Samsung's AI Smart Glasses Are Coming — And They're Going After Meta
Published March 7, 2026
AI • Samsung • Smart Glasses • Wearable
Samsung is finally getting into the smart glasses game — and it's bringing some heavy hitters along for the ride.
At Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Samsung EVP Jay Kim gave CNBC its first details about the upcoming AI smart glasses: they'll have a camera at "your eye level" and connect to your smartphone for processing.
The Details
- Camera: Built-in at eye level (unlike Ray-Ban's temple placement)
- Connectivity: Pairs with your smartphone to handle processing
- Partners: Working with Qualcomm and Google since 2023
- Launch: 2026
"Everybody talks about what's the ultimate form factor... I think the XR on headset will sort of be around. But not as a mass scale business. Smart glasses? That's the opportunity." — Jay Kim, Samsung EVP
Why It Matters
Meta currently dominates the smart glasses market with 82% global share (via Ray-Ban). But Samsung entering changes the calculus:
| Company | Advantage |
|---|---|
| Meta | First to market, 82% share |
| Samsung | Hardware expertise, Qualcomm chips, Google OS |
| Apple | Yet to announce smart glasses |
Samsung's partnership with Qualcomm and Google gives them something Meta doesn't: a full software ecosystem. If they can nail the AI integration (real-time translation, visual search, contextual awareness), they could quickly close the gap.
The Bigger Picture
This is part of a broader shift: AI is moving from your pocket to your face. With Samsung, Apple (presumably working on something), and countless Chinese players entering the space, 2026 is shaping up to be the year of the AI wearable.