Samsung and Google’s Gemini glasses open for preorder, from $395 in the U.S.

Gentle Monster and Warby Parker opened preorders on November 12 for Intelligent Eyewear, the Gemini-enabled smart glasses they developed with Samsung and Google. Gentle Monster is taking its first round of orders through November 15 on its South Korean and U.S. online stores. Prices start at 650,000 won in South Korea and $449 in the United States. Warby Parker's U.S. store starts at $395.

Shipping follows in December. Gentle Monster lists December 10 as its launch date and says first-batch orders for the GGS001 01 shown on both storefronts ship from December 9. Warby Parker says shipments begin in mid-December. Its medium Alden frame in Pine showed an estimated December 15 ship date when checked. Warby Parker says prescription orders can take up to 21 days once production starts.

Gentle Monster's South Korean store listed 16 combinations of frames, colors and lenses across six frame designs, priced at 650,000 to 700,000 won before optional changes. Its U.S. store showed starting prices from $449 to $489 across the collection. Warby Parker is taking orders for three designs, Alden, Reid and Wren, with a choice of sizes or colors on selected frames.

Gemini gives directions through the speakers

The glasses in this preorder are the audio models Google previewed in May. Google described a separate version that puts information on a display in the wearer's field of view and said the audio model would come first. On the preorder models, people can call up Gemini by voice or by tapping the frame. Directions and translations play through the speakers, and wearers can ask about something in front of them.

Both retailers list a 12-megapixel camera, 3K video recording at 30 frames per second, two open-ear speakers and four microphones. The camera also gives Gemini visual context when the wearer asks about their surroundings. Google says questions about the wearer's surroundings and media streaming require a Bluetooth connection to a phone. Basic functions such as taking a photo, changing the volume and checking the battery can still work without that connection.

Samsung rates the glasses for up to nine hours per charge under mixed use, with up to seven additional full charges from the case. Google says the outer indicator signals when a photo or video is captured for the gallery. A physical switch powers off the glasses, including their camera and microphones.

Lens options change what buyers can order

Gentle Monster lists a light-responsive lens for five models on its South Korean store. It darkens outdoors and is offered without a prescription. Warby Parker offers prescription and nonprescription options for regular glasses and sunglasses. Its Alden listing specifies the prescription range, and its specifications list 1.67 high-index lenses for stronger prescriptions. Its eyewear does not support 1.74 high-index lenses.

Gentle Monster gives buyers seven days after receipt to request a return on the South Korean GGS001 01 listing and 14 days from recorded delivery on the U.S. listing. Both pages exclude orders with added custom lenses. Warby Parker lists a 30-day return or exchange window from receipt and requires the frame and case to be returned in the condition they arrived in. Gentle Monster's setup guide lists the charging case and a lens cloth in the box.

Google says setup requires an eligible account from the United States or South Korea for someone 18 or older. Gentle Monster lists supported phones from the Pixel 7 series and from the iPhone 13 generation onward. An iPhone must have at least 6 GB of memory and run iOS 26.6 or later. Supported Galaxy S and Z series phones require One UI 9.0 or later. The phone model and its software determine eligibility.

Navigation requires the Google Maps app, and live translation requires Google Translate. Google describes two ways to use translation on the glasses, listening to translated speech and hearing a translation of text in view. Gentle Monster limits shipping to addresses in South Korea and the United States. It has yet to announce when it will sell the glasses in stores.