Samsung Unveils Galaxy XR: A New Frontier in Mixed Reality

I Tried Samsung Galaxy XR: Like Apple Vision Pro for Half the Price (and Twice the AI)

Nearly 20 years writing about tech, and over a decade reviewing wearable tech, VR, and AR products and apps When I slipped the Samsung Galaxy XR visor over my head, familiar yet strange feelings accompanied my journey. Familiar because I'd tried an earlier version of this headset a year ago, and because it feels a lot like the Apple Vision Pro and Meta Quest headsets. Strange because for the first time, Gemini AI was along for the ride, looking through my eyes, seeing what I was seeing. Google, Qualcomm and Samsung are working together to incorporate AI into AR/VR via Android XR, eventually building a line of smart glasses. That whole project begins with this Galaxy XR headset, now available for $1,799. It aims to extend Android and Gemini into new forms and feels as much like a stepping stone as an actual product. "I think there will be a shift in how people interact with devices," Samsung's COO of Mobile Experiences, Won-Joon Choi, told me in a conversation in New York. "Agentic AI coupled with multimodal AI will really change the industry. We're not saying glasses will replace the smartphone, but will complement and provide experiences people wouldn't have gotten with smartphones." In the few hands-on minutes I was able to spend with Galaxy XR at Samsung's demo in midtown New York, the headset felt like an open door to product ideas to come. The Galaxy XR is surprisingly lightweight and easy to use, with some exclusive apps that Meta and Apple would kill for. YouTube's immersive video support looks great, for instance. Google Maps, and its 3D globe modes and 3D-scanned location walkthroughs, are even better. But the most impressive part, and the part I have the most questions about, is the AI. The headset's built-in Gemini, based on my demos, can recognize more things in both 2D apps and the world around me than any other mixed reality headset AI I've ever tried before. It's an all-seeing type of magic, but I'm already wondering about its limits. How smart will it seem once I'm in the real world beyond the demos? I'll find out when I can review it, sometime soon. For now, it's hard to see who the Galaxy XR is meant for at its price. The possibilities for what can evolve with Gemini on a device like this are fascinating, however. Galaxy XR is a living testbed for live AI that can sit on your shoulder and see what you're seeing. Other headsets don't have anything like it yet. Google, Qualcomm and Samsung know that's an advantage right now. The hardware is a lot like the Vision Pro. It runs multiple apps at once in windows, can play movies on vivid 4K displays and can handle immersive games. But the Gemini layer struck me right away as the wild new function here. While the demos were pretty tightly focused on trying particular apps like YouTube, Google Maps and Photos, I was able to say whatever I wanted. Gemini explained parts of Maps locations and commented as I watched sad New York Jets highlights of Justin Fields. I asked how bad his performance was historically. I didn't get a clear answer there, but I did get served up some stats. Gemini is summoned by pressing a button on the headset, and defaults to Gemini Live -- a first for any Google product, Google's President of the Android Ecosystem, Sameer Samat, explained to me in a chat after my demo. Gemini's focus can also be reined in: you can authorize particular apps to be visible by the camera-enabled AI, and hide others. "Our goal is to go beyond the world of AI assistance that's on demand and more to a world where it's proactive, and that requires context," Samat told me, referring to the headset's ability to see the world and apps open simultaneously. Gemini's accuracy is still imperfect, though. In one demo moment, I requested a New York location in Google Maps, but a Chrome search was launched instead. And when I asked Gemini why a football team was kicking a ball into the end zone during a Jets highlight, Gemini tried to explain that it was to score a field goal (which was wrong). While I didn't get a clear sense of how many XR-optimized apps would be available for Galaxy XR at launch, Google has some wonderful XR-ified YouTube, Google Maps and Photos apps of its own. Samsung, meanwhile, has none of its own yet, relying on Google's Android XR OS on the device instead. Google's Samat promises that a good handful of XR apps are making the move over, something that seems likely since Android XR sounds like a relatively easier port process from other Qualcomm chip-based VR headsets, at least compared to Vision Pro. But Maps may be my favorite for now. The immersive 3D views and 3D-scanned interiors of some locations, done via Gaussian splatting technology, make Maps feel like a place to explore. Google also showed off auto-conversion of photos and videos to 3D in-headset using Gemini. Turning old photos into AI-simulated videos is weird enough, but seeing them in 3D begins to feel like a moment of memory inception. While Google and Samsung have smart glasses plans in the near future, including glasses made with Warby Parker and Gentle Monster, the Galaxy XR is very much a VR headset with mixed reality functions. It's not small like a pair of smart glasses, but it did feel remarkably light for a VR headset, especially compared with Apple's Vision Pro. Like Meta Quest, the visor-type design rests on the forehead, not strapped around the eyes. It's an easier fit and allows you to see the world in your peripheral vision (you can also attach snap-on shades to the sides that block light). The Galaxy XR headset is meant to be used with custom prescription lenses, not work over your glasses. Much like Vision Pro, there's a separate tethered battery pack, with USB-C passthrough to charge while using it. Battery life is in the 2-hour range, similar to Vision Pro. Both Apple and Samsung headsets lack the included controllers found on Meta Quest. The Galaxy XR is meant to be controlled with hand and eye tracking, although you can buy optional controllers. In my demos of hand tracking, I moved my fingers to cast a pointer-like extension to click and navigate, rather than pinching my fingers on where my gaze landed. Tapping my fingers brings up a grid of apps, much like it does on other VR headsets. The audio and video quality seemed very good, especially the 4K displays. The Galaxy XR's open-ear speakers in the headband are similar to what Meta and Apple do, but in the noisy demo room it was hard to judge audio quality. I watched YouTube and some demos of an immersive movie called Asteroid, one of Google and Samsung's few exclusive apps coming at launch. The Galaxy XR isn't using as powerful a processor as the new M5 Vision Pro. Instead it has a Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 onboard, which is better than the Meta Quest 3 and allows for 4K video. The specs for the micro OLED displays are impressive, at: 3,552x3,840-pixel resolution per eye (29 million pixels). That's higher than Vision Pro's 23 million pixels and reported 3,660x3,220 pixels per eye, although it runs at 90Hz maximum for now vs the M5 iPad Pro's 120Hz. The field of view is 109 degrees horizontal, 100 vertical and definitely looks wider than on Vision Pro. The headset comes with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage (similar to the Vision Pro's base storage configuration). There are buttons on the top edge for volume and power and launching Gemini Live, and a touchpad on the side band. Cameras are everywhere: two high-res ones for pass-through video, which looks as good or better than Vision Pro, plus six external tracking cameras and four internal eye-tracking cameras with iris scanning for securely logging into apps and making payments. There's facial tracking for animating avatars in Google Hangouts, though Samsung and Google are starting with cartoon-type avatars that are less uncannily real than Apple's Personas. I did see a glimpse of Samsung and Google's own realistic avatars, though, which Samsung says are coming later this year. The Galaxy XR is half the price of the Vision Pro but still very expensive. To attract more customers, Google and Samsung are offering a ton of perks for early adopters in the initial launch window, including a year of Google AI Pro, a year of YouTube Premium, a season of NBA League Pass, a year of Google Play Pass, and some free apps. According to Samat, part of that incentive is to encourage people to play around with Google's subscription offerings and get deeper with Google's AI tools. The Pro subscription does unlock some extra capabilities on Galaxy XR, but it's not necessary -- Samat says it's all functional even with free access to Gemini. To me it feels like Galaxy XR is an AI gateway disguised as a VR headset. What's particularly fascinating about Galaxy XR is how it's already being touted as the first step of a multi-device approach, one that looks a lot more integrated between VR, AR, AI and smart glasses than Meta's VR and glasses approach and Apple's headset-only current strategy. Samsung and Google aren't hiding their intentions here at all. The hardware is very AI-focused, and aims to dovetail phones, computers, even watches and rings into an everyday ecosystem where, as Samat says, the AI starts being more proactive. Galaxy XR is a device for your face that lets Google and Samsung see what you're seeing, and it won't be the only one. Next year, both companies will have smart glasses coming via Warby Parker and Gentle Monster. Galaxy XR is a foot in the door, but it also clearly feels like a stepping stone towards the future of glasses, and potentially all of AI as well. I look forward to a full review of Galaxy XR in the coming weeks.

