Samsung has joined forces with Google and Qualcomm to launch the Galaxy XR headset – the first of many Android XR devices to come. The three tech giants are promising devices covering “the full spectrum of XR form factors,” including AI glasses. Samsung is working on those, but today the focus is on the headset.
The Samsung Galaxy XR has micro-OLED displays with 3,552 x 3,840px resolution for a total of 27 megapixels (that is close to 8K resolution). The supported refresh rates are the 72Hz default, a 60Hz option and a 90Hz option. The virtual display covers 109° horizontally and 100° vertically.
There are two cameras on board that can be used for video passthrough (allowing you to see the world outside for an XR experience). The cameras can also capture 3D photos and videos. They have 18mm f/2.0 wide-angle lenses and 6.5MP sensors.
Additionally, there are six world-facing cameras for what is known as inside-out tracking – position tracking without external hardware required, just you and your headset. These cameras also track your hands, which are the primary input method. There’s a depth sensor, five IMUs (accelerometers + gyroscopes) and a flicker sensor for a better experience under artificial lighting.
There are four eye-tracking cameras on the inside too, so that the headset knows what you are looking at. This also supports iris recognition, which is used to unlock the headset and authenticate you in apps that require it.
The headset has an adjustable Interpupillary Distance (54-70mm) and supports optical inserts for users that need glasses. There is also a removable light shield – it blocks light for better immersion when using VR apps and can be removed for better comfort.
The Galaxy XR weighs 545g with the forehead cushion and there is a separate battery that weighs 302g. The weight doesn’t include the light shield or the optional cushion size adjusters.
Samsung says that the headset’s frame has been designed to distribute pressure across the user’s forehead and the back of the head to make it more comfortable to wear. Having the battery separate from the main unit also places less weight on your head and neck.
Note that this isn’t an “out and about headset” – Samsung says that battery life is up to 2.5 hours, but that is when watching 2D YouTube videos. In general use, it is expected to last 2 hours.
The Samsung Galaxy XR is powered by the Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2. This has a 20% faster CPU and a 15% faster GPU than the regular XR2 Gen 2 and supports 12ms full-color video passthrough. The chipset is paired with 16GB of RAM and 256GB storage.
Okay, but what can you do with it? Android XR is an open platform that supports all Android apps out of the box. Developers can use OpenXR, WebXR and Unity to create new experiences for this and future XR devices.
Google’s Gemini AI is another focal point of the platform – while wearing it, the Galaxy XR sees what you see and hears what you hear, so you can have a natural conversation with it about your surroundings and your tasks.
You can plan trips with Google Maps, using Gemini to find cool places to visit. You can find YouTube videos with Gemini and ask it questions about what you are watching. With video passthrough mode active, you can use your finger to draw a circle around something and instantly kick off a search.
Galaxy XR can be used for entertainment too, of course. You can stream your favorite show in a theater-like experience or watch multiple sports broadcasts at the same time. You can also play XR-specialized games and have Gemini give you tips at the same time. Adobe has created Project Pulsar, an XR video editor. With all the AI on board, you can turn regular 2D photos and videos into 3D ones too.
A few other specs worth mentioning – the headset supports low-latency Wi-Fi 7 connections (802.11be) and Bluetooth 5.4. It has six microphones to pick up your voice and sound from your surroundings. Additionally, there are two 2-way speakers (woofer + tweeter).
The Samsung Galaxy XR is available in the US and Korea starting today at a price of $1,800.
If you are in the US, you can use this link to get some perks. This includes a 30% discount for accessories like a case, controller and Galaxy Buds3 Pro. Students can get a 10% discount on the headset itself. Additionally, our link gets you a free subscription to premium content: access to exclusive XR apps, gaming content, NBA streaming and more.
Looking to the near future, AI glasses are in the pipeline too – Samsung and Google are collaborating with lifestyle brand Warby Parker to create beautifully-designed eyewear. Samsung has also partnered with Gentle Monster, another luxury eyewear brand.
