Qualcomm, Samsung, and Google are joining forces to take on Apple’s Vision Pro with their own big project. Qualcomm’s CEO, Cristiano Amon, confirmed the tech giants are working together on a pair of mixed-reality smart glasses powered by your smartphone, offering a lighter and more convenient experience than traditional headsets.
From XR headset to smart glasses
At first, the project was expected to compete directly with Apple’s Vision Pro as a standalone XR (extended reality) headset. However, after internal disagreements and several resets, the three companies decided to focus on a pair of smart glasses instead. The glasses will connect to a smartphone, reducing the need for heavy hardware, extra batteries, and processing power inside the glasses themselves. It is also a smart move because the Vision Pro hype ended very quickly because of its bulky design and high price tag.
In an interview with CNBC, Amon shared his vision for the product. “It’s going to be a new product with new experiences,” he said, hoping that everyone who owns a smartphone will want to buy these companion glasses.
The power of three
This collaboration brings together the best of each company’s expertise. Qualcomm has a solid track record with smart glasses, having worked on popular models like the Meta Ray-Bans and Xreal Air 2 Ultra. Samsung, a leader in hardware, brings its experience in designing high-quality smartphones. Google, meanwhile, adds its Android platform expertise, which will likely be the backbone of these glasses.
Earlier this year, Qualcomm showed off a prototype at Mobile World Congress, developed with Goertek. Powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1 chip, this reference design was lightweight and user-friendly—much more comfortable than bulky VR headsets like the Meta Quest 3 or Apple Vision Pro.
A real threat to Apple?
If Qualcomm, Samsung, and Google can perfect the glasses’ display, audio quality, and overall performance, they could seriously challenge Apple’s Vision Pro. The glasses could appeal to a wide audience, especially since they’ll work with devices most people already own—smartphones.
Pricing will be a critical factor in their success. While Apple’s Vision Pro has a high price tag, Qualcomm’s strategy of using smartphones to handle the heavy processing could make its glasses more affordable and accessible to more people.
As these three tech giants work together, we will likely see a product that could shake up the mixed-reality space. Keep an eye on this development—it could redefine the way we use our smartphones and interact with the digital world.
Featured image credit: Eray Eliaçık/Bing
