Can Google and Samsung redefine smart eyewear with Android XR, or will history repeat with a new generation of 'Glassholes'?

Google and Samsung are preparing lighter Android XR smart glasses, with Samsung expected to help Google bring “intelligent eyewear” to consumers later this year.

The big challenge is adoption: the devices need obvious everyday value, such as photos, audio, translation, and AI help, to stand out from past failures.

Meta currently leads the smart glasses market, so Google and Samsung must offer a compelling alternative to Ray-Ban Meta and other rivals.

They also need privacy-conscious design and a less awkward social profile to avoid the “Glassholes” backlash that hurt Google Glass.