Samsung and Apple plot voice-first AI smart glasses for 2026-2027

Samsung is gearing up to broaden its wearables lineup and step into the AI-powered smart glasses arena, a field where big tech rivals are already staking out ground. The company is working on two generations of glasses slated for 2026 and 2027. The first model, codenamed SM-O200P, is centered on voice control and will automatically dim its lenses in bright sunlight. With no built-in display, it leans on voice as the primary way to interact with AI—an intentionally restrained debut that looks designed to test what people will actually use.

The next generation, planned for 2027, is set to raise the stakes. Samsung intends to equip the device with its own AR display, bringing it closer to the current crop of projection-style glasses. That shift opens the door to a wider range of tasks—from shooting photos and video to listening to music and making calls—while tapping deeper into AI features. The roadmap suggests a measured path: start simple, then scale up as the experience matures.

Meanwhile, Apple is adjusting its own trajectory. According to insiders, the company is moving focus from Vision Pro Air to AI-integrated smart glasses. A model tentatively aimed for 2026 is expected to include cameras, microphones, and speakers, plus an improved version of Siri. It would handle notification reading, real-time translation, and AI suggestions, but skip an AR display in its first iteration—mirroring Samsung’s initial approach. In other words, both giants seem to be betting on voice-first experiences before bringing displays into the mix.

All of this points to a sharper contest in the smart glasses market, propelled by advances in display tech and the deepening role of AI. Some of the most capable models already on sale offer bright built-in displays, can show text, routes, and translations, and even support gesture control via a neural interface. Devices in this class hover around $799 and set today’s benchmark. Given the timelines from Apple and Samsung, makers of these display-equipped solutions are likely to keep their lead for at least the next two years.