Warby Parker opened U.S. preorders Thursday for its first smart glasses with Google and Samsung. The Alden, Wren and Reid frames start at $395. At that price, you can get standard single-vision lenses in the medium Alden shown on the company’s site. Progressives for that same frame start at $725. And an iPhone 13 may or may not work with the glasses, depending on which model you own.
The glasses have a camera, speakers and microphones. Google’s Gemini can give spoken directions, translate a conversation and answer questions about what the camera sees. For shoppers who already wear glasses, the decision starts with the phone they use and the lenses they need.
What the lenses cost
The medium Alden in Pine gives a price breakdown. Standard polycarbonate lenses are included in the listed starting prices. The company lists readers at $495 and progressives at $725. It also lists $60 for 1.67 high-index material and $125 for light-responsive lenses. A $395 single-vision configuration with the $60 material upgrade comes to $455 before taxes and any other extras. Progressives start $330 above standard single-vision lenses.
Warby Parker lists a total prescription power range of -8.00 to +5.00 and a cylinder range of -5.00 to +5.00. Stronger prescriptions may require 1.67 high-index lenses. The 1.74 ultra high-index option is unavailable for this collection. If you usually buy that material, have the retailer check your prescription before placing the order.
Which phones work
Warby Parker’s compatibility list specifies an iPhone 13 or later with at least 6 GB of memory and iOS 26.6 or later. The ordinary iPhone 13 has 4 GB. The iPhone 13 Pro has 6 GB and meets the memory requirement.
For Android, Warby Parker lists a Pixel 7 or newer running Android 17 or later. It also lists the Samsung Galaxy S, S FE, Z Fold, Z Flip and Z Fold Ultra families running One UI 9 or later. Check the software version on your particular device. Warby Parker’s eyewear terms restrict use of the services to people 18 and older.
What the glasses do
The frames have a 12-megapixel camera, two open-ear speakers and four microphones. They can record video at up to 3K. Warby Parker rates the glasses for up to nine hours per charge and says the included case can recharge them seven times. Those are the company’s ratings. Gemini gives its answers through the speakers. These frames have no display in the lenses. Google’s video demo shows how Gemini answers through the glasses.
Reuters reported that a white light on the front turns on when video recording starts. Google told Reuters that the glasses block facial recognition of bystanders and that images captured with the device will not be used to train its AI. Warby Parker’s eyewear terms say the technology partners handle data from privately owned devices under their own policies. During a store demo, Warby Parker says it collects what you capture through its demo account.
How the price compares with Ray-Ban Meta
Ray-Ban’s U.S. site lists its camera-equipped Meta Gen 2 glasses from $379, $16 below Warby Parker’s entry price. Ray-Ban’s compatibility FAQ requires the Meta AI app. The app’s U.S. App Store listing requires iOS 18.4 or later, so check the app listing for your phone before buying. Compare the price with your actual prescription selected. The two starting prices do not tell you what progressives or specialty lenses will cost on both pairs.
When preorders ship
Warby Parker says shipments start in mid-December. The medium Alden in Pine showed an estimated Dec. 14 ship date on Thursday morning. The retailer’s FAQ says prescription orders can take up to 21 days once production starts. Use the ship estimate for the exact pair you configure if you’re ordering for a gift. The 30-day return window starts on delivery. Warby Parker requires both the frames and the charging case back in the condition in which you received them. The company says guided demos are available in more than 60 U.S. stores at launch, with more locations due the following week.
