Samsung’s new Galaxy XR headset could succeed where Apple failed

Google and Samsung have finally released their first Android XR headset, the Galaxy XR. This may be the best attempt at a mixed reality computer and virtual reality headset yet, according to

If this headset looks familiar, that’s probably because it was announced almost a year ago as Samsung’s “Project Moohan,” and Samsung previewed its release again last week. But the big day is finally here: it’s a real headset that you can buy with your real money, with a real name. Meet the Galaxy XR.

The Galaxy XR is a mixed reality headset, so it can display windows and interface elements on top of your real-world environment in augmented reality (AR), in addition to fully immersive virtual reality (VR) experiences. The Meta Quest 3 and Apple Vision Pro have similar capabilities. Under the hood, it’s powered by the Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 chipset, with Wi-Fi 7, “up to” Bluetooth 5.4, 256GB of storage, and 18GB of RAM.

The main display is a 3,552 x 3,840 Micro-OLED panel for each eye, with refresh rates up to 90 Hz. The OLED display is a substantial upgrade over the LCD panel on the Meta Quest headsets, with deeper blacks for VR content, and the resolution is higher than the Quest 3, Valve Index, Bigscreen Beyond 2, and PlayStation VR2. It has multiple cameras for direct video and motion detection, as well as support for iris recognition and eye tracking, similar to the Apple Vision Pro.

This is the first headset with Android XR, a new software platform that should will eventually arrive on other helmets and glasses. Since it’s based on Android, you get all your typical Android apps and games from the Google Play Store. Some software has been updated with XR-specific modes, like immersive 3D maps in Google Maps or depth effects in Google Photos.

There should be a growing library of AR and VR software for Android XR, but we won’t have the full picture until the headset arrives. The Gemini Assistant is also front and center here, with the ability to answer questions in natural language while using other apps and games. I hope he doesn’t tell you to eat glue and rocks.

Samsung said in a press release: “All apps built on the Android platform work out of the box on the Galaxy XR, ensuring users can enjoy the familiar mobile experiences they already love and making the device as useful for everyday life as it is revolutionary. Since the platform is built on OpenXR standards, it’s easy for developers using OpenXR, WebXR, or Unity to bring their experiences to the Galaxy XR, giving them more ways to evolve and providing more choice for consumers. “

As you might expect, the problem is price. The Galaxy XR retails for $1,800, which is significantly more expensive than the $500 Meta Quest 3, the only (somewhat) successful standalone headset on the market today. The PlayStation VR2 ($400) and Valve Index ($1,000) are also cheaper, but these are primarily for gaming and require a PC or games console. Samsung motion controllers carry a separate $250 fee.

The Galaxy XR is clearly not intended to be a mainstream device, and launching the Android Still, the Galaxy XR is cheaper than the Vision Pro and the Android platform gives it a good starting point.

If Google and Samsung can get ports of popular Meta Quest apps and games and introduce a cheaper model that competes with the Quest 3, the platform might have a chance to succeed. Google and Samsung already have dead XR platforms in their cupboards – Daydream and Gear VR respectively – so hopefully these will be valuable lessons for building a better platform. The Galaxy XR looks like an impressive flagship model, but I’m looking forward to more accessible headsets.

You can buy the Galaxy XR from Samsung’s online store for $1,800. The company will also offer “The Explorer Pack”, a bundle including specialized XR content, YouTube Premium, Google AI Pro and other benefits.

Source: Samsung