// ENGADGET — MOBILE & WEB
The first batch of Android XR smartglasses made me rethink my stance on specs without displays
I still want models with built-in screens, but Google’s first run of intelligent eyewear has a lot to offer.
The first device powered by Android XR came out last year when Samsung released the Galaxy XR headset. But this fall, Google is taking its augmented reality platform in a different direction with the launch of intelligent eyewear from partners such as Warby Parker and Gentle Monster. This gives Google its own version of lightweight smartglasses to rival competitors like the third-gen Ray-Ban Meta line, and after testing them out, it made me reconsider my feelings about smart specs without built-in displays.
As this first generation of intelligent eyewear is a bit of a departure from previous Android XR devices, I think it's important to get some of the basics out of the way first. For this family of specs, Google is in charge of the OS while Samsung is handling much of the tech — including things like the cameras, mics, touch sensors and more. All of that then gets handed over to Warby Parker and Gentle Monster, who are in charge of the glasses design, lenses, general sales and customer support.
Right off the bat, this seems like a great division of responsibilities because it allows each company to do what they're best at. Google handles the software, Samsung takes care of the hardware and the real glasses makers ensure you have good-looking frames with the right prescriptions (you can even opt for transition/photochromic lenses). And right out of the gate, it feels like there's already a lot of interesting styles and color combos to choose from, regardless if you're a bit more fashion-forward or if you, like me, prefer a more traditional frame.
Another important thing to note is that while Gentle Monster's eyewear will be a touch more expensive than Warby Parker's models ($449 and $395, respectively), they will have the same general tech specs. Those include the same 2GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, a 12MP camera (that also handles up to 3K video), stereo speakers, far-field mics and a built-in touch sensor. Battery life is also the same across the board with around nine hours of use on a single charge, while the case for the glasses stores enough juice for multiple full charges.
Furthermore, you won't be required to have a paid Gemini plan to use any of the features of the glasses; it's all free. These glasses will even work with both Android devices and iPhones with feature parity across both OSes. That said, there won't be any options with a built-in display, which means Google won't have a true rival to the Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses, at least not yet.
When it comes to features, it's no surprise that these glasses have a lot of overlap with the Ray-Ban Meta specs. There's a physical button near the right temple for capturing images: A short press takes a picture while a long press records videos. There's also a touch sensor built into the right arm for doing stuff like controlling volume, pausing audio or dismissing Gemini. And of course, the glasses are connected to your phone wirelessly (either Bluetooth or Wi-Fi depending on the situation) so you have access to streaming music, notifications, messages, supported apps and more. However, the real lynchpin of the entire platform is Google's AI, which can be easily summoned via voice controls or by performing a long press on the touch panel.
Now I'll admit that I don't interact with Gemini all that often when I'm using a phone or a laptop. When I already have access to a screen, a keyboard and all sorts of dedicated apps, so I find I can often perform tasks faster manually than asking an AI assistant to do them. But when wearing smartglasses, it's a whole different story. If you want to respond to a text, get turn-by-turn directions or start some tunes, you can do all that hands-free with simple voice commands while keeping your phone in your pocket. Granted, that is sort of table stakes for smartglasses these days, but being able to walk around with your h