Samsung's first smart glasses may arrive in mid-December

Samsung's first smart glasses may go on sale in mid-December in the United States and South Korea. That comes from a report by ChoSun Biz, not from Samsung itself. The glasses are called Samsung Intelligent Eyewear, and they have been a long time coming.

What we know

The glasses are expected in Gentle Monster and Warby Parker styles. Every planned model has a camera on the front. Samsung might make camera-free glasses later, but that is only a possibility.

They run Android XR, Google's operating system for smart glasses and VR headsets. Google's Gemini assistant is built in, too.

What it could cost

There is no official price. In July, Samsung said the glasses would have "a reasonable price" for a product "in the premium range." That likely means they will cost more than Meta's latest glasses at $299. Meta's top Oakley pair, the Oakley Meta Vanguard, sells for $499.

How Samsung sees them

Samsung says its glasses are meant to extend what your smartphone does, not replace it. Meta often calls its devices part of a "post-smartphone" era. Samsung treats glasses more like a smartwatch, a companion to the phone.

Because the glasses use Android XR, they should work with Android phones better than rival products. Wear OS smartwatches show the same pattern.

What to do

If you use an Android phone and want a tech gift this year, these could be an option. Nothing is confirmed yet, though. Wait for the real price, an official date and independent reviews before spending money.