I tried the Samsung Galaxy XR headset, and here's how it'll coexist with smart glasses

Samsung's Galaxy XR headset is finally real. After a year of teasing it with appearances at the Google campus, Mobile World Congress, and Google IO, the company's premium, AI-driven device, powered by Google's new Android XR operating system. is shipping for $1,799. It offers a deeply integrated Gemini layer, impressive real-time spatialization features, and a slick design that's meant to compete with the Apple Vision Pro. Also: Samsung offers free $100 deal to new Android XR headset users - how to redeem it now But I walked away from my second demo of the headset thinking this launch isn't as much about a virtual reality headset as it is a bridge to something smaller, lighter, and infinitely more transformative: AI-powered smart glasses. Samsung flew me out to a highly controlled New York City demo that served as a culmination of an impressive collaboration with Google and Qualcomm. One year ago, when the headset was still known internally as Project Moohan, I was one of the first journalists invited to Google's campus to test an early prototype. Even back then, the hardware felt notably premium and clearly built to go toe to toe with the Apple Vision Pro's level of finish. On top of the build quality, I was immediately struck by the clarity of its pass-through camera, having never seen a digital representation of the room with such accuracy. Also: I tested Meta Ray-Ban Display alternatives, and these are better in several ways for less money What's changed most in the year since isn't the concept, but the polish of the hardware and software experience. Galaxy XR has evolved from an impressive prototype to a fully realized product, refined in almost every way. I did notice one step backward in the ease of hand-tracking during my latest demo. One year ago, I was much more able to leave my hands in my lap and rely on the downward-facing cameras to capture my hand controls. This time around, I had no choice but to raise them further into view in front of me to get more accuracy, and the change was notable. Otherwise, this is a confident piece of hardware meant to introduce consumers to a new computing category. What really impressed me about the first prototype was how sharp and perfectly scaled passthrough mode looked, and I'm happy to share that Galaxy XR refined that experience even further. The 4K-per-eye view feels natural, lifelike, and spatially accurate. My hands anchored properly to my body in space, and the distance between real objects and virtual overlays felt pretty spot on. Where Project Moohan sometimes separated the real and the digital, with odd occlusions in my early hands-on, Galaxy XR merged them more seamlessly. Smaller text on signs clear across the other side of the room was crisp and legible, shadows didn't become dark voids, and felt natural, and virtual objects stayed anchored where they were placed. The line between physical and digital blurred in a way that finally felt believable. When I tried Project Moohan, the Gemini AI layer proved its utility, but still had plenty of pauses between responses that reminded me it was all a work in progress. Now, in Galaxy XR, Gemini feels a bit more refined and integrated. You can summon it with a button or your voice, use it to do all kinds of OS-level tasks like launching apps and cleaning up the visible space, or even circle to search on anything whatsoever that is present in the OS and in pass-through. Samsung calls much of this activity "on-device AI," but just as is the case on the smartphone, plenty of that work still happens in the cloud. This integration signals a future where AI becomes the command layer for everything you see and voice control becomes a first-class input source. Android XR isn't the only OS moving in this direction, either, as evidenced by recent news that Windows 11 will integrate its Copilot AI into the foundation of the OS as well. The real eye-opening moment for me was experiencing pass-through and Gemini working together inside Galaxy AI. They may seem like separate tricks, but working together, I believe they define the next major step in AI and personal computing. The high quality of pass-through mode on Galaxy AI finally makes the physical world look real through those lenses. Gemini running in tandem gives that world instant access to context and meaning. That pairing creates a clear through-line from large XR headsets like Galaxy AI to smaller, more accessible AI and XR-driven glasses. Also: Snap's latest Specs AI updates prove that it's taking smart glasses seriously (but in a different way) While the headset makes a powerful argument for ambient, contextual computing, it also acts as proof that the larger XR form factor is a hindrance to that destination. During a promo video shown to a room full of journalists, a scene depicted what it looks like to walk down city streets with a Google Maps overlay showing the path. No matter how good this headset might be at that scenario, no one is going to choose to wear a Galaxy XR on a city street. And that right there makes Galaxy XR feel more like a gateway device than the true destination for Samsung. Even Apple seems to be making similar discoveries as a report by Mark Gurman shows how they are reallocating engineers from its stalled Vision Air headset project to work on smart glasses. Don't get me wrong, Galaxy XR serves a different purpose that AI glasses can't touch. During my latest demo, Samsung showed a black-and-white photo that had been colorized and animated with AI into a spatial video. The image suddenly had real depth and moved with believable life. I was immediately reminded of my dad's large collection of old photos from his time in Vietnam. What a trip it would be to experience those old memories in a way I never could before. In last year's prototype, that spatialization effect sometimes broke down at the edges with small artifacts that reminded me it was all synthetic. Many of those imperfections were smoothed out on the latest hardware. The only hiccup came during an unreleased real-time spatialization demo where I was given the chance to choose any flat video from YouTube. Also: I tried the Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses (including this unreleased feature), and I'm nearly sold I chose an NBA basketball game, and the end result was pretty remarkable, especially considering the spatialization of the video was happening in real-time with around 20 milliseconds of latency. However, I did notice that a player's head occasionally misaligned with his body in a glitchy fashion. But given the speed of motion and the fact that this feature isn't shipping yet, it's a feature that fans of watching 3D content should get excited about. A year of hands-on time across a few different prototype devices really makes the distinction obvious to me. Headsets like Galaxy XR are about immersion in that they remove you from the world. AI glasses and, by extension, XR glasses, are about utility because they add meaning to the world. Gemini is the technology that effectively bridges those two realities. Inside the headset, it serves as a co-pilot for the immersive quality of the experience. In early glasses demos, like the time I spent with Google's Project Astra one year ago, it felt like a real-life copilot. It brought intelligence to the world I was already used to living in. That duality may be Google's biggest strategic advantage with Android XR and the Gemini integration found within it.

Samsung's Galaxy XR headset to take on Apple with help from Google and Qualcomm

Oct 21 (Reuters) - Samsung Electronics (005930.KS), opens new tab released its Galaxy XR extended reality headset on Tuesday, counting on AI features from Google to propel it into the nascent and uncertain market of computing-on-your-face that is dominated by Meta and Apple. The headset, resembling those made by others such as Meta, will cost $1,799, or about half of what Apple (AAPL.O), opens new tab charges for its Vision Pro headset. It is the first of a family of new devices, powered by the Android XR operating system and artificial intelligence, in a long-term partnership with Alphabet's (GOOGL.O), opens new tab Google and Qualcomm (QCOM.O), opens new tab. "There's a whole journey ahead of us in terms of other devices and form factors," said Google's vice president of AR/XR Sharham Izadi in an interview ahead of the launch. Up next will be the release of lighter eyeglasses, executives said, declining to elaborate. Samsung has announced partnerships with Warby Parker (WRBY.N), opens new tab and South Korea's Gentle Monster luxury eyewear. The race to find new form factors for entertainment and computing, underpinned by AI, has fueled a battle among the biggest technology companies. Instagram-owner Meta (META.O), opens new tab overwhelmingly dominates the VR headset industry with about an 80% market share, with Apple (AAPL.O), opens new tab trailing behind. ChatGPT-maker OpenAI is also diving into the market and spent $6.5 billion to buy iPhone designer Jony Ive's hardware startup io Products in May to figure out devices in the AI age. USING GOOGLE AI STRENGTH The long-awaited Samsung Galaxy XR, first demonstrated last year, combines virtual reality and mixed reality features. The goggles immerse users watching videos, such as on Alphabet's YouTube, or playing games and viewing pictures, while also allowing users to interact with their surroundings. The latter feature takes advantage of Google's Gemini service, which can analyze what users are seeing and offer directions or information about real-world objects by looking and circling objects with their fingers. In an interview last week, executives from Google and Samsung discussed how they believe extended reality headsets, which have yet to ignite mass consumer interest, would benefit greatly from the application of Google's powerful multimodal AI features throughout the device that can process information from different types of data such as text, photos and videos. It's a set of software capabilities that Apple has yet to demonstrate, despite rolling out an updated Vision Pro with a more powerful chip. "Google entering the fray again changes the dynamic in the ecosystem," said Anshel Sag, principal analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy, noting that Google's software added $1,000 in value to the device by some estimates. "Google really wants people to get the full experience of Gemini when using this headset." Customers who buy the device this year will receive a bundle of free services including 12 months of access to Google AI Pro, YouTube Premium, Google Play Pass and other specialized XR content, the companies said. The prototype for AI-enhanced goggles was ready by the time Apple had launched its Vision Pro headset in 2024, executives said, as they sought to enhance existing applications like YouTube and Google Photos and Google Maps, while creating new immersive experiences. Like many first generation technologies, it attempts to do multiple things that could have consumer and enterprise applications. Qualcomm is providing its Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 chip to power the headset. DIFFICULT MARKET Many tech CEOs have been seduced by what they say is the next big thing in personal computing, but the market remains tiny by tech standards. Research firm Gartner estimated the global Head-Mounted Display market is expected to rise by 2.6% from this year to $7.27 billion next year. Lighter, eyeglass-type AI devices such as Meta's smartglasses made in collaboration with EssilorLuxottica (ESLX.PA), opens new tab Ray-Bans are expected to drive most of this growth. Despite the expanding competitive landscape, the global virtual reality market, which includes so-called "mixed reality" headsets launching more recently, has faced three consecutive years of decline. Weakening again, shipments in 2025 are expected to fall 20% year on year, according to research firm Counterpoint. "With a potentially more competitive price point than Apple's Vision Pro, Samsung's Project Moohan headset could emerge as a strong contender in the premium VR segment, particularly within the enterprise market," Counterpoint senior analyst Flora Tang. The Galaxy XR is the first Android XR device. But Samsung has dabbled with face-mounted computing devices dating back a decade, involving slipping a smartphone into a headset, called the Gear VR, in partnership with VR headset maker Oculus. Meta acquired Oculus in 2014. Reporting by Kenneth Li in New York and Stephen Nellis in San Francisco; Additional reporting by Hyunjoo Jin in Seoul; Editing by Sonali Paul Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab

