What are the biggest companies working on with AR Glasses?
Augmented Reality (AR) glasses are the next frontier in wearable tech. People are drawn to the idea of having real-time information right in front of their eyes, whether for navigation, productivity, or entertainment. Imagine walking down the street with virtual directions projected onto the road or having your calendar events pop up without looking at your phone. AR promises to merge the digital world with our physical one in ways we’re only beginning to explore.
However, despite the excitement, AR glasses haven’t quite taken off yet. The main challenges have been their bulkiness, short battery life, and limited functionality. Most models to date have either been too clunky for everyday use or lacked compelling features to justify their steep price tags. But this is all set to change as major tech companies—Meta, Samsung, and Apple—are working on devices that aim to take AR glasses mainstream. Let’s dive into what we can expect from these industry giants.
Samsung: Smart Glasses with AI Power
Samsung, long a major player in the mobile and wearable space, has teamed up with Google and Qualcomm to create a new generation of smart glasses. Initially, rumors pointed to Samsung competing head-on with Apple’s high-end Vision Pro, but the company has since shifted focus. Instead of a fully immersive AR headset, they’re targeting lighter, more practical smart glasses.
The upcoming Samsung glasses will use hardware provided by Samsung, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon XR processor for seamless mixed-reality performance, and Google’s software expertise. Most excitingly, these glasses may include Google’s Gemini AI assistant, a feature designed to offer real-time visual context and handle complex voice commands. Project Astra, a powerful AI, is expected to integrate with these glasses, allowing users to experience real-time subtitle translation and visual cues through the lenses.
Samsung’s device is slated to debut at the Samsung Developer’s Conference in late 2024, with a release possibly in 2025. By working with top partners and focusing on a more accessible form factor, Samsung’s AR glasses could become a convenient everyday gadget, making them a serious competitor in this emerging market.
Meta: The “Puffin” Takes Flight
Meta has been a key player in the VR space with its Quest series, but the company is also working on AR glasses codenamed “Puffin.” The Puffin glasses, currently in development, aim to be a slim, lightweight device that appeals to everyday consumers, providing a mixed-reality experience without the bulk of traditional headsets.
The Puffin glasses will use pancake lenses—like the ones found in some VR displays—and micro displays, which allow for a smaller, more wearable design. Meta is leaning into hand and eye-tracking technology as the primary input method, similar to the Apple Vision Pro, with no need for traditional controllers. The Puffin will likely be connected to an external device, called the “Processing Puck,” to handle the heavy computational load and power needs, reducing the weight of the glasses themselves.
Meta’s Puffin is expected to launch sometime around 2027. While that’s a few years out, the device represents a step toward making AR glasses more comfortable and usable for longer periods. Meta is clearly betting big on mixed reality being part of everyday life, but they seem to be playing the long game with their AR vision.
Apple: Taking Its Time with Apple Glass
Apple has already made waves with its Vision Pro headset, but the real game-changer on the horizon is Apple Glass. Unlike the bulky Vision Pro, Apple Glass is expected to be a sleek, everyday pair of smart glasses that projects information onto transparent lenses, allowing users to experience augmented reality in a way that feels natural and unobtrusive.
Apple Glass is still far from hitting the market, with rumors pointing to a potential release date around 2030. The device is said to rely on the iPhone for processing, which will help keep the glasses light and slim. Interestingly, Apple Glass won’t include cameras, opting instead for LiDAR sensors that can interpret the user’s environment and overlay digital objects without compromising privacy.
The glasses will use a unique user interface called “Starboard,” designed specifically for AR, and input will be controlled through hand gestures, voice commands, and possibly even eye tracking. Apple is also expected to offer prescription lens options, so you won’t have to choose between your regular glasses and AR functionality. Given Apple’s track record, these glasses could be the first AR device truly ready for daily use by the general public—if they manage to overcome the technical hurdles.
Why This Tech is Different from What Came Before
AR glasses have been around in various forms for a while now, but they’ve mostly remained niche products. Previous attempts at AR—like Google Glass—suffered from bulky designs, poor battery life, and limited functionality. Users had to deal with short operating times and the discomfort of wearing noticeably large, heavy glasses all day. These early models were impressive proofs of concept, but they simply weren’t ready for prime time.
What sets the upcoming devices from Meta, Samsung, and Apple apart is how much lighter, smarter, and more capable they aim to be. Samsung’s focus on AI and real-time assistance, Meta’s reliance on lightweight displays and natural hand-tracking, and Apple’s sleek, everyday design suggest that the next generation of AR glasses will be much more practical for daily use. Advances in battery life, display technology, and input methods mean that these devices won’t just be tech toys—they’ll be tools that seamlessly integrate into everyday life.
Another major shift is in how these glasses will be powered. Most upcoming models plan to offload much of their computing power to external devices like smartphones or processing units, which will allow for lighter, more comfortable glasses. This is a massive leap from earlier models, which tried to cram all the processing power into the glasses themselves, making them bulky and prone to overheating.
Conclusion
The race to dominate the AR glasses market is well and truly on, with Meta, Samsung, and Apple all taking different approaches. Meta’s Puffin is positioning itself as a lightweight alternative to more traditional headsets, Samsung is banking on AI-driven functionality to set its device apart, and Apple is playing the long game, aiming for sleek everyday wearables that redefine how we interact with the digital world.
While challenges remain—especially around miniaturization and battery life—the upcoming AR glasses represent a huge leap forward from what came before. Whether it’s in 2025, 2027, or 2030, the future of augmented reality is looking clearer, and it may not be long before AR glasses are as common as smartphones.
This next wave of AR could change how we live, work, and play—so keep an eye on your horizons. Literally.
