Google showcased its first pair of smart glasses at I/O 2026. Developed in partnership with Samsung and Qualcomm, the company plans to launch its audio-focused glasses first.
The glasses will debut later this fall and feature frames from Gentle Monster and Warby Parker.
Google’s first smart glasses are audio-only
Apple unveiled Vision Pro and visionOS with a big splash at WWDC23. The headset went on sale a few months later, in early 2024.
However, Apple’s long-term goal is to launch a pair of smart glasses running visionOS. Reports suggest the company is testing four different prototypes, with the first device potentially launching in 2027.
Google is getting there first, though. The company officially unveiled its first smart glasses running Android XR at its 2026 developer conference, beating Apple to the punch.
While Google ultimately plans to release smart glasses with a built-in display, it is starting with a simpler audio-focused model for its first-generation product.
Photo: Google
The audio-only smart glasses feature Gemini integration. You can invoke the assistant by saying “Hey Google” or by tapping the side of the frame. From there, you can ask the AI assistant about the world around you, ask for navigation directions, manage calls, send messages, get real-time translations and more.
While the specs of the smart glasses aren’t available yet, they feature an integrated camera, microphone and speakers. You can capture photos and videos with them, and even use Nano Banana to remove unwanted objects — all through voice commands.
Use Gemini to order coffee or book a cab
Since the smart glasses will feature full-fledged Gemini integration, Google says you can even take advantage of Gemini’s agentic capabilities to order coffee from DoorDash or book a cab from Uber, without taking out your phone from your pocket.
Besides Android, Google’s audio-only smart glasses will also work with iPhones.
Rajesh has been writing about consumer technology for over a decade, with a strong focus on iPhones, Macs and Apple’s ecosystem. He enjoys digging into Apple software updates, hardware changes, and discovering new Mac apps that make work faster and more enjoyable.