Google and Samsung's first Android XR headset is the $1,800 Galaxy XR

The company got really wild and original with the headset's name. You're truly not going to believe what it's called... Actually, it's got the most unsurprising name of all time: Galaxy XR. What's more, you can buy the headset right now in the US and Korea for $1,800. That's just over half of what the Apple Vision Pro costs. Aside from an Android-powered headset that looks very much like an Apple Vision Pro, you might be wondering exactly what you'll be getting in return for forking over 1,800 smackeroos. As expected, Galaxy XR is powered by the Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 chipset. Qualcomm worked with Samsung and Google on the headset. The micro OLED display has 29 million pixels (6 million more than the Apple Vision Pro), a resolution of 3,552 x 3,840 and 96 percent of the DCI‑P3 color gamut -- four percent more than the Vision Pro. Where Apple does have Samsung beat on the display front is with the refresh rate: the Galaxy XR tops out at 90Hz and the Vision Pro can hit 120Hz. Galaxy XR has dual high-res passthrough cameras to support mixed reality use, six other external cameras for tracking things in the environment and two eye-tracking sensors. The device supports iris recognition for unlocking the headset and entering passwords in some apps. As with the Vision Pro, you can capture 3D photos and video using the headset. The cameras allow for hand tracking and gesture control, though it's possible to operate Galaxy XR with physical controllers as well. If you prefer, you can pair a keyboard and mouse to the headset or link it to your PC and access your desktop that way. The dual speakers support Dolby Atmos and there are six microphones built in. As for battery life, Samsung says you'll get up to two hours of general use and 2.5 hours of video playback on a charge. That matches the original battery life promises of the original Vision Pro, but Apple said its latest model (which has the new M5 chipset) offers an extra 30 minutes or so of usage. The interpupillary distance of the Galaxy XR's optics is 54~70mm, and it's possible to buy insertable prescription lenses if needed. As for connectivity, the headset supports Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4. Even with a forehead cushion attached, Galaxy XR weighs 545g (1.2lbs), while the latest Apple Vision Pro has a minimum weight of 750g (1.7lbs). The Galaxy XR's battery pack -- as with competitor's offerings, the battery is external -- weighs 302g (0.7lbs). Samsung claims the Galaxy XR was designed with comfort in mind. "The headset's ergonomically balanced frame distributes pressure across the forehead and the back of the head, minimizing facial discomfort while providing steady support," the company said in a press release. There's also a detachable light shield that you can employ to block out external light. There are no prizes for guessing that Google's generative AI chatbot Gemini is at the heart of Android XR. "Android XR is the first Android platform built entirely for the Gemini era, and we are incredibly excited to take a significant leap forward today with the launch of Galaxy XR," Sameer Samat, Google's president of Android Ecosystem, said. Every Google Play Store app works out of the box on the headset, though of course Google has reworked some for mixed reality. You can use Gemini to navigate Google Maps and ask for personalized recommendations while checking out 3D visuals with Immersive View. Google Photos can bring an extra dimension to 2D photos and videos via auto spatialization. On YouTube, you can ask Gemini to find videos and tell you more details about what you're watching. And, while using the passthrough mode, you can look at any object in your environment and use Circle to Search to look up more info about it. Google has also made new versions of Google TV, Chrome and Meet (because what is mixed reality for if not conference calls?) for Android XR. Multitasking is a factor here as well. The operating system allows users to have multiple, resizable apps open at once. These can be arranged in a virtual space, or you can simply ask Gemini to do that for you. On the entertainment front, you'll be able to stream shows and movies in 4K in a virtual theater setting. You'll have access to a library of 180-degree and 360-degree VR content, and you can view 3D content via a "spatial" tab. Some streaming platforms have reworked their apps for Android XR, including Crunchyroll, HBO Max and Peacock. There's a multi-view option for watching sports, with apps from the likes of MLB and Fox Sports available. With Adobe's Project Pulsar (an immersive video editing app), you'll be able to add 3D depth to videos and seemingly place captions behind subjects with ease, if that's something you're interested in. Galaxy XR has games too. NFL Pro Era -- an NFL-licensed virtual reality title that's also on Meta Quest, PlayStation VR and Windows -- is available for Android XR. So too is Inside [JOB] by Owlchemy Labs (Vacation Simulator, Job Simulator). For compatible games, Samsung says Gemini can offer real-time coaching, tips and "enhanced gameplay experiences." The arrival of Galaxy XR is an important next step for Google and its grand vision of an Android XR ecosystem. But the company isn't stopping with headsets. It's also making smart glasses, a product category that Meta has been trying to conquer. Samsung and Google are working with Warby Parker on Android XR smart glasses. At I/O earlier this year, we got some hands-on time with a prototype of Google's Android XR glasses. Once again, Galaxy XR will run you $1,800, and Samsung is offering financing options. The Galaxy XR Travel Case and Galaxy XR Controller will each run you $250 -- at those prices, they almost need financing options too. Ouch. Anyone who buys Galaxy XR by the end of this year will get an Explorer Pack at no extra cost. This includes 12 months of access to Google AI Pro, YouTube Premium and Google Play Pass. The NFL Pro Era, Project Pulsar, Calm and Asteroid apps are bundled in too. You'll also get NBA League Pass access for the 2025-26 season in the US or 12 months of the Coupang Play Sports Pass in Korea. Charging $1 for each of the first three months of YouTube TV seems a little cheap considering the outlay for Galaxy XR, but it's still a decent perk. YouTube TV typically costs $83 per month.

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. It might be the best attempt at a mixed reality computer and virtual reality headset yet, depending on If this headset seems familiar, it's probably because it was announced nearly a year ago as Samsung's "Project Moohan," and Samsung previewed the release again last week. The big day is finally here, though -- this is a real headset you can buy with your real money, complete 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-life surroundings 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, this is powered by the Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 chipset, with Wi-Fi 7, "up to" Bluetooth 5.4, 256GB storage and 18GB RAM. The primary screen is a 3,552 x 3,840 Micro-OLED panel for each eye, with refresh rates up to 90Hz. The OLED screen is a substantial upgrade from the LCD panel found in 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 several cameras for pass-through video and motion sensing, as well as iris recognition and eye tracking support, similar to the Apple Vision Pro. This is the first headset with Android XR, a new software platform that should eventually arrive on other headsets and glasses. Since it's based on Android, you have 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 a complete picture there until the headset arrives. The Gemini assistant is also front and center here, with the ability to answer natural language questions while using other apps and games -- hopefully it won't tell you to eat glue and rocks. Samsung said in a press release, "All apps built on the Android platform work right out of the box on Galaxy XR, ensuring users can enjoy the familiar mobile experiences they already love and making the device as useful day-to-day as it is groundbreaking. Since the platform is built on OpenXR standards, it's easy for developers using OpenXR, WebXR, or Unity to bring their experiences to Galaxy XR -- offering them more ways to scale and giving consumers more choices." As you might expect, the catch is the price. The Galaxy XR is priced at $1,800, which is far more expensive than the Meta Quest 3 at $500, the only (somewhat) successful standalone headset on the market today. The PlayStation VR2 ($400) and Valve Index ($1,000) are also cheaper, but those are intended primarily for gaming and require a PC or game console. Samsung's motion controllers are a separate charge of $250. The Galaxy XR is clearly not intended to be a mass-market device, and launching the Android XR platform without a more affordable device for the general public seems like a bad idea -- it certainly didn't work out for the Vision Pro. Still, the Galaxy XR is cheaper than the Vision Pro, and the Android platform gives it a strong 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 shot at success. Google and Samsung already have dead XR platforms in their closets -- Daydream and Gear VR, respectively -- so hopefully those will be valuable lessons for building a better platform. The Galaxy XR looks like an impressive flagship model, but I'm looking forward to the more accessible headsets. You can buy the Galaxy XR from Samsung's online store for $1,800. The company will also throw in "The Explorer Pack," a bundle with specialized XR content, YouTube Premium, Google AI Pro, and other benefits. Samsung XR Display Type 4K Micro-OLED Storage 256GB Connectivity Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3 Battery Life 2+ hours Weight 545g Refresh rate 60, 72, or 90Hz Samsung's new headset has an incredible 4K Micro-OLED resolution, making everything more clear than ever before. Processor Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 RAM 16GB Field of view 109 degrees horizontal, 100 degrees vertical $1800 at Samsung Expand Collapse Source: Samsung

