Google opened preorders on November 12 for its first AI glasses powered by Gemini, with frames starting at $395, as The Rundown reported. The glasses put Google in direct competition with Meta’s Ray-Bans, with privacy safeguards central to its pitch.
Google says sales will begin December 10 in the U.S. and South Korea. Built with Samsung, the glasses come in nine styles from Warby Parker and Gentle Monster and work with iPhones as well as Android phones.
What buyers get
Warby Parker’s three styles start at $395, while Gentle Monster’s six start at $449. Google lists a 12MP camera, speakers that keep the ears uncovered, frames weighing about 41 grams and up to nine hours of battery life. There is no display in the lenses.
Wearers can say “Hey Gemini” to ask about what they’re looking at, get Maps directions in their ear, play music or translate speech live across more than 70 languages. Google says Guided Vision and Aira support will be limited to Android at launch.
Google’s privacy promises
In its privacy announcement, Google says the glasses redact bystanders’ faces before Gemini processes camera images. It says those visuals are excluded from Gemini History, model training and ad targeting. Owners can also revoke apps’ access to the camera and microphone.
The glasses show a light when recording and, according to Google, stop recording if that light is covered. Google Play rules prohibit social livestreaming through the camera and live facial identification. Setup requirements prohibit recording people without permission or recording in sensitive places.
Why it matters
Meta has a commanding lead. Omdia estimates that it accounted for 81.3% of global AI glasses shipments in the first half of 2026. Privacy backlash around Meta’s cameras gives Google an opening to compete on trust.
Meta announced Ray-Ban Meta Audio on September 23, offering an option without cameras. TechCrunch connected the move to criticism of recording people without consent. Meta’s own explanation emphasized demand for audio and a slimmer, lighter design. The backlash is part of the context for that decision; its precise influence remains unclear.
Google’s bet is that it can keep the camera and still earn trust. A wearer could ask Gemini about a sign, menu or object without first describing it. Face redaction aims to preserve that visual help while limiting the exposure of people caught in view.
The recording light alone offers little distinction. Meta already says that blocking its capture light disables the camera. Google’s data rules offer another point of comparison. It says the camera visuals Gemini processes stay out of training and ads. It also says text chats are saved in Gemini History, with settings that govern whether they help improve models.
Winning buyers and reassuring bystanders pose different tests for Google. Owners can choose which apps get camera access. People around them need a way to understand what the glasses are doing. The announcements leave open whether the recording light turns on during Gemini visual analysis and whether face redaction covers saved photos or other apps. Google is pitching itself as the safer choice. How reliably its safeguards work, and whether they reassure people around the wearer, remain open questions.
