Samsung to Launch Smart Glasses in 2026 Amid Tightening AI Race
In focus
- Samsung is partnering with Qualcomm and Google to develop the smart glasses
- The AI glasses will be able to connect to smartphones
- Samsung’s AI smart glasses features will also include a built-in camera
Samsung Electronics is preparing to make its first AI-powered glasses. CNBC reported that Samsung AI smart glasses will feature a camera and will be able to connect to smartphones. Speaking on the sidelines of the Mobile World Congress event in Barcelona, Executive VP for Samsung’s mobile business, Jay Kim revealed some details about the AI glasses.
Eye Level Built-in Camera
According to Kim, the built-in camera in Samsung Galaxy AI glasses 2026 will be at the eye level. The connection with the smartphone will enable the handset to process the information from the camera.
Kim did not reveal whether the smart glasses will feature a built-in display. He however said Samsung has developed phones and smartwatches that users can use for display when need arises. The Samsung executive said the company is targeting to launch a product by the end of this year.
Speaking on CNBC earlier this week, Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon confirmed the Samsung smart glasses release timeline and noted that the smart glasses were “close to our eyes, close to our ears, close to our mouth, we’re going to have those agentic experiences and workloads.”
Samsung’s Partnership with Qualcomm
Since 2023, Samsung has partnered with Qualcomm and Google to design the processors, operating system and hardware required to support its mixed-reality technology. This type of technology combines virtual and augmented reality, and involves imposing digital images in the real world.
Samsung’s collaboration with the U.S. companies resulted in the development of the Galaxy XR headset last year. The design of the headsets was based on Android’s XR operating system. XR or extended reality combines virtual, mixed, and augmented reality. Despite the headset milestone, the ultimate goal is to manufacture Samsung AI powered AR glasses.
“I think the XR on the headset will sort of be around. But not as a sort of mass scale business. Everybody talks about what the next AI device is, and I know I’ve been looking at many different types of devices. Glasses, obviously, are one of them and everybody’s looking at it,” Kim noted.
Tech Giants Join the Smart Glasses Race
Increasingly, tech companies are viewing glasses as more appealing compared to XR products due to their smaller size and wide usage. According to Counterpoint Research, the smart glasses market is currently dominated by Meta’s Ray-Ban glasses, which holds 82% global share.
Players like Xreal, Alibaba, and now Samsung, are seeking to challenge the social media giant.
Development of advanced AI systems like ChatGPT and Gemini is driving the race towards smart glasses.
Device manufacturers are exploring alternative ways for users to interact with these systems beyond typing on gadgets. For Kim, the critical thing for AI to understand is where a user is looking so that it can transfer the information to a mobile device and process it.