Samsung's Galaxy XR is the first Android XR headset, available now for $1,799

After previewing last December as Project Moohan, the Samsung Galaxy XR is now available as the first headset running Google's new Android XR operating system. Google heavily emphasizes Gemini's role in Android XR. In addition to hand (gestures) and eye input, voice can be used to navigate apps and the OS. In terms of first-party app support, Google Maps, Photos, TV, Meet, Chrome, and YouTube have been updated for Android XR. Google Maps offers an Immersive View to explore the world in 3D: "Walk the streets of Tokyo before you book a trip, soar over the Grand Canyon or even revisit your old neighborhood." You can look at landmarks and ask "What's the story behind this building?" to Gemini. Similarly, Circle to Search is available on both virtual and real-world (with passthrough) objects. On the entertainment front, Google Photos can add depth to your 2D photos and videos. YouTube is touted as having the "world's largest library of immersive 180 and 360-degree VR content." There's also a new spatial tab to find 3D content. Meanwhile, Google TV provides a virtual theater environment. There are also streaming apps from HBO Max, Peacock, Crunchyroll, and more, as well as "immersive games" from Owlchemy Labs, Mirrorscape, and Resolution Games where Gemini can provide real-time coaching and tips. Whatever you're viewing, Gemini can be invoked: For example, if you're catching up on basketball highlights, you can just ask about the stats of a player on-screen. Gemini understands what you're seeing and gets you the info in real time. There are also apps from Calm, Fox Sports, MLB, and more, with over 50 new XR experiences in total. This joins millions of phone and tablet apps from the Play Store. In terms of productivity, Google leans into how you can have multiple apps floating in space, including Chrome tabs. Google Meet offers video tiles that "you can expand to read expressions clearly." Mice and keyboards can be paired to Galaxy XR, while there's the ability to "link your PC for a complete desktop experience." Adobe made an immersive video editing app called Project Pulsar, while TopHatch offers a sketching app with Concepts. Gemini here can be used to "organize these windows" when your space gets too cluttered. Design-wise, Galaxy XR works to distribute pressure across the forehead (with a cushion) and back of your head where there is more padding. A knob at the back lets you adjust the fit. Thanks to the primarily plastic build, it weighs 545 grams before factoring the optional light shield that offers a more immersive experience, while the external battery pack is 302 grams (the connection point is on the left side). For comparison, the aluminum Vision Pro is 750-800 grams (and the battery is 353 grams), while the Meta Quest 3 is 515 grams. Galaxy XR is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. There's Bluetooth 5.4 and Wi-Fi 7. Battery life via the external pack comes in at 2 hours of general use and 2.5 hours of video watching. The 4K Micro-OLED panels are 3,552 x 3,840 with 27 million pixels and 96% DCI-P3. The default refresh rate is 72Hz with up to 90Hz available, while field of view comes in at 109 degrees horizontal and 100 degrees vertical. The Interpupillary Distance (IPD) is 54-70mm, with support for optical inserts ((from Essilorluxottica/EyeBuyDirect.com) if you wear glasses. The Galaxy XR features the following cameras: two for "high-resolution" pass-through, six for world-facing tracking, and four for eye-tracking. There's also the ability to take 3D photos and videos with the headset. Depth and flicker sensors are also leveraged, while iris recognition lets you unlock the device and authenticate passwords. On the audio front, there's a six microphone array and two "2 Way speaker (Woofer + Tweeter)." The Samsung Galaxy XR costs $1,799.99 and is available in the US and Korea from samsung.com and Samsung Experience Stores. There's a $249.99 Galaxy XR Controller, with a Travel Case also the same price. You can also sign up for a demo in Samsung's stores or select Google Stores in New York and California. Those that purchase the headset this year will get an "Explorer Pack" valued at over $1,000. It includes 12 months of Google AI Pro, YouTube Premium, and Google Play Pass, as well as a 3-month subscription to YouTube TV for $3, 12-month subscription to NBA League Pass, and access to NFL PRO ERA, Project Pulsar from Adobe, Asteroid, and Calm.

Samsung Galaxy XR launches for $1,700 less than Apple Vision Pro -- release date, price, specs and more

After months of teasers and previews, Samsung's Galaxy XR headset has finally arrived powered by Google's Android XR operating system. Built for headsets and smart glasses, Android XR combines Google's AI assistant Gemini with apps and games. Announced tonight (October 21) during an online launch event, the Galaxy XR bears a striking resemblance to the Apple Vision Pro headset it's looking to challenge. And Samsung's device could have Apple beat in one key area, as the Galaxy XR is substantially less expensive, even if it still commands a four-figure price tag. Powered by Qualcomm silicon, the Galaxy XR figures to stand out with with its Android XR software, featuring XR optimized versions of Google Maps, YouTube and Google Meet, alongside VR games and XR "experiences" from Adobe, Fox Sports and MLB. The platform also features Gemini Live, which Google says will "understand what you're seeing and doing" in order to help you search or take actions in your apps via natural language conversations. As a result, Galaxy XR can be controlled via your voice, hands and eyes. We've got a hands-on look at Galaxy XR if you want to read Mark Spoonauer's first impressions of the device. But here's what else you need to know about this Samsung headset and the software that powers it. The Galaxy XR headset is available starting today for $1,799 or $149 a month. Right now, the Samsung Galaxy XR can only be bought from Samsung.com or at Samsung Experience stores in the United States and South Korea. Additionally, Google is releasing a limited-time Explorer Pack that includes several media and AI subscriptions: Like the Vision Pro, the Galaxy XR is a headset with a ski mask like design that slips over your face. There's a passthrough mode that lets you see the real world around you, but you can also opt for the more immersive view where apps float in front of you. Samsung is promising a lightweight design, with the Galaxy XR tipping the scales at 545 grams, a measurement that includes a forehead cushion. For context, the latest version of the Vision Pro weighs between 750 and 800 grams, depending if you're using a light seal. Samsung claims the frame distributes pressure across the forehead and the back of your head, and it's separated out the battery to keep things lighter. A Snapdragon XR Plus Gen 2 chipset from Qualcomm powers the headset, which features a 3,552 x 3,840 microLED display that supports refresh rates of up to 90Hz. You have a 109-degree horizontal field of view and a 100-degree vertical field of view. The battery should last you two hours for general use, according to Samsung's figures. That expands to 2.5 hours when watching videos. And you can keep using the headset as you charge the battery. Samsung and its partners such as Google clearly are banking on the Android XR experience to set the Galaxy XR headset apart from what's currently out there. That means XR-optimized versions of apps. For example, Google Maps features immersive 3D maps that you can view in a virtual space, with Gemini offering navigation features and suggestions. When passthrough mode is enabled, you can use the same Circle to Search feature found on Android phones to look up more information on real-world objects by drawing a circle with your hand. Google Photos features support for spatial photos and videos on the Galaxy XR. If you want to use the Galaxy XR for work, Google says you can have multiple apps open like a browser, documents and a music player at any size that are arrangeable around a "massive, private space." For example, you can arrange your Chrome tabs in an arc. There are new apps like Adobe's video editor Project Pulsar and TopHatch's Concept sketching app. You can pair a keyboard and mouse or link your PC for a desktop experience. If things get too cluttered in the space you can ask Gemini to organize the windows. Galaxy XR also features to be a popular device for looking at videos and photos. Via YouTube you'll be able to watch a number of spatial videos in both 180 and 360-degree VR content. There is also a new spatial tab for media that YouTube creators have converted to 3D. Additionally, you can watch movies on a massive, resizable screen in Google TV. Within Google Photos, you can convert 2D images and videos into 3D. From there, you can use Gemini to pull up information like player stats from sports highlights. "Gemini understands what you're seeing and gets you the info in real time," Google claims in its Android XR announcement accompanying the Galaxy XR launch.

