Samsung Electronics has launched its Galaxy XR extended reality headset, hoping to leverage AI features from Google to carve a niche in the emerging market of wearable computing, which is currently dominated by Meta and Apple. Priced at $1,799, the headset is nearly half the cost of Apple’s Vision Pro. This device marks the beginning of a new line powered by the Android XR operating system and artificial intelligence, developed in collaboration with Google and Qualcomm.
Google’s vice president of AR/XR, Sharham Izadi, noted in an interview that there are plans for various devices and form factors beyond the headset. Upcoming releases will include lighter eyeglasses, a detail executives were reluctant to expand upon. Samsung has partnered with Warby Parker and Gentle Monster, a luxury eyewear brand, signaling its intent to advance in this space.
As tech companies race to innovate in entertainment and computing through AI, Meta holds a commanding 80% market share in the VR headset sector, while Apple is making strides to catch up. OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, is also entering the fray, investing $6.5 billion to acquire Jony Ive’s hardware startup for developing AI-driven devices.
Samsung has spent the past decade researching extended reality. About four years ago, it began collaborating with Google on the project, codenamed “Moohan,” which translates to “infinite” in Korean, according to Jay Kim, Samsung’s mobile division executive vice president. He expressed that the timing is right for product release, considering technological advancements and market conditions.
The Galaxy XR, first showcased last year, integrates both virtual and mixed reality functionalities, allowing users to engage with videos, games, and photos while also interacting with their environment. This mixed reality capability utilizes Google’s Gemini service, which helps users gather information about their surroundings by analyzing what they see.
In discussions with executives from Google and Samsung, it was emphasized that the success of extended reality headsets requires the implementation of Google’s advanced multimodal AI features, which can process various data types like text, images, and videos. This software capability offers competitive advantages that are yet to be showcased by Apple with its updated Vision Pro.
Customers purchasing the Galaxy XR this year will receive a bundle of services, including a year of access to Google AI Pro, YouTube Premium, Google Play Pass, and additional XR content. The prototype for these AI-enhanced goggles was ready around the same time Apple launched its Vision Pro in 2024, aimed at improving existing applications like YouTube and Google Maps and creating new immersive experiences.
Despite the enthusiasm surrounding personal computing innovations, the market remains relatively small. Research from Gartner estimates that the global Head-Mounted Display market will see a growth of 2.6%, reaching $7.27 billion next year. Lighter, eyeglass-like AI devices are expected to drive the most growth in this sector.
However, the virtual reality market, which includes mixed reality headsets, has faced three years of decline, with shipments projected to drop by 20% in 2025, according to Counterpoint Research. Nevertheless, with a competitive price point compared to the Vision Pro, Samsung’s Project Moohan headset could position itself strongly in the premium VR segment, especially for enterprise applications.
The Galaxy XR is also notable for being the first Android XR device. Samsung has explored face-mounted computing devices for over a decade, including the Gear VR, developed in collaboration with Oculus, which Meta acquired in 2014.
Original Source: https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/technology/samsungs-galaxy-xr-headset-to-take-on-apple-with-help-from-google-and-qualcomm/article70188677.ece
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Publish Date: 2025-10-22 09:42:00
