Samsung Rumored to Launch XR Glasses Within the Year

Some exciting developments might be on the horizon for Samsung in the realm of extended reality (XR). We’ve been eagerly following the tech giant’s steps into this space, particularly with their mixed reality headset, Project Moohan, which is slotted for a release this year, powered by Google’s Android XR OS. Interestingly, there’s now chatter from ETNews, a Korean news outlet, suggesting that Samsung could be secretly working on a pair of XR glasses.

According to industry insiders, the buzz is that Samsung is prepping these XR glasses—referred to as ‘smart glasses’ in the report—with an aim to launch them by year-end. The project is code-named ‘Haen’, a nod to its Korean roots meaning ‘coast’ or ‘seashore’.

One insider mentioned to ETNews that, with Apple’s Vision Pro already out there, Samsung is likely honing in on crafting a superior user experience. However, the exact nature of the Haen device remains shrouded in mystery, so we’re sticking to calling them XR glasses for now until more is unveiled.

The term ‘smart glasses’ often gets tossed around loosely when discussing different types of devices. It can refer to augmented reality (AR) glasses that blend virtual content with the real world or to more basic smart glasses, which typically just offer a heads-up display. We’ve labeled Haen as XR glasses for the moment, given the ambiguities surrounding its precise functionality.

Before anybody gets too carried away, remember to approach early reports with a pinch of skepticism. That said, ETNews has previously reported on LG’s unexpected pivot in its XR division, involving conversations with Meta that took an unanticipated turn. Originally, Meta had teamed up with LG early in 2024 with whispers about LG building a Vision Pro style device for them, though LG’s since dialed things back, opting instead to concentrate on long-term research and development.

This isn’t Samsung’s first dance with XR speculation, either. Back in 2021, a known Microsoft leaker, ‘WalkingCat’, leaked videos featuring Samsung’s futuristic AR concepts. Adding to the intrigue, Samsung has also applied for several patents over time, most notably the ‘Galaxy Glasses’ with the USPTO.

Last year, Yonhap News from South Korea claimed Samsung would reveal XR glasses at its Unpacked event. Though they didn’t make an appearance then, Samsung did tease XR glasses in their forward-looking roadmap. The allegations about the future device included features like payment capabilities and gesture and facial recognition, presumably launching by the third quarter of 2025. However, specifics on display types or defining features to label them distinctly as smart or AR glasses aren’t confirmed.

What’s clear is Samsung intends to leverage its partnership with Google to bring Android XR into its next ambitious projects, including Project Moohan. We’ve had the chance to interact with Moohan and observed what’s nearly the finalized hardware during January 2025’s Unpacked event, though its official name and release date remain under wraps.

If Samsung plans to make a big splash, unveiling might happen at one of several high-profile events like Google’s I/O in May, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Summit in October/November, or perhaps through a dedicated event spotlighting both Project Moohan and any XR glasses in the works.