Qualcomm, Samsung, Google Partner on Mixed Reality Glasses

MetaversePlanet September 6, 2024

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Qualcomm has announced that it is collaborating with Samsung and Google on mixed reality glasses, which will operate in conjunction with a smartphone.

Qualcomm, Samsung, and Google revealed that they are developing new smart glasses based on mixed reality (AR and VR) technology. Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon mentioned in an interview that these glasses will function alongside a smartphone. This approach contrasts sharply with Apple’s vision for its Vision Pro, which operates independently.

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Mixed reality glasses connected to smartphones

Last year, Google, Samsung, and Qualcomm formed a partnership to develop mixed reality technology. However, until now, there have been no concrete announcements regarding this collaboration. Amon’s recent comments mark the first official insight into the partnership.

Amon emphasized that these glasses will provide a new experience for users, stating, “What I expect from this partnership is that everyone will own a pair of glasses they can use with their phones.” Highlighting new products and experiences, the CEO also referenced Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses, noting that these glasses connect wirelessly to a smartphone and feature an internal camera. One of the standout features of these glasses is the voice assistant powered by Meta’s artificial intelligence model, Llama.

It’s still a small market

Virtual and augmented reality headsets are still a much smaller market compared to smartphones. According to IDC, 9.7 million VR and AR headsets are expected to be shipped this year, which pales in comparison to the 1.23 billion smartphones. Large VR and AR headsets are known to fall short in terms of portability and convenience. The smart glasses being developed by Qualcomm, Samsung, and Google may address this issue by offering a more fashionable device. “I think we need to reach a point where wearing these glasses is no different than wearing a regular pair of glasses or sunglasses,” Amon said. “Only then can this technology reach the masses.”

As a result, the smart glasses from Google, Samsung, and Qualcomm represent a different approach from Apple’s Vision Pro, the mixed reality headset launched this year, which is worn on the head and controlled by hand gestures.

Details about the project involving the three companies remain unclear. TM Roh, head of Samsung’s mobile division, mentioned earlier this year that the company would announce a new “mixed reality platform” later in the year. However, it is still unclear whether this platform will focus on software or hardware.