screen.” Android XR has full support for display-less designs. These are called “AI glasses,” but Samsung is also working on AR glasses that will have displays.
While the electronics side of things was handled by tech companies, Samsung chose Gentle Monster and Warby Parker for the design. The Gentle Monster created a fashion-forward look with a slim black frame with a straight upper rim and rounded lower edges. Warby Parker instead chose brown, which was suitable for everyday wear.
The Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1 chip that powers Samsung smart glasses
“As agentic AI reshapes mobile experiences, the next step is to make those experiences more intuitive and responsive to each user’s context. Intelligent Eyewear creates a new point of interaction, naturally bringing more personalized AI assistance into the moments that make up everyday life.” said Won-Joon Choi, chief operating officer of Mobile Experience (MX) business at Samsung Electronics.
“Google and Samsung have a shared vision to bring assistive and context-aware intelligence into everyday life. Built on the Android XR platform, intelligent eyewear blends world-class designs with Gemini’s advanced assistance that naturally reacts to what you see, providing all-day, hands-free assistance. We’re excited to continue this momentum and bring this experience to people soon,” said Samir Samat, president of Android ecosystem at Google.