Google Opens Preorders for $395 Smart Glasses with (Limited) iPhone Support
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Preorders are now live for Google’s iPhone-supporting “Intelligent Eyewear” collection. Google’s smart glasses start at $395, putting them in the same price range as a standard Apple Watch. The collection will initially be available in the United States and in South Korea.
As we reported earlier this year, Google is teaming up with two eyeglasses companies — Warby Parker and Gentle Monster — to produce several styles of AI smart glasses, while longtime Android partner Samsung co-developed the underlying hardware and software platform.
The Intelligent Eyewear collection is powered by Android XR and includes a wide array of clear and tinted glasses in various frame styles. No matter which style of frame and lenses you select, they’ll all offer the same level of functionality, using Google Gemini for real-time assistance.
These collections, which were designed to fit a variety of styles, integrate helpful technology into frames you’ll want to wear every day, and work with Pixel and Samsung phones, as well as iPhones.
Gentle Monster’s high-end designs transform glasses into a means of self-expression. Their Intelligent Eyewear Collection includes six designs in bold colors — including dark red, pink, gray, and yellow — paired with tinted, clear, blue, or brown lenses. Prescription options are available for most frames. Starting at $449, the collection will be available in the United States and in South Korea.
While iPhone support is listed, Google did not go into detail about just how deep that integration goes. It’s a given that it will rely on Google’s companion app, much like Meta’s Ray-Ban glasses, as Apple isn’t about to grant Google any special iOS-level privileges here. The spec sheet also reveals that you’ll need an iPhone 13 Pro or newer model and at least iOS 26.6 to run the app.
Features
Google’s new Intelligent Eyewear collection will do little to put at ease folks who are wary of smart glasses, as every model is equipped with a built-in camera to take advantage of Gemini’s new Guided Vision feature, designed for users with vision issues like low vision or full blindness. The new eyewear will offer visual assistance and audio descriptions, helping the wearer navigate through the real world while helping to read small print and find everyday items.
Google has also collaborated with Aira to allow users to say “Hey Gemini, open Aira Explorer” to begin streaming their glasses’ camera feed directly to a professionally trained human visual interpreter for real-time support.
Sadly, while those are both great accessibility features, they’re also limited to Android devices for now. Google hasn’t said when (or even if) these will expand to iPhone users.
Beyond that, the cameras will do what cameras traditionally do, capturing photos and videos via a 12-megapixel ultra-wide sensor built into each pair of glasses. Privacy advocates will appreciate an indicator that lights up to alert to a photo or video being captured.
The Intelligent Eyewear collection also has built-in audio capabilities and supports Apple Music, YouTube Music, and Spotify for music lovers, while offering Audible support for fans of audiobooks (but only on Android, for now).
On the bright side, Google’s glasses do carry official Made for iPhone (MFi) certification, can save captured photos and videos straight into the Photos app, and will let users send messages and place calls through the default messaging and calling apps.
As noted by Mactrast, the built-in audio feature also allows users to hear turn-by-turn navigation directions using Google Maps. A Google Translate feature will offer real-time translation for over 70 languages.
Privacy
Google says the new smart glasses have built-in privacy protections for both users and those around the user.
Those protections include:
- Camera visuals from Gemini on glasses are not saved in your Gemini History and they are not used to train AI models or target ads. The glasses are also designed to automatically remove bystanders’ faces from the visuals before they are processed by Gemini.
- All data is encrypted both on device and in transit (for any data sent to Google).
- Users have full control over which apps can access their glasses’ camera and mic. Chats with Gemini can be reviewed and deleted, and users can adjust their settings at any time in Gemini History.
- When a photo is being taken or a video is being recorded, an indicator light alerts people around you. The glasses are designed to stop recording if the light is covered or disabled.
- Every pair of glasses has an off switch, allowing users to turn their glasses completely off whenever they’d like.
Pricing and Availability
Pricing varies according to the brand and model of the glasses you select. Gentle Monster’s designs start at $449 (ranging up to $489), while Warby Parker’s offerings start at $395 online and at more than 360 retail locations. Both collections are available for preorder now in the United States and South Korea ahead of their official December 10, 2026 launch.
