Samsung and Google Reignite XR Race with Smart Glasses Collaboration (Image supported by ChatGPT)
SEOUL, May 28 (Korea Bizwire) — After a lull following the post-pandemic cooling of the metaverse hype, interest in extended reality (XR) technology is surging once again — this time fueled by Google’s announcement of a new smart glasses collaboration with South Korea’s Samsung Electronics.
At its annual I/O developers conference earlier this month, Google revealed its partnership with Samsung on a next-generation smart glasses project codenamed “Haean.”
The move signals a renewed push into XR, a sector that blends augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR), and comes as global patent activity in the field has quietly surged.
According to a report released Tuesday by Samjong KPMG Economic Research Institute titled “The Convergence of Virtual and Real: The Arrival of the XR Era,” global XR-related technology patents have skyrocketed from 738 in 2013 to 14,958 in 2023.
Microsoft leads the innovation race with 8,393 patents, followed by LG Electronics with 5,681 — particularly noted for advancements in portability and usability of XR devices.
Other top patent holders include Intel, Meta, Samsung, Qualcomm, Huawei, and Google.
While Meta currently dominates the XR hardware market with a 60.5% share as of Q2 2024 — trailed by Sony (10.4%) and Apple (9.1%) — the entrance of new players, particularly Google and Samsung, is expected to intensify competition.
The Samsung-Google alliance is seen as particularly strategic due to its integration of Google’s Gemini AI model, enabling context-aware user interaction.
Additionally, Android-based Google Play applications are expected to be seamlessly adapted to XR environments, offering an instant content advantage.
Chinese manufacturers are also accelerating their entry into the market. Rokid recently launched AI-powered smart glasses using Alibaba’s large language model (LLM), while TCL debuted the ultra-light 39g RayNeo X2, equipped with ChatGPT-based features.
The global AR market is forecast to grow from $10.95 billion in 2024 to $60.34 billion by 2029, representing a robust annual growth rate of 40.7%. Regionally, North America led the market in 2023 with a 35% share, followed by Asia-Pacific at 33% and Europe at 25%.
However, Asia-Pacific is expected to post the fastest growth through 2029, with an annual average of 43%, outpacing North America’s 40.4%.
The resurgence of XR, now driven by AI integration and strategic cross-border alliances, suggests that immersive technologies are poised to enter a new, more sustainable phase of growth.
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