Samsung exec: XR glasses are 'nearing the execution phase' but won't arrive until next year

"Where are the glasses?" I couldn't help but ask Drew Blackard, Samsung's VP of Mobile Product Management, when we sat down shortly after the unveiling of the company's exciting new Samsung Galaxy XR spatial computing, Gemini AI-centric headset. Blackard couldn't share specifics but did acknowledge, "it's coming soon...And I'll use those words purposely in the sense that it's not like a far-out concept." Even though the glasses were nowhere to be seen during the Galaxy XR launch, Samsung did announce a pair of lens frames partnerships with Warby Parker and Gentle Monster, and Blackard told me they are "nearing the execution phase." "You could call today, I guess, a tease." Even though he promised we won't have to wait too long, he added that we will not see the glasses "this year." I pressed him a bit, though, asking if the release of the Galaxy XR headset and then the glasses was somehow out of order, especially with the rapidly rising interest in smart glasses that either deliver information to your eyes or combine your real world with an augmented one. Is this just a first step? "I think it is," said Blackard, "I don't think it's out of order. In the sense, they're so related, and I think the announcement today helped paint the picture." With that slight disappointment settled, I steered the conversation back to the new headset, talking about design choices and how they differ in some fundamental ways from what's already on the market (yes, looking at you Vision Pro). The new Samsung Galaxy XR headset is a gaze, voice, and gesture-control headset that arrives today (October 21) for $1,799 in the US and Korea. While there are similarities to the Vision Pro, like the controls and even the external battery pack, it's also significantly different. First, there's that price, which is roughly half the price of the Vision Pro. Then there's the weight, which is at least 65 grams less and arguably across a better-balanced frame. The big differentiator, though, is Gemini AI. It's the kind of Apple Intelligence-infused Siri Vision Pro control I wished for but has never materialized. "It's an AI device," said Blackard. I wondered if Samsung and its partners would've brought the Galaxy XR to market two years ago when, for instance, Gemini AI didn't exist in its current form. Blackard tried to put it in context for me and maybe, without mentioning them by name, contrast Samsung, Google, and Qualcomm's approach with that of Apple and its Vision Pro platform. Starting with the Galaxy S24, it's been two years since Samsung has been developing AI phones. Lately, it's even become central to their wearables, like the Galaxy Watch. "This became something that we all believed - Google and Qualcomm included - that was an essential part of the experience," Blackard told me. The realization that you need a layer like Gemini inside dates back, in a way, to the Galaxy Gear VR days (that's right, this is not Samsung's first VR-ready headset). "User interfaces were challenging on those, or can be, historically," he said. Seeing immersive content in front of you doesn't guarantee, Blackard told me, that you'll know how to navigate an interface that "can be very complex and overwhelming." With Gemini plugged in at a deeper level, there may be no need to learn how to use the interface on Galaxy XR. "You can navigate with your voice, talking naturally, and it becomes a multimodal interface," noted Blackard. Being able to engage with the platform in this way is part of what makes Gemini essential to the experience. As is AI being an actual layer in the system, which Blackard told me means it's not something developers have to put in at an app level because "then you're dependent on every app developers puting that into the app, and therefore the ability to scale the experience was difficult." He went on to describe some of the demos I saw that day, which showed how Gemini helps you navigate in Google Maps or offers tips on how to play a game using Google Circle to search. "Maybe a very specific game, and we at Samsung had no idea that the consumer was going to download that game and start playing it." It's this organic nature of Gemini integrated across the operating system that completes the picture. "It becomes an organic interaction with almost any app that you're opening," added Blackard. Where it might be argued that Apple's Vision Pro is the product of one strategic and corporate mind, Samsung Galaxy XR is the product of the three partners (and occasional rivals): Samsung, Google, and Qualcomm. It can't be easy aligning the interests and demands of three tech titans. I asked Blackard if one company naturally took the lead or was considered the tip of the spear. Was it Samsung? "It's an interesting question, and I would say it's probably been one of the more collaborative efforts in my time at Samsung. If you just take Samsung smartphones as an example, of course, we use Qualcomm chips, and they're a very important partner in that. We use the Android operating system; they're an important partner in that, but ultimately, the end experience is defined by Samsung." He adds, though, that owing to the tech requirements, the end experience we see in the Galaxy XR could not have been delivered without the partnership. "Of course, from the design perspective...Samsung, of course, is leading the way in terms of industrial design and all the research and development that goes into making a product like this." And yet, because AI is so central to the experience in the form of Gemini, the Galaxy XR would not be coming to market, added Blackard, "without Google having a leading role in terms of software technology enablement....and of course, Qualcomm delivers the platform to build upon." In other words, Samsung is the lead with hefty and indispensable support and contributions from Google and Qualcomm. One thing I noticed is missing from the Galaxy XR is Galaxy AI. Blackard confirmed that the new headset probably isn't the place for Samsung's own brand of generative AI. "The Galaxy AI capabilities, a lot of them are deeply integrated experiences within applications," said Blackard, who described some of the photo editing and summarization features we're now familiar with on our Galaxy devices. "It's kind of a different in the use cases that we see with XR and back to the multimodal aspects of Gemini AI. It brings to life anything you're looking at, you can react to, it can understand your voice naturally, and it can respond. So it kind of takes it beyond just the traditional... I think it's more like: the best solution for the problem has been Gemini AI."

Introducing Galaxy XR, the first Android XR headset

Android XR combines Gemini's helpfulness with an awareness of your surroundings to bring you new ways to use an AI assistant and experience apps and games. The Galaxy XR headset offers a first look at this new way of interacting with technology. Galaxy XR gives you an infinite screen to explore your apps, with Gemini by your side. It lets you switch between being fully immersed in a virtual environment and staying present in the real world, and you can navigate the interface naturally with your voice, hands and eyes. Since it's Android, you can fill its infinite screen with your favorite apps from Google Play. You can access Google apps that have been reimagined for XR, totally new experiences made for Android XR by developers, and millions of mobile and tablet apps, including: And because Android XR is built on open standards with support for tools like OpenXR, WebXR, and Unity, even more innovative content is on the way. But what makes this experience truly transformative is that Gemini is built for it. On Galaxy XR, Gemini Live can better understand what you're seeing and doing, making it easier to get the help you need or take action on your behalf across your apps -- with just a conversation. Here's three examples of how Galaxy XR opens up new ways to watch, explore and create:

The Samsung Galaxy XR raises the bar while lowering the price for premium spatial experiences

