People wearing the new Warby Parker Intelligent Eyewear frames. Image: Google (official product image)
TL;DR: Hey Gemini smart glasses explained in one line: "Hey Gemini" is Google's new voice hotword, and it debuts on the Android XR smart glasses — the Intelligent Eyewear collections from Warby Parker and Gentle Monster, engineered by Samsung. Say it, or tap the frames, and Gemini Live answers using what the glasses' camera sees. Pre-orders opened 12 November 2026, sales start 10 December, and there is no India launch yet.
Key Highlights
- New hotword: "Hey Gemini" debuts on Android XR smart glasses — the first Android devices to use it. "Hey Google" and "OK Google" still work.
- What it unlocks: Gemini Live with camera vision — ask about what you see, Maps directions in your ear, live translation in 70+ languages, plus Guided Vision and Aira for low-vision users.
- The glasses: around 41 grams, a 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera, up to 9 hours of battery, no display in the lenses.
- Phones: Pixel 7 and newer, recent Galaxy phones on One UI 9.0+, and iPhone 13 Pro and later. Other Android brands are excluded at launch.
- Price and India: Warby Parker from $395, Gentle Monster $449–$489; on sale 10 December in the US (and South Korea for Gentle Monster). No India launch announced.
What is "Hey Gemini" on smart glasses?
For about a decade, talking to Google has meant saying "Hey Google" or "OK Google". Google is now introducing a new wake phrase — "Hey Gemini" — arriving first on its Android XR smart glasses, the Intelligent Eyewear collections on pre-order since 12 November 2026.
Say "Hey Gemini", or tap the frames, and a Gemini Live conversation starts. Because the glasses carry a camera, Gemini can see what you see: the story behind a street mural, or whether you are free when you glance at an event poster. Glasses are the natural place to start — with no screen, voice is almost the only control. Google has not said when, or if, the hotword will reach phones or speakers.
Hey Gemini vs Hey Google
| Wake phrase | Where it works | What it starts |
|---|---|---|
| Hey Gemini | Android XR smart glasses only, for now | Gemini Live with camera vision |
| Hey Google / OK Google | Phones, speakers, displays, watches — and these glasses too | Google Assistant or Gemini on that device |
The two phrases live side by side on the glasses. "Hey Gemini" is the new option, not a replacement.
What you can actually do with Hey Gemini on the glasses
The point is hands-free help while your phone stays in your pocket: ask about something in front of you, or have Gemini summarise missed group chats. Google Maps speaks turn-by-turn directions into your ear, Google Translate offers live speech translation in more than 70 languages, and calls, messages and music run through open-ear speakers.
The most important features may be the accessibility ones. Guided Vision gives conversational audio descriptions for people who are blind, have low vision, or want help reading small print. Say "Hey Gemini, open Aira Explorer" and the camera feed streams to a professionally trained human visual interpreter. One catch: both need a compatible Android phone at launch — they do not work with an iPhone. The 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera also takes photos and video with HDR and spatial audio, with clips up to 90 seconds at 3K, and your watch can help, with double-pinch and wrist gestures on Pixel Watch and Galaxy Watch.
Gentle Monster's Intelligent Eyewear designs. Image: Google (official product image)
Which phones work — and which don't
The glasses pair with a short list of phones — and the surprise is that iPhones made the cut, but most Android brands did not.
| Phone | Works at launch? |
|---|---|
| Google Pixel 7 and newer (Android 17, September 2026 update or later) | Yes |
| Samsung Galaxy S, S FE, Z Fold, Z Flip and Fold Ultra (One UI 9.0 or later) | Yes |
| iPhone 13 Pro and later | Yes — but Guided Vision, Aira and Audible need Android |
| Other Android brands (OnePlus, Xiaomi, Oppo, Motorola, Honor and the rest) | No — Google says it will share expansion plans in 2027 |
Setup needs a Google account for someone aged 18 or over, from the United States or South Korea. The hardware is the same across both brands: a Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1 chip, 2GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, around 41 grams, up to nine hours of battery, and a case that recharges them up to seven times.
