Samsung has presented the Galaxy XR in society, a mixed reality viewer created in collaboration with Google and Qualcommwhich comes to compete with the Apple Vision Pro. It is now available in some markets with an official Price of $1,799.
The development of a device that under the code name ‘Project Moohan’ would debut Google’s Android XR platform has been rumored for some time. And here we have it in what represents a new attempt to promote spatial computing technologies and immersive 3D content after the great fiasco of virtual reality.
What is the Galaxy XR like?
Samsung’s viewfinder is just as we expected with an overall design very similar to Apple’s Vision Pro. It has a curved front visor, a matte metal frame and soft-touch interior padding. It weighs only 545 grams, which makes it lighter than the Apple model and presumably more comfortable with a dial on the back strap to adjust the tension to each user’s preference.
The Galaxy XR promises an immersive visual experience with two Micro-OLED screens that reach 4K resolution, with a refresh rate of 90 Hz and a field of view of 109 degrees. Its main hardware engine is the Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 SoC, supported by 16 GB of RAM and 256 GB of internal storage.
The viewer includes a variety of cameras that manage streaming, eye tracking and motion, as well as multiple sensors to deliver a seamless digital experience with the physical environment. It can track the movement of the user’s head, hands and eyes to facilitate user interaction and includes strategically placed microphones to activate voice commands through Google’s AI assistant, Gemini. It has iris recognition, supports Dolby Atmos and is compatible with HDR10 and HLG.
The battery is separate from the headphones, making them more compact, lighter and more comfortable to use. Samsung claims the battery lasts 2.5 hours watching videos and 2 hours with general use. They also include a detachable light guard that can be removed for added convenience and deeper immersion.
The Samsung Galaxy XR runs on Android XR, “the first Android platform designed entirely for the Gemini era”according to Google. Of course, AI will be enhanced as explained by Won-Joon Choi, COO of Samsung’s Mobile eXperience (MX): «Galaxy XR expands the vision of mobile AI towards a new frontier of immersive and meaningful possibilities, allowing XR to move from concept to everyday reality, for both the industry and users».
Google has prepared optimized versions of key applications for the operation of the viewer, such as Camera, Gallery, Browser, YouTube, Maps, Google Photos or Circle to Search. The viewer also includes a persistent bar that houses the Google Gemini AI assistant, system shortcuts, and search. Since the Android XR platform is based on OpenXR standards, developers can use OpenXR, WebXR, or Unity to bring their apps to the Galaxy XR.
The Samsung Galaxy XR is now available in the United States and South Korea for an official price of $1,799. Samsung and Google are promoting it with an ‘Explorer Pack’ kit that includes separate controllers especially for gaming and 12 months of free access to Google AI Pro, YouTube Premium and Google Play Pass.
Note that the sale price, although high, It’s almost half of what Apple’s Vision Pro costs.
