Samsung launches Galaxy XR multi-modal AI headset

Samsung officially launched the mixed reality headset Galaxy XR powered by the Android XR platform, challenging Apple's Vision Pro with a price tag of $1,799.

On Wednesday morning Beijing time, Samsung Electronics officially launched the mixed reality device Galaxy XR, aiming to "unleash the full potential of multimodal AI." With Google's artificial intelligence and content ecosystem, as well as Qualcomm's computing chips, this new headset will take on Apple's Vision Pro.

This is also the first headset powered by the Android XR platform - XR is a platform developed by Google specifically for smart glasses and headset devices. The device is equipped with Qualcomm's Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 headset chip, with a 20% improvement in CPU performance and a 15% improvement in GPU performance compared to the previous generation.

(Shahram Izadi, head of Google XR (left), and Ziad Asghar, head of Qualcomm's XR and spatial computing business (right), also attended to support the new product)

Samsung claims that Galaxy XR can achieve almost all the functions of Apple's Vision Pro: The Micro OLED display of the Samsung headset has 29 million pixels (6 million more than Apple's Vision Pro), a resolution of 3552×3840, and covers 96% of the DCI - P3 color gamut - 4% higher than Vision Pro. However, in terms of refresh rate, Galaxy XR supports a maximum of 90Hz, while Vision Pro can reach up to 120Hz.

The Samsung device has all the functions provided by Apple, such as high - definition see - through cameras, eye tracking, gesture tracking, and iris biometrics. Samsung also offers a pair of XR hand controllers, but they need to be purchased separately.

Most importantly, even after installing the forehead visor, the total weight of the Galaxy XR is only 545 grams, while the newly upgraded Vision Pro last week can weigh up to 800 grams.

As Samsung's ambitious attempt to enter the "spatial computing" market, the Galaxy XR is priced at $1,799 (approximately RMB 128,000). Although the price is obviously not cheap, it still shows cost - effectiveness compared to Apple's $3,499 competitor. This product has been launched in the US and South Korean markets and will enter more countries in the future.

Shahram Izadi, head of Google XR, said that the partners set such a price to "make it affordable for as many people as possible."

AI and Content Ecosystem as Backing

Similar to Apple, the current core use of Samsung's XR device is also audio - visual entertainment. However, the difference is that Samsung has Google behind it, and Google has world - class AI applications.

According to Samsung, this device has two major content application partners, Netflix and Google YouTube. As a cool new feature, the Samsung headset can use AI capabilities to "spatialize" 2D streaming media and local videos, adding a sense of depth to the videos and thus enhancing the immersive experience.

Samsung also repeatedly emphasized the AI functions of this headset at the press conference.

After enabling the AI function based on Google's Gemini live feature, users can share everything in their field of vision with artificial intelligence, including external images and applications and videos running inside the system, and interact with AI in real - time.

For example, after putting on the headset, users can draw a circle around an object in the real world (or any content on the screen) with their fingers to retrieve relevant information, and in some cases, a shopping page will also be displayed.

Or when watching live sports events or playing games, users can ask AI any questions related to the content in front of them in real - time, such as "How to play this game?"

To support the launch of this niche new product, Google has also launched the "Buy Samsung XR, Get Google Suite for Free" campaign.

For users who purchase this device before the end of this year, Samsung and Google will give away a digital content package called the "Explorer Pack," which includes a 12 - month subscription to Google AI Pro, YouTube Premium, Google Play Pass, and a 3 - month subscription to YouTube TV at only $1 per month. In addition, US users will get the NBA League Pass for the 2025 - 2026 season, and South Korean users will get the local sports subscription service Coupang Play sports pass, which also includes NBA live broadcasts.

According to calculations, the market value of these launch packages exceeds $1,000, clearly showing Samsung and Google's ambition to challenge Apple head - on.

This article is from the WeChat official account "Caixinlian She AI Daily", author: Shi Zhengcheng. Republished by 36Kr with permission.