New Google Smart Glasses could debut next week at I/O
Google is teasing a smart glasses demo for its upcoming I/O conference, hinting that the company’s entry into the increasingly crowded smart glasses market may be just around the corner.
During its livestream, “The Android Show: I/O Edition,” Google dropped a not-so-subtle hint about what’s coming at I/O next Tuesday, May 20. Near the end of the broadcast, Sameer Samat, President of Android Ecosystem, donned a headset and teased “maybe even a few more really cool Android demos.” The implication? Expect to see smart glasses — or at least something very close — on stage.
Google’s Smart Glasses prototype already includes a display
This isn’t the first time Google has shown off its work in smart eyewear. At the recent TED conference “Humanity Reimagined” in Vancouver, the company unveiled a prototype: glasses that look deceptively normal, but pack a miniaturized display and on-board Gemini AI features. A team of Google execs, including Nishta Bathia, Product Manager for Glasses & AI, demoed several use cases.
One standout feature is “Memory”—the built-in Gemini assistant uses a camera to keep tabs on your surroundings, helping you remember where you left everyday items. The prototype also supports real-time recording, translation, and transcription of conversations. It’s a lot of functionality packed into something that, at a glance, could pass for standard glasses.
Still, if Google does choose to announce or launch new smart glasses at I/O, don’t be surprised if the initial version skips the display entirely. Reports from ETNews in South Korea indicate that Google and Samsung are collaborating on a smart glasses project — code-named “Haean” — targeted for release this year. The specs are reportedly still being finalized, but early leaks suggest this could be a direct competitor to Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses: no display, and a price point starting around $300.
The Smart Headset Market Is Getting Crowded
The competition isn’t standing still. According to Bloomberg, Meta is planning to release its own display-equipped smart glasses later this year, with a rumored price tag north of $1,000.
Meanwhile, Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses are already a breakout hit. At a recent investor event, Mark Zuckerberg confirmed that sales tripled over the past year. Francesco Milleri, CEO of EssilorLuxottica, put the total number sold at 2 million units so far.
The momentum is especially strong in Europe and the EMEA region. Stefano Grassi, CFO of Ray-Ban’s parent company, shared that the smart headset was the top-selling product in 60 percent of Ray-Ban stores across EMEA in 2024 — even though AI features only just became available in Europe due to regulatory delays.
The bottom line: The smart glasses race is heating up, and all eyes are on Google to see if it’s finally ready to jump in.
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