Samsung smart glasses launch this fall with 9-hour battery

Samsung gave journalists their first hands-on look at the upcoming smart glasses at a recent event, unveiling four distinct frame designs. Two frames were previously shown at Google I/O in May; the two new designs include a squared-off black pair from Gentle Monster and a rounded red-brown option from Warby Parker. Jaein Choi, Samsung's executive vice president for the mobile experience division, told CNBC that additional frame designs are in development.

The glasses are notably light and compact—described as barely heavier and bigger than thick-rimmed acrylic glasses—with integrated speaker and microphone grilles along the stems, a single button on the right side, a power switch tucked inside on the left, and a front-facing camera with a recording LED. They are powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1 chip, the same processor found in Meta's latest smart glasses. Battery performance is rated at up to nine hours per charge, with the accompanying case capable of delivering up to seven additional charges.

Software support includes both Google Gemini and Samsung's Bixby, with AI capabilities spanning message summaries, live translation, navigation guidance, and visual analysis or description of camera-captured content. Like Meta's smart glasses, the frames include a recording LED that signals when video is being captured. Choi told Bloomberg that the glasses will prevent recording if they detect the LED has been blocked or obscured—a feature Meta also implemented. However, Choi acknowledged that this technical measure has not been sufficient to prevent Meta's glasses from being labeled "pervert glasses," and referred to privacy concerns as an "industry-shared problem." Samsung has not disclosed whether it has additional plans to address public perception. The company remains silent on pricing and an exact launch window, only describing the product as "premium" and confirming a fall release.

Samsung and Google's smart glasses project has been in development for some time, with early designs first shown at Google I/O in May. The collaboration brings together Samsung's mobile expertise, Google's AI and software platform, and established eyewear makers Gentle Monster and Warby Parker—a strategy that mirrors Meta's partnership approach with Ray-Ban and Oakley in the smart glasses space. By using the same Qualcomm Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1 chip as Meta's latest glasses, Samsung ensures competitive hardware parity, while the choice to support both Google Gemini and Samsung's Bixby gives users flexibility in their AI assistant preference.

The 9-hour battery life is a notable claim in the smart glasses category, and the ability to stack seven additional charges via the case extends daily usability without frequent charging. Samsung's emphasis on physical design—keeping the frames light and resemble regular eyewear—addresses a key barrier to consumer adoption: most people will only wear glasses that don't look visibly different from conventional pairs. The presence of a recording LED and Samsung's acknowledgment that preventing LED obscuration remains an "industry-shared problem" suggests the company is aware of privacy skepticism but has not yet solved it in a way that fully addresses public concerns.