SEOUL — The smart glasses market is showing signs of a major revival after more than a decade of stagnation. Industry observers report that Samsung Electronics is poised to introduce its first-ever smart glasses, integrated with Google’s artificial intelligence (AI), at its upcoming bi-annual "Galaxy Unpacked" event this July. The tech industry is watching closely to see if smart glasses—which previously failed to achieve mainstream adoption due to technical limitations and consumer backlash—can successfully transition into an everyday consumer staple with the help of advanced AI.

According to industry sources on May 18, Samsung is highly anticipated to debut the "Galaxy Glass" (tentative name) at its summer Unpacked event, scheduled to take place in London, UK. While Samsung has explored the wearable eyewear sector for years—even trademarking "Gear Blink" back in 2014—this upcoming launch marks the company's first commercial release of a smart glasses product.

The Specs: Lightweight, Affordable, and AI-Powered
The Galaxy Glass (developed under the internal codename "Jinju") is expected to run on a specialized Android Extended Reality (XR) operating system and feature Google’s Gemini AI. Mechanically, the device will integrate a 12MP camera, microphones, and speakers directly into the frames. This setup will allow the onboard AI to analyze the user’s surroundings in real time, executing tasks such as live translation, turn-by-turn navigation, and hands-free messaging via voice commands.

Significantly, the device overcomes previous hardware hurdles by weighing approximately 50 grams, making it nearly indistinguishable from traditional eyewear. Samsung has also targeted a highly competitive consumer price point, with the device expected to retail between $379 and $499.

Furthermore, Samsung is already working on a second-generation successor (codename "Haean"). This premium iteration will sport an advanced MicroLED Augmented Reality (AR) display capable of projecting digital information directly onto the lenses. The 2nd-generation model is projected to cost between $600 and $900 and is slated for release next year.

Overcoming a History of High Hurdles
Smart glasses have long been heralded as the next frontier in consumer tech because they liberate users from holding a smartphone. However, early pioneers faced harsh realities. When Google introduced "Google Glass" in 2013, it was heavily criticized over privacy violations regarding surreptitious filming.

Early iterations also suffered from severe design flaws. Packing heavy components into one side of the frame resulted in a bulky, asymmetrical aesthetic. Combined with a battery life that lasted less than half a day and an exorbitant price tag of $1,500, consumers saw little reason to purchase a device that offered functions easily handled by smartphones. Consequently, Google withdrew the consumer version in 2015, and subsequent attempts by rivals like Intel and Sony met similar fates.

The Big Tech Showdown: AI Changes the Game
The paradigm shifted entirely with the advent of multimodal generative AI. In the past, users had to manually press buttons or issue rigid voice prompts to retrieve data. Today’s AI can seamlessly comprehend what the wearer sees in real time, proactively offering relevant information.

Furthermore, structural limitations are expected to dissipate even more by the 2030s. With the eventual commercialization of 6G connectivity, heavy computational processing can be offloaded from the device to the cloud, allowing for even lighter frames and dramatically extended battery life.

As a result, competition among global Big Tech firms is intensifying. Meta currently dominates the sector with a market share exceeding 70%, leveraging its successful partnership with classic eyewear brand Ray-Ban. Meanwhile, Google has announced plans to launch its own Gemini-powered smart glasses this year in collaboration with fashion brands Gentle Monster and Warby Parker. Apple and Snap are also reportedly deep in the development of competing hardware.

Market research firm SAG forecasts that the global AI smart glasses market will expand fourfold this year to reach $5.6 billion, with total global shipments projected to hit 75 million units by 2030.