Samsung’s Android XR headset developer version could launch this year, to rival the Apple Vision Pro

Samsung

Samsung recently confirmed the development of a new extended reality (XR) platform in collaboration with Qualcomm and Google at its Galaxy Unpacked event. The South Korean tech giant also confirmed that the VR headset will arrive let this year. However, a new report from Business Insider suggests that Samsung would only be able to release the developer version this year, with a consumer launch by March 2025.

Towards the end of the Galaxy Unpacked event, where the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 were launched, Rick Osterloh, SVP of Platforms and Devices at Google, went on stage and highlighted Google's collaboration with Samsung and Qualcomm to build a new Samsung XR headset.

Osterloh added, "Looking forward, we're collaborating to bring next-generation experiences across Galaxy products from smartphones and wearables to even future technologies like the upcoming XR platform we've been working closely to develop in partnership with Samsung and Qualcomm."

Early reports from a local South Korean publication also suggested that the new XR headset from Samsung could have a mainstream consumer launch next year. The launch has been reportedly pushed to next year as Samsung has reportedly commissioned a higher-resolution display to match the screen of the Apple Vision Pro.

Samsung has already confirmed that the XR headset will be powered by a custom Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 chipset, which is stated to be Qualcomm’s most capable processor for VR headsets. It would likely feature micro-OLED screens, eight tracking cameras, and a Time-of-Flight sensor.

Further, it will be capable of hand and eye tracking and it could be the first XR headset to be powered by AI features.

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