Google is expanding how you can control its new Intelligent Eyewear smart glasses—wearable gesture support is coming via the Pixel Watch and, in 2027, the Fitbit Air. These smart glasses run Android XR and are made in collaboration with Samsung; they just became available for pre-order and begin at $395.
Wearables Joining the Android XR Control Scheme
Usually, smart glasses either rely on touchpads, voice commands, or a companion band for control. With Google’s move, both Pixel Watch models and Fitbit Air devices will be able to control Android XR glasses using gestures. The Pixel Watch already tracks motions like wrist adjustments and finger pinches—actions that in Android XR demos have triggered commands such as pausing or playing music.
The Intelligent Eyewear has touch sensors built into its arms, but Google’s offering more flexibility: these wearables will serve as alternative inputs. It’s not yet fully clear which gestures the Fitbit Air will support, but expectation is that many of the existing touchpad controls will map over to the watch and Fitbit.
Timeline & Product Positioning
The Pixel Watch support is ready from the start, while Fitbit Air functionality arrives sometime in 2027. The Air has seen strong demand—so strong that Google is struggling to keep up with supply—and at a much lower price point ($99) compared to other accessories like Meta’s Neural Band ($199), it’s positioned as a value-oriented control option.
By integrating gesture control via existing wearables, Google is making the Intelligent Eyewear work better out of the box with devices many users already own. It bolsters usability without mandating new, separate controllers.
What this means: Control via watch or wearable opens up hands-free convenience, especially in moments when using touch or voice isn’t ideal. It also helps differentiate Android XR in the growing smart glasses market, where intuitive, seamless control is still a hurdle.