The Samsung Galaxy XR is here, and it instantly raises the bar for spatial computing in three crucial elements: price, intelligence, and comfort. Formerly known as Project Moohan, the XR headset is the product of some deep collaboration between Samsung, Google, and Qualcomm. In some ways, the Galaxy XR represents the best of each company: it's a showcase for Samsung's design and R&D expertise, Google's powerhouse generative AI efforts, and Qualcomm's ever-growing mobile SoC capabilities. And those efforts show. Remarkably, the Galaxy XR headset arrives in the US and Korea priced at just $1,799 (availability and pricing for other regions is TBC, but that price converts to about £1,340 or AU$2,770). I know, that's not cheap, but it's a positive bargain compared to the Apple Vision Pro, which is still listed for $3,499 / £3,199. It also weighs just 536g, making it relatively lightweight compared to the Vision Pro's 600g. Samsung achieved that weight by using an attractive mix of aluminum and glass on the front and a variety of plastics and fabric (the cushions) for the rest of the product. It's not just a good look; from the moment I picked up the Galaxy XR at a demo session, I was astonished at the weight. I think part of that has to do with the balance. Even though the 13 cameras and most of the technology are in the front. Samsung has somehow balanced the weight across the front and back. Aside from the prescription inserts I needed ($99 to start, and Samsung retail stores will have the equipment to check your eyeglass prescription), the only adjustment necessary was to the tightening knob on the back. It pulled the headgear tight across my upper forehead, which is where I felt the majority of the weight and, after wearing the Galaxy XR for 20 minutes or so, only the slightest discomfort. Like the Vision Pro, the Galaxy XR keeps its hefty battery pack separate, tethered to the headset by a long cable and a proprietary jack. It provides, according to Samsung, 2.5 hours of video playback or two hours of mixed use. As soon as I donned the headset, it started calibrating for my pupillary distance. There are four cameras inside - two per eye - to assist with this process and which will then track your gaze and expressions. It only took a moment, and then I was looking through fairly clear, full-color passthrough video. I noticed that, when I turned my head to look around, the video degraded a bit before quickly snapping into focus. Generally, though, this is a fast and, it seems, powerful wearable. Running on Qualcomm's Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 with 256GB of storage, there was zero lag in any function. The system runs you through a brief tutorial that starts with you looking at floating objects and using your fingers to grab, squish, and move them. It's more fun than the circle of dots Vision Pro has you look at and pinch three times in a row during its set-up process. Then the system ran me through all the various gaze and gesture control metaphors, 99% of which were familiar to me because they so closely resembled those I've encountered on the Vision Pro. I can grab any window and position it in 3D, 360 space. I can resize windows by grabbing and pulling a curved icon along one corner. I often used two hands, pinching and pulling to zoom in and out. Where I looked, I usually saw a floating icon, which is different than the Vision Pro platform, which confirms your gaze by gently ballooning interface elements. Occasionally, I had some trouble aligning my gaze and grasp. This may have been a 'me' problem, though I feel like this system might be a hair less precise than the Vision Pro's. Similarities continue with the home menu, which I accessed by turning my hand towards my face and pinching. The menu is full of Google apps and other familiar faces like Netflix (a nice win for Samsung) and Samsung apps like the company's own browser, messaging, and Samsung TV Plus (Galaxy AI is not present on this device). To open an app, I looked at it and pinched. Launching Google Photos brought up a relatively familiar-looking photo library; however, to the left was a new folder option for immersive content. This content is not necessarily photos and videos that were shot with stereoscopic equipment; in fact the photos I viewed were all originally flat, but the headset can convert them. We started with an immersive video of a father and son (immersive videos don't have borders; they just sort of fade away at the edges, an approach that's similar to the Vision Pro's) that started as a 70-year-old black-and-white still image. Gemini was able to colorize and add motion to the video. It's a great effect, though I sometimes find the idea of creating a full moment that didn't exactly happen a little disconcerting. The system can also take original videos and convert them to spatial videos - one I saw of a little boy meeting his baby brother for the first time was especially moving. We then opened an image of a family in front of a hotel with mountains in the background. The image was a nice showcase for the two 4K micro-OLED displays. It all looked so sharp, and the 3D effect added a whole new level of impact to the photos. To see the originals, I just looked at the spatial button below the image and pinched to toggle it on or off. There are a pair of buttons on top of the Galaxy XR frame; one is a volume rocker, and the other I used to enable Gemini (I found there are times when you want to turn Gemini off so that it's not always listening, replying, and potentially getting in the way). Looking at that family vacation photo, I asked Gemini about the hotel behind them. It instantly identified it. I purposefully interrupted Gemini's lengthy answer to ask about the mountain range in the background, and Gemini switched gears and told me that they were a mountain range in Yosemite Valley in the famed California National Park. When I asked Gemini to take me there, it instantly opened Google Maps, and suddenly I was staring at a map with a pin for the hotel, and its ratings and details in a window on the left. It all felt easy and intuitive, and thanks to the spatial speakers I could hear everything perfectly. What's nice is that Gemini's integration is so deep that you don't even need to mention a particular app to get the right action. Seeing a traditional flat map is nice, but this is an immersive space. I opened the Maps immersive view and walked through a quick tutorial that showed me how to fly around, move, and zoom in on a rendered 3D terrain. I was still over Yosemite, but now it was like I was flying in a drone over a slightly blocky-looking mountain range. Some of the map's imagery looked great, but I could sometimes back up right into and through a mountain. I'd like Maps to understand where the ground begins and ends. I then asked Gemini to take me to Bryant Park, which is near my office in New York City. A second later I was atop one of the skyscrapers. Looking around, I could see dozens of bubbles floating over the buildings. These all gave me instant access to 'Look Inside'. I chose a restaurant, and soon I was perched on a table, looking around a decently rendered and totally empty restaurant. I switched over to YouTube, where I viewed a 180-degree 8K video of Bath in the UK. It looked clear, though I was frustrated that I couldn't zoom in on details. I also accidentally opened a random person's 360 video of a lighthouse that initially loaded to only one eye - that almost made me dizzy. Another video of an fighter jet was particularly impressive because it had originally been shot flat, but the system converted it to a stereoscopic movie. It didn't fill the screen because it was originally shot in a 16:9 aspect ratio, but I could pinch and zoom to enlarge the video window. Throughout the demos, I could look down at my hands and fingers, which were rendered in outline. Most of the time I was not using my digital hands to directly touch digital objects; instead, I would look at something and use my hands, usually in my lap, to move a bright thin tether and control something in the 3D space. For the last part of my demo we opened an app called Cosmos, which examines, in part, the creation of black holes. However, for this experience, we added a pair of magnetic light-seal inserts to the Galaxy XR, sealing most of our vision off from real-world distractions and incoming light. I only got to see a few minutes of the experience, but it featured Stephen Hawking, a galaxy that I could rotate and expand with my hands, and a giant sun that I crumpled like a ball of tinfoil before it generated a black hole. Cosmos is a wonderful showcase for the Galaxy XR's visual and spatial audio capabilities. Visuals were excellent and looked real enough to touch, and the sound was loud, clear, and immersive. At the end of the demo I pulled off the headset and rubbed my forehead. There was a slight tingling and, perhaps, I thought, I had that knob turned a half step too tight. Even so, the headset is undoubtedly more comfortable to wear than the Vision Pro and Meta Quest 3s. If there is a bar for spatial computing and an XR experience, the Samsung Galaxy XR easily surmounted it. It's a powerful, immersive system with Gemini AI at its core. The ability to navigate with Gemini and use it to interrogate your environment and apps is the big leap this wearable category needs. It's still expensive, and I think the 12 months of Gemini Pro (which brings things like Veo 3 generation) is not generous enough, but it also puts spatial computing within range of people with more limited budgets, especially if they choose the $149 a month payment-plan option. The visuals and audio are top-notch. The operation appears smooth in almost every instance, and it's full of apps you know and likely use. I've only scratched the surface here, but I can confidently say I like what I see in the Samsung Galaxy XR, and I can't wait to try it again.

Galaxy XR Headset Now Available for Whopping $1800

Samsung is helping Google to usher in the Android XR platform with the launch of Galaxy XR, an AI-powered headset designed to create immersive viewing and gaming experiences. Described as being the first Android platform built entirely for the Gemini era, Android XR's key feature is the AI that helps you interact with the world around you as you wear the headset. When wearing Galaxy XR, you can access things like Circle to Search and Gemini Live. When viewing videos on YouTube, you can ask Gemini questions about what you're watching. It's similar to the Gemini experience we have on our phones, but this is more immersive. Unlike a Meta Quest headset, you don't need a controller to use Galaxy XR. Samsung explains that thanks to a suite of on-board sensors, cameras, and hardware, Galaxy XR can precisely track users' head, hand, and eye movement and, "make these experiences truly immersive." With that said, users can order a Galaxy XR Travel Case and Galaxy XR Controller for $249.99 each. For specs, the device features 16GB RAM, 256GB storage, up to 90Hz refresh rate for its Micro-OLED display, Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 chipset, support for 3D photo and video capture, Iris recognition (iris recognition is used to unlock the device and to enter passwords in certain apps), six microphones, WiFi 7, and a weight of 545 grams (with forehead cushion). Battery life is rated at just two hours of general use (2.5 hours of video playback), but this is due to the Samsung's desire to keep the weight down. The external battery pack weighs 302 grams by itself with the headset remaining usable while it's charging, so that's a positive. Galaxy XR is now up for sale on Samsung's website, priced at $1,799. What do we think, is this the future of Android or are we all just waiting for the Android XR eyeglasses that Google has teased?

