Samsung bets on Android XR with the launch of its new Galaxy XR headset

It has been nearly a 12 months since Google launched Android XR, its new working system designed particularly for prolonged actuality (XR) units like headsets and blended actuality glasses. At the moment, Google introduced it was collaborating with Samsung and Qualcomm to launch the primary Android XR machine this 12 months, a headset codenamed Challenge Moohan. Now, that headset is lastly making its debut.

Samsung has formally launched the Galaxy XR, its first prolonged actuality headset constructed on Android XR, a platform that Samsung claims facilities round “AI on the core of the expertise.” The machine runs on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 chipset and integrates intently with Google Gemini, which customers can use to handle duties and options in Android XR. Different specs embody a 4K Micro-OLED show, 16GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, and as much as 2.5 hours of battery life. The headset can be utilized whereas charging.

Galaxy XR is described as light-weight and cozy, that includes a removable mild defend that, when hooked up, helps block exterior mild to reinforce immersion. It additionally comes preloaded with in style Android apps designed particularly for Android XR, comparable to YouTube, Google Maps, and Circle to Search.

If you wish to be among the many first to personal Samsung’s Galaxy XR headset and expertise Android XR firsthand, it’s already out there for buy within the US and Korea on Samsung’s web site, priced at $1,800.

“With Galaxy XR, Samsung is introducing a brand-new ecosystem of cellular units,” stated Gained-Joon Choi, COO of Samsung’s Cell eXperience enterprise, in a press launch. “Constructed on Android XR, Galaxy XR expands the imaginative and prescient for cellular AI into a brand new frontier of immersive and significant prospects, permitting XR to maneuver from idea to on a regular basis actuality, for each the trade and customers.”

Galaxy XR takes goal on the Imaginative and prescient Professional

The headset is simply the beginning of Samsung’s push into prolonged actuality

Credit score: Samsung

Taking a look at Samsung’s new Galaxy XR headset, it is onerous to not evaluate it to Apple’s Vision Pro headset, which debuted in 2024 and was not too long ago refreshed with its M5 chipset. Each the Galaxy XR and the Imaginative and prescient Professional provide prolonged actuality experiences, however Samsung’s is considerably cheaper at $1,800 in comparison with the Imaginative and prescient Professional’s $3,500 price ticket.

Like with VisionOS, in Android XR, you possibly can work together with apps whereas carrying the headset in an prolonged actuality surroundings. Whereas the Imaginative and prescient Professional has Apple Intelligence, Galaxy XR presents AI capabilities from Google, comparable to Gemini and Circle to Search. For instance, when carrying Galaxy XR, you need to use Circle to Search to circle objects in the true world to retrieve details about them. You may also work together with Gemini to get details about what you are viewing at any time, comparable to when watching a YouTube video or discovering a spot to go on Google Maps.

“Android XR is the primary Android platform constructed solely for the Gemini period, and we’re extremely excited to take a big leap ahead immediately with the launch of Galaxy XR,” stated Sameer Samat, the President of Android Ecosystem at Google, in a press launch. “Via our partnership with Samsung, Android XR will unlock solely new methods to discover, join, and create, constructing an open, unified platform for the subsequent evolution of computing.”

Samsung’s Galaxy XR is simply the beginning of the corporate’s transfer into XR units, with the tech big already teasing “AI glasses” operating Android XR which might be coming quickly. These are additionally being developed in partnership with Google and Qualcomm. If Samsung does launch sensible glasses quickly, it in all probability goals to make the most of the rising recognition of sensible glasses, which is obvious by the success of the Meta Ray-Bans.

For now, the Galaxy XR headset is the primary Android XR machine ever, and it’s out there now for $1,800 within the US and Korea.