Last December, I wore Google Glasses in several forms while they were still under development. Soon you’ll be able to get your hands on the final versions. When, exactly, and for how much? We may find out more in just a handful of days.
While Meta has been the biggest tech company aiming for a place on your face in glasses form, it’s far from the only one. Google’s about to enter the race with a whole range of smart glasses, the company’s first return to everyday face tech since Google Glass in 2013.
This time, the focus is almost entirely on AI. Gemini will be the reason and the biggest function for what makes Google’s Android XR glasses work, but they’ll come in a wide range of designs: Warby Parker, Gentle Monster, Kering Eyewear and Samsung are all expected to have their own models. Xreal, a maker of display glasses, will have an additional plug-in mixed reality device called Project Aura, too.
This year’s Google I/O developer conference is just around the corner on May 19, and we should hear a lot more about Google’s smart glasses strategy. I’ll be there, along with a number of other CNET colleagues. But we already know a lot, since Google talked about and demoed these glasses last year. Now that we’re in 2026, all these glasses should finally arrive, and if you’ve even been half thinking about getting a pair of smart glasses, you’ll want to see what they’re all about.
CNET’s Patrick Holland trying on a prototype model of the glasses last year, also at Google I/O.
Three (or more) design partners
Warby Parker, Korean fashion eyewear brand Gentle Monster and European eyewear brand Kering are already official Android XR glasses partners, meaning all three will launch lines of Android XR glasses. Expect lots of designs and fashion riffs, much like how Meta’s glasses partner EssilorLuxottica makes many frame designs under its Oakley and Ray-Ban brands.
Gucci smart glasses are expected via Kering, and there are sure to be more surprises. Also, Samsung is likely in the mix. Even though Samsung is already a partner helping make all these other glasses (likely by provisioning camera and display components), Samsung is reportedly going to announce its own Android XR glasses at some point, too, perhaps as soon as July at the next Unpacked event.
Google could be letting Samsung be the first mover in the space, since that’s exactly what’s happened with smart watches and the Galaxy XR headset over the last few years. If that’s the case, Samsung’s glasses could launch first, followed by all the other glasses after.
Add to the mix Xreal, a manufacturer of USB-tethered display-enabled glasses, which is making its own Android XR mini-computer called Project Aura (more on that below).
Much like Google’s many partnerships with watch brands years ago via Android Wear, more glasses brands could come aboard in the future, too.
Will you know who’s wearing these glasses, and how comfortable will the AI privacy policies feel?
Will Google solve the privacy and social acceptance issues?
Meta has repeatedly run into trouble over its handling of users’ personal data, and inappropriate public use of its smart glasses cameras has led to social media backlash. Meta’s AI privacy policies are murky, and Meta’s not a company that’s respected for social media safety or privacy, with very good reason.
Will Google do better? It’s considered more reputable, but it’s also a company that already blends ads into our personal data and is increasingly swallowing up more data, like health and fitness, for its connected AI services. Google will have to explain how responsible it’ll be with glasses going forward, and overcome public acceptance factors. Will the “Glasshole” moniker come back to bite it?
Price and release date unknown
We have no idea when these glasses are coming, other than “sometime in 2026.” But expect more news starting at Google I/O on May 19. I’ll be there, and we’ll be reporting on all the AI and smart glasses news as it happens. We should know more then.
