Comparison of Google Android XR, Apple Vision OS, and Meta smart glasses — Image created via sora

Big tech companies enter the race to lead the next generation of wearable platforms

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XR platform comparison showing Google Android XR, Apple Vision OS, and Meta smart glasses (Image created via sora)

XR platform competition among Google, Apple, and Meta (Image created via sora)

Global big tech companies are forming a full-scale competitive landscape in the next-generation wearable device market. Samsung Electronics plans to unveil its “Project Moohan” Galaxy XR headset this month. Samsung’s Galaxy XR is a high-performance headset based on Google’s Android XR platform, bringing a 4K micro OLED display (4,032 PPI, 29 million pixels) and a Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 processor. It has a lightweight design of 545 grams and a multimodal interface that integrates hand tracking, eye tracking, and voice recognition.

It will target the premium market with a higher resolution than Apple Vision Pro (23 million pixels) and better display quality than Meta Quest 3. Battery life is expected to be in line with competitors at 2 hours of normal use and 2.5 hours of video playback, and the price is expected to be around $1,800 (about $2.5 million).

Samsung has partnered with Google to build the One UI XR interface and secure major app ecosystems such as Chrome, YouTube, and Netflix. The initial production will be 100,000 units to test the market response before entering a full-scale mass production system.

Apple has temporarily halted development of its low-cost N100 (Vision Air) headset and reallocated resources to the AI smart glasses project, a strategic decision in response to the success of Meta’s Rayban and the rapid growth of the AI-powered smart glasses market.

Apple is developing two models of smart glasses. The first generation, codenamed N50, will be a display-less, iPhone-connected, audio-centric AI wearable that is expected to launch in 2027. The second-generation model will bring a display and compete directly with Meta Rayban, and development is being accelerated from the original 2028 plan.

Apple’s smart glasses are based on Vision OS, with a camera, microphone, health tracking, and a voice command interface with next-generation Siri AI at its core. It will also offer a wide range of frame options and colors, reinforcing its positioning as a fashion accessory.

Currently, the smart glasses market is dominated by Meta. The Meta-Rayban series has sold more than 3.5 million units cumulatively, with an 80% share of AI smart glasses. The recently unveiled Rayban Display model brings a full-color, high-resolution display that can display messages, photos, and other information.

In response, Google is strengthening its cooperation with Samsung with its Android XR platform and Gemini AI. Samsung will also release Project Coastal smart glasses in collaboration with Google and Gentlemonster early next year, making it a two-track headset and smart glasses strategy.

The future XR/smart glasses market is expected to be a three-way battle between the Android XR platform, Apple’s Vision OS XR platform, and Meta’s first-mover advantage. Each company’s ability to build ecosystems and differentiate user experience will be the key factors in determining market leadership.

Changho Noh,  Senior Analyst at UBI Research  (chnoh@ubiresearch.com)

▶UBI Research’s Micro Display Report