Samsung is reportedly preparing to launch its first AI-powered smart glasses in mid-December, but Australian consumers will not be among the first to get access.

According to South Korean publication ChosunBiz, Samsung plans to begin selling its Intelligent Eyewear in South Korea and the US before considering a wider international rollout. Europe, China and Japan have also been left out of the initial release, while Australia has not been named as a launch market.

The launch had previously been tipped for November, but the latest report suggests Samsung has pushed the release back by several weeks. Pricing has not yet been finalised, meaning there is currently no Australian price to convert or report.

Samsung and Google first previewed the eyewear earlier this year, with the products built around Google’s Android XR platform and Gemini artificial intelligence. Samsung has worked with eyewear brands Gentle Monster and Warby Parker on the designs, with four styles shown publicly so far.

Unlike conventional augmented reality glasses, Samsung’s first-generation models do not include an integrated display.

Instead, the glasses rely on cameras, microphones and audio to interact with the wearer and their surroundings. Gemini can use that information to provide functions including real-time translation, navigation and answers to spoken questions.

The glasses can also capture documents or information from meetings and organise the material through Samsung Notes on a connected Galaxy smartphone.

Samsung x Warby Parker smart glasses

Qualcomm’s Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1 platform is reportedly powering the glasses, with battery life of up to nine hours on a charge.

Samsung’s decision to restrict the initial release appears to reflect the experimental nature of the category.

An industry source cited by ChosunBiz said Samsung intends to assess demand and customer response in South Korea and the US before expanding into additional markets.

That approach is notably narrower than Samsung’s traditional Galaxy smartphone launches, which typically extend across a large number of countries soon after release.

Samsung used a similar strategy for its Galaxy XR headset, initially concentrating availability in a small number of markets before expanding distribution later.

The company will enter an increasingly competitive smart glasses market led by Meta, which has established an early presence through its collaboration with Ray-Ban.

Samsung is betting that integration with Gemini, Android XR and the wider Galaxy ecosystem can help differentiate its product, while its partnerships with Gentle Monster and Warby Parker are intended to make the glasses look more like conventional eyewear than specialist technology.

The first generation will also serve as a precursor to more advanced hardware. Reports suggest Samsung is working on a later version incorporating a colour display, potentially bringing more traditional augmented reality functions to future models.

For Australian consumers, however, there is currently no confirmed release date.

Samsung has only said that its intelligent eyewear will launch in selected markets, and the latest report indicates Australia is not included in the first South Korean and US release.