Samsung detailed the features of its upcoming smart glasses at its Galaxy Unpacked event on Wednesday, marking the company's entry into a device category dominated by Meta. The South Korean tech giant revealed that the glasses include a built-in camera, gesture control capabilities, and integration with its smartwatch and Galaxy Ring devices. Samsung is launching the product this Fall to challenge Meta, which held 69.2% of the smart glasses market share in the first quarter of this year according to IDC.
Samsung Reveals Built-In Camera and Gesture Control Features
Samsung's smart glasses feature a built-in camera that can capture video of what the user is seeing and read content on whiteboards or presentations to organize key information into notes. The device can summarize long messages received on a smartphone, with audio delivered through built-in speakers in the glasses.
The glasses are equipped with Qualcomm's Snapdragon AR1 Gen1 chip and must be tethered to a smartphone. The device includes a portable charging case.
James Choi, executive vice president at Samsung and head of the research and development division behind the glasses, said the company is testing gesture controls with its smartwatches. Users wearing a Samsung smartwatch could make specific hand gestures to control features on the device. Gesture controls could also potentially work with Samsung's Galaxy Ring device, which launched in 2024, according to Choi.
Choi told CNBC that when the device launches this Fall, there will be "more designs" and colors beyond what Samsung has shown so far.
Meta Holds 69.2% Smart Glasses Market Share in Q1
Meta has dominated the smart glasses market since 2021 with its range of products including the Ray-Ban lineup. The company had 69.2% share of the smart glasses market in the first quarter, according to IDC.
Meta recently expanded its device portfolio. Last month, it launched a $299 set of entry-level smart glasses. In 2025, the company unveiled the $799 Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses, which have a built-in display.
Samsung Positions Product as Premium Without Disclosing Price
Choi would not disclose the pricing of Samsung's offering but said it would be positioned as a "premium" product. The device will be sold via its partners' sales channels.
"We want to make it reasonable, but as I mentioned ... the quality of the product itself, we want to position as premium. It doesn't mean that it's crazy expensive," Choi said, adding that the glasses will not be at the "lower end."
Paolo Pescatore, founder of PP Foresight, told CNBC: "Samsung's arrival represents a serious challenge to Meta, but success is far from guaranteed. Ray-Ban Meta already enjoys strong awareness and growing adoption, while Samsung has historically struggled to convert its vast smartphone base into users of complementary Galaxy devices."
Francisco Jeronimo, an analyst at IDC, said he "wouldn't be surprised" if Samsung priced the device between $600 and $700 to "strengthen their premium brand." However, he added that there is a risk if they price the device high "without offering more" than what Meta's Ray-Ban products currently offer.
Choi said the company has "just started" in the smart glass category and expects it to be a "niche market" that will not reach 100 million units in sales. He declined to provide Samsung's sales expectations.
FAQ
What features did Samsung announce for its smart glasses at Galaxy Unpacked?
Samsung announced that its smart glasses include a built-in camera for capturing video and reading content, the ability to summarize smartphone messages through built-in speakers, Qualcomm Snapdragon AR1 Gen1 chip, smartphone tethering capability, and gesture control testing with smartwatches and Galaxy Ring devices.
When will Samsung's smart glasses launch and how is it priced?
Samsung's smart glasses will launch this Fall with multiple designs and colors. The company positioned the product as "premium" but did not disclose specific pricing. Executive James Choi stated the glasses will not be at the "lower end" but also not "crazy expensive."
