GoKawiilPaul Jones / Android Authority
TL;DR At the Unpacked event, Samsung showcased two new designs for its upcoming smart glasses with Gemini.
These glasses are made in partnership with Google and eyewear brands Warby Parker and Gentle Monster.
These are non-display versions with cameras for Gemini and would likely offer nine hours of battery life under heavy usage.
While they’re being showcased today, these smart glasses won’t launch until fall this year.
Google has been teasing its entry into the smart-glasses category with template designs and a dedicated software experience under the banner of Android XR. However, its previous troubles with smart glasses, primarily the Google Glass, may not set a good precedent for new ones. Admitting its shortcomings as a hardware company, Google is limiting itself to the software, especially the Gemini-powered AI bits, while letting other companies handle the hardware. And its choice of hardware partner is Samsung, which is now showcasing its upcoming pair of AI smart glasses.
In addition to the new devices it unveiled at Unpacked today, Samsung is also shedding light on the upcoming pairs of “Intelligent Eyewear.” At the event, it revealed two new designs for smart glasses with a variety of colors, both for the frame and the lenses.
Like the two models previously revealed at Google I/O earlier this year, these newer announcements also comprise audio-only glasses created by Samsung in partnership with Google and with eyewear brands Warby Parker and Gentle Monster. We don’t get exact specifications just yet, but both Samsung and Google are discussing the advantages and use cases jointly.
Samsung and Google both insist that fashion and familiarity play a phenomenal role in the adoption of smart glasses. That’s why Google isn’t repeating the same mistake it did with Google Glass by targeting professionals and technology enthusiasts instead of the general public. Instead, it’s taking a pro-fashion approach, and that’s where Warby Parker and Gentle Monster come into play. Meanwhile, Samsung is responsible for stashing hardware inside regular-looking frames.
In addition to revealing new designs, Samsung also spoke of its efforts and contributions to refine the platform during a media roundtable ahead of the Unpacked event. During this chat, a Samsung executive discussed challenges and the company’s vision for smart glasses.
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