Click to Skip Ad
Closing in...

Samsung’s next phablet may arrive with unexpected company

Published May 14th, 2014 8:35AM EDT

If you buy through a BGR link, we may earn an affiliate commission, helping support our expert product labs.

Samsung will reportedly launch its own version of Google Glass this fall, maybe right alongside the new Galaxy Note 4 handset that should be unveiled at IFA 2014 in Berlin, Germany. Business Korea has learned from a Samsung associate that the Gear Glass will also debut at IFA, a show that Samsung has used so far for new Galaxy Note announcements. Interestingly though, last year Samsung announced its first smartwatch ever, the Galaxy Gear, together with the Galaxy Note 3.

“We rolled out the smartwatch first, and have secured a considerable amount of smart glass-related technology and patents,” an unnamed Samsung associate said. “Following the roll out of our smart watch Galaxy Gear in September last year, we are slated to introduce our smart glass Gear Glass this September.”

Gear Glass will apparently run next-gen Tizen OS, and feature an earpiece and a display, “enabling people to listen to music with the right ear while looking at the display with the right eye,” according to the publication. Images or hardware details for Gear Glass aren’t available yet.

It’s not clear how much Gear Glass will cost or when it’ll be available to buyers, but Samsung appears to be very determined to sell as many wearable devices as possible. The company has already launched three smartwatches and a fitness band, and has a special health-related event planned for May 28.

Comparatively, Google Glass costs $1,500, at least the Explorers version, and it’s available to any U.S. buyer interested in the device. However, Google’s wearable device is still in beta, and the company is yet to announce international commercial availability for it.

Chris Smith Senior Writer

Chris Smith has been covering consumer electronics ever since the iPhone revolutionized the industry in 2008. When he’s not writing about the most recent tech news for BGR, he brings his entertainment expertise to Marvel’s Cinematic Universe and other blockbuster franchises.

Outside of work, you’ll catch him streaming almost every new movie and TV show release as soon as it's available.