Samsung details smart glasses specs, citing nine-hour battery life and privacy safeguards
Pricing and availability to be announced in autumn as Samsung addresses privacy concerns with LED indicators and tamper-detection software.
Samsung has provided further specifications for its upcoming smart glasses, confirming the devices will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1 platform. The hardware includes a Hexagon NPU designed for on-device artificial intelligence tasks, with Qualcomm describing the silicon as optimised for lightweight, battery-efficient eyewear. The company stated that the glasses will deliver nine hours of battery life per charge, supplemented by a charging case capable of providing seven additional full charges.
The devices do not feature a display screen. Instead, functionality relies on connectivity standards including Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.3, allowing the glasses to stream data from a connected smartphone. Key capabilities include visual search and real-time translation, which Samsung describes as enabling a personal assistant experience. The hardware also incorporates hidden speaker and microphone grilles along the stems, alongside a single button on the right side and a power switch on the left.
A central focus of the announcement is the integrated camera and the measures taken to address privacy concerns. The glasses feature an LED indicator that activates during recording. To prevent non-consensual filming, Samsung has implemented software that disables the camera system if the LED light is detected as obscured or blocked. This approach mirrors safeguards used by competitors, such as Meta, which have previously faced criticism and third-party tampering services regarding privacy breaches.
The frames for the smart glasses are the result of collaborations with eyewear brands Warby Parker and Gentle Monster. Four distinct designs are available, including two boxy black styles from Gentle Monster and two rounded, red-brown frames from Warby Parker. Samsung teased the project earlier this year at Google I/O and has now provided the first in-person preview of the hardware alongside its partners.
Samsung has not yet disclosed the retail price or specific release date for the smart glasses. The company confirmed that further details regarding pricing and availability will be provided in the autumn. The effectiveness of the new privacy measures in preventing tampering remains unverified, as the product is a new initiative in a market where similar devices have faced challenges with user behaviour and security bypasses.
