Warby Parker prepares smart glasses launch with Google and Samsung

Warby Parker prepares smart glasses launch with Google and Samsung

Warby Parker is preparing to enter the smart-eyewear market, with pre-orders for its first Intelligent Eyewear collection opening on 12 November 2026. The company expects deliveries during the festive season, according to its third-quarter results announcement. According to launch reporting, pricing and the full collection are due to be revealed on the pre-order date.

For UK opticians unfamiliar with the name, Warby Parker is a US eyewear and eye-care business founded in 2010. It sells directly to consumers online and through stores in the US and Canada, offering prescription spectacles, sunglasses, contact lenses and eye examinations. Its conventional prescription glasses start at US$95, according to its investor overview; smart-eyewear pricing remains separate and unannounced.

The move comes as the retailer continues to grow. For the quarter ended 30 September 2026, Warby Parker reported revenue of US$244.7 million, up 10.4% year on year, and net income of US$5.6 million. It ended the quarter with 364 stores and 2.74 million active customers measured over the preceding 12 months. Its results release says full-year guidance now includes a modest contribution from Intelligent Eyewear.

The collaboration combines Warby Parker’s frame design and prescription expertise with Google’s artificial intelligence and Samsung’s hardware engineering. Advertised features include real-time translation, turn-by-turn navigation, photography and video, open-ear audio and voice assistance through Google Gemini. Compatibility and feature availability vary, and some functions require setup or a subscription.

For UK practices, the development is worth watching as an eyewear retailer brings optical expertise into connected glasses. Prescription suitability, fitting, aftercare and explaining digital features are practical questions for the profession.