Qualcomm, Samsung, and Google Collaborate to Develop Next-Gen Mixed Reality Glasses

The joint venture between Samsung, Qualcomm, and Google—announced last year—has been quietly working on a groundbreaking pair of mixed reality (MR) smart glasses that will connect directly to smartphones. Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon recently confirmed the project in an interview with CNBC, describing the glasses as an innovative product designed to make wearable MR technology mainstream.

Amon shared his vision of the future, stating, "I want everyone who owns a smartphone to purchase companion glasses." He emphasized that these glasses should be as effortless to wear as regular eyeglasses or sunglasses, marking a significant step toward making mixed reality accessible to a broad audience.

Since the XR (Extended Reality) partnership was first revealed in February 2023, details about the project have remained sparse. While many speculated that it might result in a Samsung mixed reality headset to compete with Apple’s $3,500 Vision Pro, recent developments suggest a more affordable and user-friendly alternative.

Google has also been exploring the AR space with prototype glasses showcased during the Google I/O event in May, incorporating its upcoming Project Astra multimodal AI assistant.

Qualcomm is positioning its technology as central to this collaboration, with Amon expressing satisfaction with the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses, which run on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1 chip. According to Amon, generative AI is the missing link that will drive further growth in the mixed reality space, adding, “AI will operate on various platforms—on the device, in the cloud, in the glasses, and in the phone—creating new, transformative experiences for users."