Samsung Electronics Co. is increasing its bet on advanced microdisplays for next-generation AR glasses. It’s a large step to show a strong, comprehensive play to lead this new tech sector. Projections predict that the worldwide market will exceed $6 billion by 2032. In comparison, Samsung has vowed to take the pole position in AR’s fast growing ecosystem. The firm’s mobile arm, MX, is preparing to release its first display-less smart glasses model as soon as 2026. In 2027, they will launch their first fully integrated AR glasses product using their proprietary LED on Silicon (LEDoS) technology.
Samsung’s aggressive move to accelerate LEDoS technology development further emphasizes the company’s commitment to the AR market. LEDoS, an ultra-low power tiny display platform that directly assembles micro-LEDs on silicon wafers, is a key building block for next-generation AR/MR devices. The company is pursuing this technology in-house, with the goal of crossing the performance and manufacturing efficiency chasm to establish a competitive advantage.
We are deeply committed to AR technology. This decision follows industry predictions that the extended reality (XR) market will experience a boom. From a projected $131.5 billion in 2024, the XR market is predicted to explode to $1.7 trillion by 2032. LEDOS segment to increase from $30 million in 2023 to more than $6.2 billion by 2032. This unprecedented growth only represents the tip of the financial opportunities of the microdisplay sector.
Samsung’s long-term commitment to the XR space is further evidenced by its strategic alliances. As an example, in February 2023, Samsung Electronics Co., Google LLC, and Qualcomm Technologies Inc. Collectively, they are innovating on and creating the most advanced XR devices on the market. This partnership plays to the strengths of both companies. It leverages Samsung’s hardware muscle, along with Google’s software smarts and Qualcomm’s next-gen processing power.
Samsung’s new roadmap for AR glasses released yesterday marks step one of many toward an eventual product. In 2026, the first dedicated smart glasses model will be released. While it won’t feature a built-in display, this prototype will be targeted at testing user interfaces, collecting user feedback, and improving the overall user experience. By 2027, we’ll be able to ship full-featured AR glasses built on our proprietary LEDoS technology. This is a huge step towards delivering rich, immersive, high-quality augmented reality experiences.
Creating LEDoS technology in-house provides Samsung the benefit of supply-chain control. Beyond the environmental benefits, this approach will save the company money on production costs while encouraging technological innovation. This vertical integration strategy could prove crucial in maintaining a competitive advantage as the AR market matures and new players emerge.
