Gentle Monster Intelligent Eyewear is an upcoming collection of smart glasses with frames designed by Gentle Monster for an Android XR eyewear project developed by Google and Samsung Electronics. The audio models are intended to pair with mobile phones and support voice interaction through Gemini and Bixby. Google and Samsung previewed the first Gentle Monster and Warby Parker frames at Google I/O 2026 on May 19, 2026. Two additional frames, including a second Gentle Monster design, were presented at Galaxy Unpacked in London on July 22, 2026. The first collections are scheduled to launch in select markets in fall 2026. As of July 2026, pricing and an exact release date had not been announced.
Background and development Google announced Android XR in December 2024 as a platform for XR headsets and glasses, developed with Samsung and Qualcomm. In 2025, Google announced work with Samsung, Gentle Monster, and Warby Parker on Android XR smart glasses. The smart-glasses hardware is jointly developed by Google and Samsung, while Gentle Monster and Warby Parker are responsible for the frame designs.
Announcement At Google I/O 2026, the project was presented in two categories: audio glasses, which provide spoken assistance without a display, and display glasses, which show information in the user's line of sight. The audio models were scheduled to launch first and to pair with Android and iOS phones. At Galaxy Unpacked on July 22, 2026, Samsung presented two additional frames and disclosed the first detailed hardware specifications for the audio models. Pricing and an exact release date remained unannounced, while the first collections continued to be scheduled for release in select markets in fall 2026.
Hardware and features The audio glasses shown in July use the Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1 platform and include a built-in camera, microphones, speakers, a physical button and a power switch. The models do not contain a display. Battery life is rated at up to nine hours on a single charge, while the charging case can provide up to seven additional full charges. Actual battery life varies according to network conditions, device settings and the features used. Announced functions include message summaries, spoken reading, live translation, navigation guidance, visual capture, note organization, live visual sharing and point-of-view recording. Some functions require a network connection, compatible devices or supported applications. A front-facing LED indicates when the camera is recording, and recording is disabled if the indicator is obscured. The glasses also have an inward-facing recording indicator and use wear detection to disable recording when removed.
Design A Gentle Monster frame was shown alongside a Warby Parker design at Google I/O in May 2026. The second Gentle Monster frame shown in July was black and more squared, with a straight upper rim and rounded lower edges. The camera and recording indicator are positioned on the front of the frame, while the speaker and microphone openings are located along the temples. A button is positioned on the right temple, with a power switch on the inner side of the left temple.
See also Google Glass Ray-Ban Meta Gentle Monster
References
