Samsung is reportedly gearing up to introduce a new set of XR glasses at its Unpacked event next month, according to a recent Yonhap News update from South Korea. Back in July, Samsung had teased more details about its “XR platform,” a project it’s developing alongside Google and Qualcomm, that would be revealed by the end of the year.
While the exact nature of the “XR platform” remains shrouded in mystery, rumors have hinted at a potential challenger to Apple’s Vision Pro and another competitor to Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses. More recently, a report from Yonhap News, as highlighted by TechRadar, suggests that Samsung might reveal a gadget resembling “regular glasses or sunglasses” with a weight of about 50 grams.
The device is expected to boast features like payment capabilities, gesture recognition, and facial recognition, aiming for a launch around the third quarter of 2025. Samsung’s Android-powered XR software is also anticipated to be showcased later this month.
Although Yonhap refers to the gadget as “AR glasses” (through a translation from Korean), its lightweight design and absence of built-in displays seem more akin to Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses than a full-on AR experience like Meta’s Orion AR glasses prototype.
If you’re wondering about the difference between AR glasses and smart glasses, our detailed guide has got you covered. In short, smart glasses don’t project immersive images, but rather provide data access that you’d typically utilize on a smartphone or smartwatch, using visual or audio outputs akin to Ray-Ban Meta. In contrast, AR headsets, such as the HoloLens 2 or Meta Orion, overlay immersive imagery, which makes them pricier and more complex to produce.
Should Samsung indeed be unveiling smart glasses instead of a comprehensive AR device, they’d be following in strong footsteps. Meta has celebrated considerable success with its smart glasses venture in collaboration with Ray-Ban since its 2021 debut, extending their partnership with EssilorLuxottica up until 2030. In the same vein, Xiaomi is rumored to be developing a similar product, working with ODM Goertek to benchmark against Ray-Ban Meta.
This buzz follows Samsung’s series of trademarks that seem to forecast the future of XR devices. In mid-2023, Samsung filed for the ‘Samsung Glasses’ trademark with the UK’s Intellectual Property Office and subsequently requested the ‘Galaxy Glasses’ trademark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office in early 2024.
Though Samsung hasn’t officially announced when Unpacked will occur, it traditionally happens in January or February. However, an Android Police article hints at a possible date leak: January 23rd in San Francisco, California.
