Samsung Enters Smart Glasses Race to Challenge Meta’s Dominance

TLDR

• Samsung confirmed its upcoming AI smart glasses will feature a built-in camera connected to a smartphone for AI processing
• The glasses, codenamed Project HAEAN, are expected to launch in 2026 and will be Samsung’s first smart glasses product
• A new report suggests the device may include a built-in display, reversing earlier plans for a display-free design
• Samsung has been developing the glasses with Qualcomm and Google since 2023
• Meta’s Ray-Ban glasses currently hold 82% of the global smart glasses market

Samsung has revealed the first details about its upcoming AI smart glasses, confirming the device will have a built-in camera and connect to a smartphone.

Samsung SDI Co., Ltd., 0L2T.L

Jay Kim, executive vice president at Samsung’s mobile business, shared the details on the sidelines of Mobile World Congress in Barcelona on March 6, 2026.

The key function, according to Kim, is for AI to understand “where you’re looking at” and then “feed the information to the mobile phone” to deliver useful responses.

Kim declined to say whether the glasses will have a built-in display. He noted Samsung already has other products like its smartwatch and phone for when users need a screen.

However, a separate report from Korean outlet ETNews suggests Samsung may have changed course. The report says the glasses, codenamed Project HAEAN, could include a display that projects visuals directly onto the lenses.

The glasses are also said to include onboard speakers for audio, aiming for a hands-free experience without buttons or remotes.

Samsung’s Partnership With Qualcomm and Google

Samsung has been working with chip designer Qualcomm and Google since 2023 on the operating system, semiconductors, and hardware for mixed-reality technology.

Their first product was the Galaxy XR headset, which launched last year and runs on Google’s Android XR operating system.

Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon confirmed earlier this week that the smart glasses will also release this year.

The glasses are expected to integrate with Google’s Gemini AI platform, though details remain limited.

Taking on Meta

Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses currently dominate the market with an 82% global share, according to Counterpoint Research.

Samsung now joins a growing list of challengers including Alibaba and Xreal.

Companies are drawn to smart glasses because they are smaller and less intrusive than VR headsets, making them more likely to appeal to everyday consumers.

Kim added that XR headsets will remain a niche product and won’t reach mass scale in the same way glasses could.

No official launch date for Project HAEAN has been announced, but Samsung confirmed a 2026 release window is the goal.

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