Samsung Galaxy XR Launches Today for $1,799 with Android XR Platform - Phandroid

Samsung unveiled Galaxy XR today, marking the company's entry into mixed reality with its first headset built on the new Android XR platform. Formerly known as Project Moohan, the headset was developed alongside Google and Qualcomm and launches for $1,799. Galaxy XR combines multimodal AI with immersive hardware. The headset features Gemini integrated at the system level. Users can interact naturally through voice, vision, and gesture rather than your typical commands. This AI-first approach sets Galaxy XR apart from competitors. The headset packs impressive specs to match its premium price. The Galaxy XR features dual 4K Micro-OLED displays with 29 million pixels. The displays offer a 6.3-micron pixel pitch and refresh rates up to 120Hz. Its field of view spans 109 degrees horizontal and 100 degrees vertical. Qualcomm's Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 chip powers the device. It includes 16GB of RAM and 256GB storage, which means it should have no problems handling demanding XR applications smoothly. That being said battery life might be concerning for some. The Galaxy XR offers up to 2 hours of general use. Video playback extends to 2.5 hours through its separate battery pack. However, the battery pack weighs 302g while the headset itself weighs 545g with the forehead cushion. Samsung built Galaxy XR with ergonomics in mind. The headset distributes pressure across the forehead and back of the head. This minimizes facial discomfort during extended use. A detachable light shield offers flexibility between comfort and immersion. The separate battery pack keeps the headset lighter on your face. Galaxy XR enters a crowded extended reality market. Apple Vision Pro, which just updated to the M5 chip, starts at $3,499 but offers premium build quality and 3 hours of video playback. The Vision Pro with M5 chip features enhanced display rendering, extended battery life, and support for 120Hz refresh rates. Meta Quest 3, priced at $499 for 512GB, provides twice the graphics performance of Quest 2 with its Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chip and 8GB RAM. The significantly lower price makes it accessible for consumers, though it lacks Galaxy XR's advanced AI integration and premium display technology. Sony showcased its XYN XR headset at CES 2025, focusing on spatial content creation rather than consumer entertainment. Meanwhile, Valve's rumored Index 2 (codenamed "Deckard") targets VR gamers with standalone capabilities and Steam Deck compatibility. HTC Vive Focus Vision and XR Elite serve enterprise customers with collaboration and training applications. Galaxy XR differentiates itself through Android XR's open ecosystem. All Android apps work out of the box, giving users immediate access to familiar experiences. The platform supports OpenXR standards, making it easy for developers to bring existing projects to Galaxy XR. Discovery features showcase Galaxy XR's AI capabilities. Users can explore immersive 3D maps in Google Maps with Gemini as a guide, use Circle to Search in passthrough mode to identify objects, and auto-spatialize 2D photos into 3D experiences through Google Photos. YouTube integration allows natural voice queries to find content, while the device supports multiple simultaneous sports streams. Galaxy XR is available now from Samsung's website and Samsung Experience Stores. Samsung offers 24-month financing, while Experience Stores provide 12 and 24-month options. Early buyers receive The Explorer Pack, valued at over $1,000, including 12 months of Google AI Pro, YouTube Premium, Google Play Pass, and specialized XR content.

Samsung's Galaxy XR headset to take on Apple with help from Google and Qualcomm - The Economic Times

It is the first of a family of new devices, powered by the Android XR operating system and artificial intelligence, in a long-term partnership with Alphabet's Google and Qualcomm.Samsung Electronics released its Galaxy XR extended reality headset on Tuesday, counting on AI features from Google to propel it into the nascent and uncertain market of computing-on-your-face that is dominated by Meta and Apple. The headset, resembling those made by others such as Meta, will cost $1,799, or about half of what Apple charges for its Vision Pro headset. It is the first of a family of new devices, powered by the Android XR operating system and artificial intelligence, in a long-term partnership with Alphabet's Google and Qualcomm. "There's a whole journey ahead of us in terms of other devices and form factors," said Google's vice president of AR/XR Sharham Izadi in an interview ahead of the launch. Up next will be the release of lighter eyeglasses, executives said, declining to elaborate. Samsung has announced partnerships with Warby Parker and South Korea's Gentle Monster luxury eyewear. The race to find new form factors for entertainment and computing, underpinned by AI, has fueled a battle among the biggest technology companies. Instagram-owner Meta overwhelmingly dominates the VR headset industry with about an 80% market share, with Apple trailing behind. ChatGPT-maker OpenAI is also diving into the market and spent $6.5 billion to buy iPhone designer Jony Ive's hardware startup io Products in May to figure out devices in the AI age. Using Google AI strength The long-awaited Samsung Galaxy XR, first demonstrated last year, combines virtual reality and mixed reality features. The goggles immerse users watching videos, such as on Alphabet's YouTube, or playing games and viewing pictures, while also allowing users to interact with their surroundings. The latter feature takes advantage of Google's Gemini service, which can analyze what users are seeing and offer directions or information about real-world objects by looking and circling objects with their fingers. In an interview last week, executives from Google and Samsung discussed how they believe extended reality headsets, which have yet to ignite mass consumer interest, would benefit greatly from the application of Google's powerful multimodal AI features throughout the device that can process information from different types of data such as text, photos and videos. It's a set of software capabilities that Apple has yet to demonstrate, despite rolling out an updated Vision Pro with a more powerful chip. "Google entering the fray again changes the dynamic in the ecosystem," said Anshel Sag, principal analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy, noting that Google's software added $1,000 in value to the device by some estimates. "Google really wants people to get the full experience of Gemini when using this headset." Customers who buy the device this year will receive a bundle of free services including 12 months of access to Google AI Pro, YouTube Premium, Google Play Pass and other specialized XR content, the companies said. The prototype for AI-enhanced goggles was ready by the time Apple had launched its Vision Pro headset in 2024, executives said, as they sought to enhance existing applications like YouTube and Google Photos and Google Maps, while creating new immersive experiences. Like many first generation technologies, it attempts to do multiple things that could have consumer and enterprise applications. Qualcomm is providing its Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 chip to power the headset. Difficult market Many tech CEOs have been seduced by what they say is the next big thing in personal computing, but the market remains tiny by tech standards. Research firm Gartner estimated the global Head-Mounted Display market is expected to rise by 2.6% from this year to $7.27 billion next year. Lighter, eyeglass-type AI devices such as Meta's smartglasses made in collaboration with EssilorLuxottica Ray-Bans are expected to drive most of this growth. Despite the expanding competitive landscape, the global virtual reality market, which includes so-called "mixed reality" headsets launching more recently, has faced three consecutive years of decline. Weakening again, shipments in 2025 are expected to fall 20% year on year, according to research firm Counterpoint. "With a potentially more competitive price point than Apple's Vision Pro, Samsung's Project Moohan headset could emerge as a strong contender in the premium VR segment, particularly within the enterprise market," Counterpoint senior analyst Flora Tang. The Galaxy XR is the first Android XR device. But Samsung has dabbled with face-mounted computing devices dating back a decade, involving slipping a smartphone into a headset, called the Gear VR, in partnership with VR headset maker Oculus. Meta acquired Oculus in 2014.

Samsung Challenges Vision Pro with Galaxy XR Headset

The Samsung Galaxy XR headset marks a groundbreaking step in the world of extended reality (XR), blending innovative AI with immersive technology. Built on the new Android XR platform, co-developed by Samsung, Google, and Qualcomm, this device is designed to redefine how users interact with technology. The Galaxy XR headset introduces a new era of multimodal AI, offering natural and intuitive interactions through voice, vision, and gesture. With its AI-powered Gemini system embedded at the core, the Galaxy XR headset acts as more than just a tool -- it becomes a companion that understands its user's surroundings. Whether navigating immersive 3D maps, enhancing gaming experiences, or transforming 2D photos into 3D memories, the Galaxy XR headset is designed to seamlessly integrate into daily life. The device's advanced sensors and tracking capabilities enable users to interact with virtual objects and environments as if they were real, creating a truly immersive experience. The Samsung Galaxy XR headset will be available starting October 21 in the USA and October 22 in Korea. While pricing details have not been explicitly disclosed, Samsung is positioning this device as a premium offering in the XR market. Interested buyers can expect availability through Samsung's official website and authorized retailers. The company has hinted at competitive pricing, considering the advanced features and capabilities of the Galaxy XR headset, making it an attractive option for both consumers and enterprises looking to invest in innovative XR technology. The Galaxy XR headset is engineered for comfort and performance. Its lightweight design, detachable light shield, and ergonomic frame ensure long-term usability. The device also features a 4K Micro-OLED screen for immersive viewing, advanced sensors for precise tracking, and microphones optimized for clear voice capture. Powered by the Snapdragon® XR2+ Gen 2 chipset, the Galaxy XR delivers 2.5 hours of uninterrupted battery life, making it ideal for extended use. The headset's advanced tracking system includes cameras and sensors that accurately detect head, hand, and eye movements, allowing users to interact with virtual objects and environments naturally. The built-in microphones use advanced noise cancellation technology to ensure clear voice capture, even in noisy environments, making it suitable for voice-based interactions and communication. Beyond personal use, the Galaxy XR headset is tailored for enterprise applications, such as virtual training in industries like construction and shipbuilding. The device's ability to create realistic simulations and provide immersive learning experiences can significantly enhance training effectiveness and reduce costs associated with traditional training methods. Samsung's partnerships with brands like Warby Parker and Gentle Monster also hint at future AI glasses that combine style with functionality, expanding the XR ecosystem into lifestyle and fashion. These collaborations showcase the potential for XR technology to extend beyond gaming and entertainment, offering practical applications in various aspects of daily life. The Galaxy XR headset's impressive specifications demonstrate Samsung's commitment to delivering a high-quality, feature-rich XR experience. The combination of a powerful processor, high-resolution display, and advanced tracking capabilities ensures smooth performance and immersive visuals. The inclusion of popular applications like Google Maps and YouTube highlights the device's versatility and potential for everyday use. For those intrigued by the possibilities of XR, Samsung's Galaxy XR headset is just the beginning. The company's roadmap includes AI glasses and other form factors that promise to blend technology with style and practicality. As the XR ecosystem continues to evolve, users can expect to see more innovative applications and use cases emerge, spanning various industries and aspects of daily life. The Samsung Galaxy XR headset represents a significant milestone in the advancement of XR technology, offering a glimpse into a future where the boundaries between the virtual and real worlds become increasingly blurred. With its powerful AI capabilities, immersive visuals, and intuitive interactions, the Galaxy XR headset is poised to transform the way we work, learn, and entertain ourselves. Whether you're a tech enthusiast, a gamer, or a professional looking for innovative tools, the XR ecosystem offers endless opportunities for discovery, work, and play.

