Google partners with Samsung to launch new smart glasses: Audio glasses launching this fall, challenging Meta's over 70% market share

Google announces the launch of new AI smart glasses at I/O 2026, consisting of two models: audio glasses launching this fall and display glasses coming later, forming an cross-industry alliance with Samsung, Qualcomm, Warby Parker, and Gentle Monster.
(Background recap: Google smart glasses Android XR debut, experts review: three major features stand out, not comparable to Meta Ray-Ban)
(Additional background: A sneak peek at Meta’s next-generation Ray-Ban smart glasses: supporting facial recognition, built-in AI assistant… launching in 2026)

Seven years ago, the term "glasshole" made Google Glass one of the most infamous black marks in tech history. In 2023, Meta quietly made a comeback with Ray-Ban glasses, choosing not to include a display, focusing on voice and camera features, and has sold over 2 million units to date, capturing over 70% of the smart glasses market share.

Now, Google declares its return at the I/O developer conference on May 19, 2026.

What will Google unveil this time?

This time, Google’s smart glasses are divided into two product lines. The first is audio glasses: no display, mainly operated via voice commands, activated by saying "Hey Google" or tapping the side of the glasses.

They support real-time language translation, navigation prompts, notification summaries, and environmental queries, as well as task execution—such as a Googler on-site speaking directly to the glasses to place an online coffee order. No need to take out your phone throughout the process.

The subsequent display glasses will have a screen display function, but Google has not yet announced a specific timeline for this model.

The alliance behind the product is the most noteworthy part of this collaboration: Samsung is responsible for co-designing hardware, Qualcomm provides the chips, and design partners include Warby Parker (an American direct-to-consumer eyewear brand focusing on affordable fashion) and Gentle Monster (a Korean designer eyewear brand with a high-end artistic style). The operating system runs on Android XR, compatible with both Android and iOS devices, with AI integration from Gemini.

The audio glasses are expected to launch this fall, with pricing not yet announced.

Why is this a scaled-back entry?

When Google Glass was launched in 2013, it focused on display and augmented reality, which was also one of its core reasons for failure: low social acceptance, battery life issues, and unclear use cases. Consumers didn’t know when to wear it or whether people nearby were being recorded or recognized.

Meta’s strategy was the opposite: minimize technical specs, leave design to Ray-Ban, and focus only on camera and voice functions, with the selling point being "looks just like regular glasses." Surprisingly, this seemingly compromised approach opened up the market. Counterpoint Research data shows that in the first half of 2025, AI glasses sales grew by 200% annually, with Meta holding a 73% market share across the category.

This time, Google chose to first release audio glasses instead of directly launching a display version, following a similar logic to Meta: first make the glasses acceptable, then expand functionality gradually.

Involving Samsung and Qualcomm is more than just hardware division. Samsung has a complete supply chain and channels within the Galaxy ecosystem, while Qualcomm is the main supplier of chips for AR/XR devices.

Google’s strategy essentially positions smart glasses as an extension of the Android ecosystem rather than a standalone product line. This reduces the switching cost for consumers and allows Google to leverage its existing Android user base to build initial scale.

The next battle: Apple enters the scene, will glasses be the next phone?

As Google makes its return, the landscape continues to evolve with new variables.

Apple also plans to reveal its smart glasses in 2026, with a full release in 2027. This timing could determine the ceiling for the entire category.

Meta itself isn’t waiting for competitors. The $800 Ray-Ban Meta display model has temporarily halted expansion in the UK, France, Italy, and Canada due to "surging demand," while discussions with manufacturer EssilorLuxottica aim to double production capacity to 20 million units by the end of 2025.

The question "Will smart glasses replace smartphones?" has been raised over the past decade but has never been truly answered. Now, the market landscape is starting to take shape: consumers are willing to buy, multiple companies are betting on mass production, and chip manufacturers are supporting the computing power.

The only remaining uncertainty is who can turn "occasional try-on" into "a daily essential before leaving the house."