Yesterday, October 21, Samsung Electronics unveiled its new Galaxy XR headset – a groundbreaking device that marks the start of the company’s commitment to mixed reality and AI-powered experiences. It is the world’s first product to run on the new Android XR operating system.
Visually, the Galaxy XR is easily recognizable – it bears a strong resemblance to the Apple Vision Pro, which was launched the previous year. The design consists of a sleek glass panel on the front, with integrated cameras that scan the environment and track the user’s movements in real time. The result is a blend of virtual and augmented reality that should feel seamless and natural.
Image: Samsung Electronics
A simpler and lighter design
Although the Galaxy XR looks luxurious, Samsung has made some deliberate simplifications compared to Apple to keep the price down.
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The headset does not show the user’s face outward, as the Vision Pro does with its EyeSight feature – a feature many have called redundant anyway.
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The strap is fixed, but can be adjusted at the back to fit different heads.
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The body is made of plastic, which significantly reduces weight and makes the device more comfortable to use over time.
A smart solution is that the battery is placed separately from the headset itself. This contributes to lower weight and better balance – a move that several users have already praised.
Image: Samsung Electronics
Android XR – a big advantage
The biggest difference between the Galaxy XR and its competitors lies in the software. While the Apple Vision Pro is still tied to its relatively limited ecosystem, Samsung builds its headset on Android XR, a development of Android that supports a huge range of apps.
That means almost every Android app works out of the box – whether it’s games, productivity tools or streaming services. This gives the Galaxy XR a huge head start on available content, something many believe could be crucial to making XR experiences truly mainstream.
Image: Samsung Electronics
Powerful hardware
Under the hood sit impressive specifications:
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Processor: Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2
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Memory: 16GB RAM
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Storage: 256GB
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Displays: Two Micro-OLED panels with 3552×3840 pixels per eye
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Refresh rate: 60 / 72 / 90 Hz
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Field of view: 109° horizontal and 100° vertical
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Connectivity: Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4
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Battery life: Around 2 hours
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Vision correction: Adjustable from 54 to 70 mm (requires separate lenses)
These are specifications that place the Galaxy XR among the most powerful XR devices on the market.
Image: Samsung Electronics
For many users, that could make all the difference. With its lighter design, broad app support, and lower price, the Galaxy XR stands as the first real attempt to make mixed reality accessible to the masses.
With the Galaxy XR, Samsung is taking a giant leap into the future – a world where virtual and augmented reality merge with everyday life. If the product lives up to expectations, this could be the first XR headset to truly challenge the Apple Vision Pro on a global scale.
