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Samsung reportedly plans to begin selling its Android XR-based smart glasses in mid-December. According to GSMArena, initial sales of the Intelligent Eyewear will cover only South Korea and the United States. The device’s price was not specified in the report.
Latest sales schedule
A previous report from South Korea said Samsung’s Intelligent Eyewear would launch in November, citing a Samsung official. However, the latest report from the same country states that consumers will only be able to purchase the device in mid-December.
The difference in timing indicates that the launch date and purchasing availability may remain separate. GSMArena reported mid-December as the point when the glasses will actually go on sale, while the specific sales date and distribution arrangements were not disclosed.
South Korea and the US to come first
South Korea and the United States are said to be the first two markets for the Intelligent Eyewear. Europe, China, and Japan are not included in the initial phase, meaning consumers in those regions will have to wait for a later distribution expansion.
According to the report, Samsung wants to assess the response in the South Korean and US markets before bringing the device to more regions. A similar approach was previously used for the Galaxy XR headset, which first arrived in those two countries last October and then reached the United Kingdom in July this year. No schedule has been mentioned for the glasses’ launch in other markets.
Android XR without a display
The Intelligent Eyewear runs Android XR with Gemini support. Unlike augmented reality devices that display information directly in front of users, Samsung’s glasses are said to have no display. The device is still equipped with a camera, microphones, and speakers to support various voice-based and image-capturing functions.
The mentioned features include real-time translation and voice-guided directions. The camera can also be used to capture documents or meetings, with the results then organized automatically through the Notes app on a Galaxy phone.
The glasses use the Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1 chipset. Samsung promises up to nine hours of use on a single charge, although the report does not explain the usage conditions on which that estimate is based.
Four design options have been shown
Samsung designed the Intelligent Eyewear frames in collaboration with Gentle Monster and Warby Parker. So far, the company has shown four different frame styles.
Two styles were introduced at Google I/O in May, while the other two were shown at a Galaxy Unpacked event. Information about the price of each model, feature differences between styles, and the options that will be available during the initial sales period has not been disclosed.
With purchasing availability reportedly set for mid-December, attention will now turn to pricing decisions and expansion plans. For now, initial availability is said to remain limited to South Korea and the United States.
