Samsung has decided to take on Apple in the AR/VR space and has unveiled its first mixed reality headset, the all-new Galaxy XR. It is the world’s first mixed reality headset that is powered by Android XR and marks a major new direction for Samsung’s ecosystem.
All about the new Galaxy XR
The Samsung Galaxy XR is powered by the Snapdragon X2+Gen2. This new SoC has a 20 per cent faster CPU and a 15 per cent faster GPU than the regular XR2 Gen 2 which powers some of the most popular mixed reality headsets in the market today. It also supports 12ms full-colour video passthrough. The chipset has been paired with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.
Samsung is not just approaching the device from a performance point of view. They also want to reinvent how users engage with virtual environments.
Visuals and immersion
The Samsung Galaxy XR has micro-OLED displays with close to 8K resolution with up to 90Hz refresh rate. The headset offers a 109° horizontal and 100 ° vertical field of view. This adds to the experience and makes it more like-like
Additionally, there are 6 world-facing cameras, which are used for inside-out tracking and for position tracking without any external hardware; it’s just you and your headset. There is a depth sensor, five motion-tracking IMUs, and a flicker sensor, which ensures precise tracking even under artificial lighting.
Eye tracking and security
There are four eye-tracking cameras on the inside, too, so that the headset knows what you are looking at. The Galaxy XR also comes with iris recognition, which can be used to unlock the headset and also for authentication processes in apps that may require it.
The headset has an adjustable display system for your eyes of about 54-70mm and supports optical inserts for users who need glasses. There is also a removable light shield that blocks light for better immersion when using VR apps and can be removed for better comfort.
Design and weight
One thing that Samsung has done well is managing the weight of the device despite the tech it offers. The headset weighs 545g with the forehead cushion, also there is a separate battery pack of 302g.
The design distributes the weight evenly, making it suitable for longer usage.
Price and availability
The Samsung Galaxy XR is available in the US and Korea starting today at $1,800 (around ₹1.58 lakh). The expected global launch is most likely at the Galaxy Unpacked Event, that a global launch could take place in January 2026.
Final thoughts
Samsung’s entry into the mixed reality space shows that it wants to challenge Meta's dominance in the mixed reality space and carve out a position for itself in a niche where Apple is yet to crack the formula for. Its advanced features and premium pricing may indicate that the Galaxy XR is designed for tech enthusiasts and early adopters who demand cutting-edge tech. However, compared to Apple's $3,500 price tag for the Vision Pro, Samsung's $1,800 seems very accessible and could drive wider adoption soon.