Samsung Galaxy XR headset with Android XR Platform announced

Samsung has introduced the Galaxy XR, a new extended reality headset developed in partnership with Google and Qualcomm Technologies, as it had promised. The device is the first to be built on the new Android XR platform and is designed to integrate multimodal AI capabilities for immersive experiences. The Galaxy XR features Google's Gemini AI embedded at the system level. According to the company, this allows the headset to function as an AI assistant that understands the user's surroundings and interacts through voice, vision, and hand gestures. The Android XR platform, co-developed by the three companies, is built on OpenXR standards and is intended to support various form factors, from headsets to future AI glasses. Samsung states that existing Android apps from the Google Play Store will work on the Galaxy XR, alongside new applications specifically designed for XR from partners like Adobe, Mirrorscape, and streaming services such as HBO Max and Peacock. Reimagined Google apps, including Google Maps, YouTube, Google Photos, and Google Meet, are available on the device. The Galaxy XR is engineered for comfort with an ergonomically balanced frame. A key design feature is a separate battery pack, which is not part of the headset itself, intended to make the main unit lighter. The device also includes a detachable light shield to block external light for deeper immersion. Internally, the Galaxy XR is powered by the Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 Platform. It features 4K Micro-OLED screens (3,552 x 3,840 resolution) with a 90Hz refresh rate. The hardware includes sensors for tracking head, hand, and eye movements, along with six world-facing tracking cameras and two high-resolution pass-through cameras. The battery provides up to 2.5 hours of video playback or 2 hours of general use, and the device can be used while charging. Samsung also noted enterprise applications, such as virtual shipbuilding training with Samsung Heavy Industries. The company is utilizing Qualcomm's Snapdragon Spaces technology to build an enterprise developer ecosystem. As part of its long-term XR roadmap, Samsung confirmed it is developing AI glasses in collaboration with Google and lifestyle brands Warby Parker and Gentle Monster. The Samsung Galaxy XR Travel Case and Galaxy XR Controller are priced at USD 249.99 (Rs. 21,955 approx.) each. A limited-time "Explorer Pack" bundle is being offered at launch, which includes 12-month subscriptions to Google AI Pro, YouTube Premium, and Google Play Pass, as well as access to NBA League Pass (in the US) and several XR applications.

Samsung launches extended reality device Galaxy XR - The Korea Times

Samsung Electronics on Wednesday unveiled its latest extended reality (XR) headset, the Galaxy XR, previously known by its codename Moohan, challenging Meta, Apple and other existing players in the market. The device is now available in Korea and the United States at a retail price of 2.69 million won ($1,880). The Galaxy XR is a new form factor, or hardware design, optimized for multimodal artificial intelligence (AI), a technology that enables natural communication between users and devices by processing text, images, voice and video. "The Galaxy XR will establish a new mobile ecosystem," said Choi Won-joon, chief operating officer of Samsung Electronics' Mobile Experience Division. "Based on Android XR, the Galaxy XR will elevate the company's mobile AI vision to limitless possibilities, becoming an everyday device embraced by both the industry and consumers." The device has been drawing keen attention from the global tech community, as it is the first device to use Google's new Android XR operating system -- a platform co-developed by Samsung, Google and Qualcomm to integrate XR and multimodal AI technologies. Galaxy XR is designed to maximize new user experiences enabled by this combination. By pressing a button on the upper right side of the device, users can instantly summon Google's Gemini AI and control it through a multimodal interface that integrates eye, hand and voice input. For example, users can ask Gemini by voice to find specific video content on YouTube, select from the search results by moving their eyes and execute the command with a simple finger-tap gesture. To enable this, the headset is equipped with six sensors and cameras on the front and bottom for precise hand tracking, while four internal cameras and infrared LEDs accurately capture eye movements. Qualcomm's Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chip will power those functions. "Android XR will build an open and integrated platform for the next generation of computing, enabling entirely new ways to explore, connect and create," said Sameer Samat, president of Google's Android ecosystem. Alex Katouzian, general manager of Qualcomm's Mobile, Compute and XR Business Unit, noted that Galaxy XR embodies the vision of expanding possibilities of personal computing through synergy between AI and XR, adding that it will "create new use cases across a wide range of industries." The Galaxy XR weighs 545 grams, making it lighter than Apple's Vision Pro M5, which weighs between 750 and 800 grams, but heavier than Meta's Quest 3 at 513 grams. Its battery lasts about two and a half hours, similar to other competing models. The Galaxy XR's price also sits between Apple's Vision Pro ($3,499) and Meta's Quest ($499). To expand the XR content base, Samsung said it will expand partnerships with various global partners such as Adobe, MLB, NBA, Calm and AMAZE. Along with general consumers, Samsung said it will expand business-to-business applications of the new device. For this, Samsung Electronics signed a memorandum of understanding with Samsung Heavy Industries to develop a virtual shipbuilding training solution, allowing new engineers to practice tasks such as ship engine inspections in a virtual environment before entering the field.

Samsung Galaxy XR with Android-based OS, Snapdragon SoC, 4K Micro-OLED screen debuts globally: price, availability

Galaxy XR integrates multimodal AI (voice, vision, gesture) via Google's Gemini at system level. Galaxy XR has launched as a new AI-native extended-reality headset developed by Samsung Electronics, in collaboration with Google and Qualcomm. The XR headset is the first of its kind with the Android XR platform. Under the hood, the device runs on a Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 processor. On the front, the headset has a 4K Micro-OLED panel with about 109° horizontal field of view. It comes at about half the price of Apple's Vision Pro headset and is aimed at users who want 'immersive experiences' that span daily tasks, entertainment and creative work. Here are the details: Galaxy XR is priced at US $1,799.99 (close to Rs 1,60,000) in the United States and is available starting 21 October in the U.S. and 22 October in Korea. No official India launch details have been confirmed at this time. For context, Apple Vision Pro is priced at $3,499 (about Rs 3,08,000) and is also not available in India. Meta Quest 3 is available in India, though for Rs 63,000 (close to $450). Also Read: LG Magnit Active Micro LED TV with 136-inch 4K display, 100W speaker launched globally: Specifications, availability Galaxy XR features a Micro-OLED display with a resolution of 3,552 × 3,840 pixels, delivering around 27 to 29 million pixels at a 6.3-micron pixel pitch. The field of view measures approximately 109 degrees horizontally and 100 degrees vertically. The default refresh rate is 72Hz, with optional modes of 60Hz and up to 90Hz available upon service request. For tracking and imaging, the headset includes two high-resolution pass-through cameras, six world-facing tracking cameras, four eye-tracking cameras, five inertial measurement units (IMUs), a depth sensor, and a flicker sensor. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4. Software features are powered by Android XR with Gemini AI integrated at the system level, enabling multimodal control through voice, vision, and gestures. The headset supports standard Android apps alongside XR-specific functions such as spatialising 2D content into 3D and Circle to Search for contextual object recognition. Powering all of these is Qualcomm's Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 platform, coupled with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. Samsung claims up to 2.5 hours of battery life for video playback, with slightly shorter runtime during general use. The device weighs 545g with the forehead cushion attached, while the separate battery pack adds another 302g. So, Galaxy XR is the first Android XR headset. With built-in Gemini, you can interact and converse with the headset. Android XR is an open, scalable platform designed for a broad range of form factors from headsets to wearables. And the fact that all existing Android apps work 'out of the box' on this device could make the transition smoother for phone users. Samsung is also emphasising enterprise adoption (training, remote collaboration) and future form factors (AI glasses) via partnerships (e.g., with eyewear brands). This shows the device is part of a bigger ecosystem push. Hardware specs seem promising, so Android XR will likely be the key factor in justifying the US$1,799 price against the cheaper Meta Quest 3. Reviews over time will show whether it delivers. Keep reading Digit.in for similar stories.