Samsung’s upcom­ing smart glasses spotted in leaked photos

Samsung is edging closer to entering the smart glasses market, with newly leaked images and details offering the first concrete look at the company’s upcoming wearable. Codenamed “Jinju,” these glasses are positioned as a competitor to offerings like Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses and Google’s forthcoming Gemini glasses, aiming to blend style with hands-free functionality.

A closer look at Samsung’s ‘Jinju’ smart glasses

The leaked photos, reported by Android Headlines, depict a sleek, lightweight frame reminiscent of oversized eyeglasses. While Samsung has not confirmed the design, the device appears to prioritize subtlety without sacrificing performance. Internally, the glasses are rumored to run on the Android XR wearables platform, with deep integration with Google’s Gemini chatbot for voice commands and contextual assistance.

Key hardware specifications include:

• A 12MP rear-facing camera for photos and video capture
• A Qualcomm Snapdragon AR1 chipset to handle on-device processing
• Bone-conduction directional speakers for private audio playback
• Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity for seamless pairing with smartphones

Early pricing estimates suggest the Jinju will retail between $380 and $500, though analysts warn that global economic pressures—including rising RAM and storage costs—could push the final price higher by launch.

What’s missing—and what’s coming next

Despite the promising hardware, one notable omission is a built-in display. Samsung is expected to address this in a follow-up model, codenamed “Haean,” scheduled for 2027. The Haean glasses are tipped to feature a micro-LED display, enabling augmented reality overlays similar to Meta’s Ray-Ban Display glasses. Analysts speculate this second-generation device could command a premium price tag of $600 to $900.

The lack of a display in the Jinju model suggests Samsung is initially targeting use cases like fitness tracking, audio recording, and quick photo snaps—activities where a secondary screen isn’t essential. Future iterations may expand into navigation, gaming, and productivity tools as the platform matures.

Timing and expectations for launch

While Samsung has not announced an official release date, industry insiders suggest a late-2025 launch is plausible. The company’s July Unpacked event could serve as a platform for teasing the Jinju glasses, though a full unveiling may be delayed until later in the year. This strategy mirrors Samsung’s approach with the Galaxy XR virtual reality headset, which debuted in a limited tease before a broader market release.

Analysts caution that all specifications and pricing remain provisional, subject to change based on component availability and market conditions. Samsung’s partnership with eyewear brands like Warby Parker and Gentle Monster further hints at a focus on both aesthetics and functionality, blending tech with fashion.

The broader smart glasses landscape

Samsung’s entry into the smart glasses arena adds another major player to a market currently dominated by Meta and Google. The Jinju’s camera and AI assistant capabilities position it as a hybrid device—part lifestyle accessory, part productivity tool. As competition intensifies, consumers can expect rapid innovation in form factors, battery life, and software ecosystems.

For now, the leaked Jinju images offer a tantalizing glimpse into Samsung’s vision for wearable tech. Whether the device will deliver on its promises remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the race to redefine how we interact with digital information through our eyes is heating up.