Samsung teases AI smart glasses but reveals memory shortage could get worse in recent earnings call

Samsung AR glasses prototype — (Image credit: Samsung)

This week, Samsung held its Q1 2026 earnings call, where the South Korean tech giant discussed the last three months and did some forward-looking. During the call, Samsung teased smart glasses again.

Unfortunately, it's a throwaway line in the call, and doesn't illuminate any new details about the future Android XR-based glasses. The company has “plans to deliver immersive multimodal AI experiences through diverse form factors such as AI glasses," Seong Cho, executive vice president of Samsung Mobile eXperience (MX), said during the call.

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What we know about the Galaxy Glasses so far

Leaked render of Samsung Galaxy Glasses — (Image credit: OnLeaks / Android Headlines)

While Samsung just released its Galaxy XR headset last October, the company is also working on a set of spectacles meant to rival the Ray-Ban Meta glasses.

Earlier this week, leaked renders based on an alleged test unit popped up online, revealing a black pair of sunglasses that features two cameras.

Obviously, these would run on the Android XR platform powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon AR1 chipset. Recent rumors suggest they will have a 155mAh battery and two 12MP Sony IMX681 lenses.

The Galaxy Glasses should have directional speakers, photochromic transition lenses and weigh around 50 grams.

What else did Samsung say

RAM — (Image credit: fabrikasimf / Freepik)

The earnings call hinted at some TV updates, but nothing major.

The majority of the call was focused on the memory crisis and how profitable it's been for the memory division at Samsung, which has tripled in valuation this year. Even Samsung's own internal divisions, like the mobile one, are facing tough decisions regarding memory prices and building devices around it.

Unfortunately, it may not be resolved anytime soon.

Samsung's Executive Vice President of Memory Jaejune Kim said that production is constrained and could go well into 2027. "currently, just based on prebooked demand alone, the supply-demand gap is looking to widen further in 2027 versus this year," Kim said.

And this is with memory fabrication plants coming online this year and into 2027.

Despite strong sales of the S26 lineup and the recently released Galaxy A57 budget models, Seong Cho noted that increased "cost pressure" for key components are "expected to intensify." Cho even said they expect a decline in shipments due to rising costs in Q2.

The company appears to want to lean into AI and flagship premium experiences to maintain profit, which seems to indicate that mid-tier and budget-friendly models of all devices from phones and tablets to TVs and laptops will really feels the RAMageddon squeeze. armageddon.

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Scott Younker is the West Coast Reporter at Tom’s Guide. He covers all the lastest tech news. He’s been involved in tech since 2011 at various outlets and is on an ongoing hunt to build the easiest to use home media system. When not writing about the latest devices, you are more than welcome to discuss board games or disc golf with him. He also handles all the Connections coverage on Tom's Guide and has been playing the addictive NYT game since it released.