Price, availability and the India question
Warby Parker's three styles — Alden, Reid and Wren — come in optical or sun versions, starting at $395. Gentle Monster's six designs start at $449 and run to $489, in the United States and South Korea. Across the two collections there are 30 variations, with prescription lenses for most frames. Pre-orders opened on 12 November 2026, and both collections go on sale on 10 December. For the full breakdown, see our Samsung Android XR glasses pre-order post.
For India readers, the honest answer is: not yet. Google has confirmed no launch for India — or for Europe, Japan or Latin America — and there is no India price or date. Most Android phones sold in India are not supported at launch. This is one to watch, not to import.
Privacy: what Google promises
Camera visuals that Gemini uses are not saved in your Gemini History, and Google says they are not used to train AI models or target ads. Bystanders' faces are automatically redacted before Gemini processes them. When you save a photo or video, an indicator light tells people around you, and the glasses are designed to stop recording if the light is covered or disabled. Data is encrypted on the glasses and in transit, and every pair has a physical off switch.
Two honest caveats: these are Google's promises, and independent verification must wait for real-world testing. And in hands-on testing, Ars Technica found Gemini still fumbles simple tasks such as entering calendar appointments — mistakes that are harder to catch with no screen to check the answer on.
Should you care?
✅ Yes, if you follow where voice assistants are heading. "Hey Gemini" is a small phrase with a big signal: Google is rebuilding its assistant around Gemini, starting with the device where voice is everything. If you wear glasses daily and live in the US or South Korea with a Pixel, Galaxy or iPhone, these are the most interesting AI glasses yet — and they pair with the Galaxy Watch8's new Wear OS 7 update.
⏳ Wait, if you are in India. No launch, no price, and a phone list that excludes most Indian Android brands. The idea — an AI assistant you talk to from your face, as Meta's Muse on Apple Watch is already trying on the wrist — is where wearables are going. The hardware just is not yours to buy yet.
FAQs
What is "Hey Gemini"?
"Hey Gemini" is Google's new voice hotword for its Gemini assistant. It debuts on the Android XR smart glasses (Intelligent Eyewear), where saying it — or tapping the frames — starts a Gemini Live conversation that can see what the camera sees. "Hey Google" still works too.
Does "Hey Gemini" work on phones?
No. For now it works only on the Android XR smart glasses. Google has not announced when, or if, the hotword will come to Pixel phones, other Android phones, tablets or smart speakers.
Do Google's smart glasses work with iPhone?
Yes — iPhone 13 Pro and later are supported, and on iOS Gemini can place calls, send messages and play Apple Music. But Guided Vision, Aira and Audible work only with a compatible Android phone at launch.
When will Google smart glasses launch in India?
There is no India launch date or price. The glasses go on sale on 10 December 2026 in the United States, Canada (Warby Parker) and South Korea (Gentle Monster) only.
Takeaway
"Hey Gemini" marks the moment Google's assistant stopped being "Google" and became "Gemini" — starting with the device where voice is the whole interface. The glasses are real, priced and dated; for India, the story is still watch this space.
For the full pre-order breakdown — every frame, price and store date — see our Samsung Android XR glasses pre-order post.
Sources
See our intelligent eyewear lineup and pre-order your pair — Google, The Keyword (12 Nov 2026)
Hands-on: Google's vision for Android XR glasses is 20/20 — 9to5Google (12 Nov 2026)
Google Debuts 'Hey Gemini' Hotword on XR Glasses — Android Headlines (12 Nov 2026)
Samsung and Google's first Android XR glasses are here, starting at $395 — Android Police (12 Nov 2026)
Google and Samsung unveil AI glasses with Warby Parker and Gentle Monster; sales begin December 10 — Times of India (12 Nov 2026)
Google is officially entering its 'Hey Gemini' era — Android Authority (12 Nov 2026)
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