Samsung has at last unveiled its rival to the Apple Vision Pro and other VR headsets, the Samsung Galaxy XR headset, also known as Project Moohan. First hinted at during a Galaxy Unpacked event in January, the headset was formally launched on Tuesday, Oct. 21, and is currently up for grabs. Prior to its release, it was known by its codename, Project Moohan. The headset is priced at $1,799.99 at the Samsung online store, with a distinct Galaxy XR Controller available for $249.99.
“With Galaxy XR, Samsung is launching an entirely new ecosystem of mobile devices,” stated Won-Joon Choi, Chief Operating Officer of Mobile eXperience (MX) Business at Samsung. “Built on Android XR, Galaxy XR broadens the vision for mobile AI into a new realm of immersive and significant opportunities, enabling XR to transition from concept to everyday reality, for both the industry and users.”
Mashable had the chance to try out the headset at a pre-launch event, and you can check out their initial thoughts on the device.
Introducing the Samsung Galaxy XR headset
This headset marks Samsung’s inaugural device in this sector, featuring dual 4K micro-OLED displays and powered by the Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 Platform processor. It encompasses a variety of sensors, including two high-resolution passthrough cameras, six motion tracking cameras, four eye-tracking cameras, depth sensors, and six microphones. The tethered battery provides up to two hours of general usage or 2.5 hours of video playback.
After months of anticipation, the official specifications are now available:
– Displays: Micro-OLED with 29 million pixels
– Resolution: 3,552 x 3,840
– Video playback: UHD 8K (7680 x 4320) at 60 frames per second
– Processor: Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 Platform
– Refresh rate: Up to 90Hz
– Field of view: 109 degrees horizontal, 100 degrees vertical
– RAM: 16GB
– Storage: 256GB
– Camera: 6.5 MP
– Weight: 545 grams (1.2 pounds)
– Special features: Iris recognition, Dolby Atmos, supports HDR10 and HLG video
The new Samsung headset was crafted in partnership with Google and Qualcomm Technologies. It operates on Google Android XR, referred to as “the first Android platform created explicitly for the Gemini era,” according to Sameer Samat, President of Android Ecosystem at Google. Google had previously teased its unreleased Android XR device earlier this year, although the demo did not go smoothly.
“Through our collaboration with Samsung, Android XR will unlock completely new ways to explore, connect, and create, establishing an open, unified platform for the next stage of computing,” Samat stated in the press release.
Availability, pricing, and launch deals
The Galaxy XR is now on sale in the United States with a retail price of $1,799.99. While the price is steep, some early speculations indicated it could reach as high as $3,000. In order to make the headset more accessible and sidestep Apple’s launch challenges with the Vision Pro, Samsung is providing financing options and bundles to entice customers.
Samsung will offer a 24-month financing plan, and buyers who purchase the Galaxy XR in 2025 will receive “The Explorer Pack,” which includes a one-year subscription to Google AI Pro, YouTube Premium, and “specialized XR content.”
Samsung Galaxy XR headset: How it works
The Galaxy XR operates similar to other VR/AR headsets. It features dual displays for an immersive experience, whereas passthrough cameras offer a live view of the user’s environment, which can be enhanced with overlays and 3D graphics.
Samsung highlights the device’s AI features, which may set the Galaxy XR apart from the new Apple Vision Pro. With Gemini at the core, the headset supports multimodal computation. Gemini can help in object recognition, locating places via search, and spatializing previously 2D content like photos and YouTube videos. Users can also use Google’s Circle to Search function with items in their surroundings.
The device utilizes intuitive hand gestures for navigation, particularly convenient for those familiar with VR headsets. The pinch gesture is standard for selecting items, resizing windows, and more. The headset tracks both hands, enabling users to manipulate objects in Google Maps, reminiscent of scenes from Minority Report.
The most thrilling announcement, alongside the long-anticipated Project Moohan headset, is the commitment to additional XR devices, including XR glasses. For those acquainted with AR glasses like XReal’s One Pro AR glasses, the potential is exciting. Imagine connecting glasses to your phone for a complete XR display on the move.
At present, every leading tech company is developing smart glasses, including Google and Apple.
Currently, the Galaxy XR headset stands as the first Android XR device, priced at $1,799.99. While this exceeds three times the cost