Samsung XR rumors: Everything we know so far and what we want to see

The XR market has experienced its share of ups and downs over the last decade, and while it has found its place among businesses and enthusiasts, the mainstream public has been a bit slower to adopt MR, VR, and AR. This has started to change in the last few years with mixed reality devices like the Meta Quest series, and more recently, Apple jumped in with its own Vision Pro headset. Not wanting to be left out of this newfound attention, Samsung will soon have its own take on mixed reality technology in the form of what’s currently being dubbed the “Samsung XR.”

What is the Samsung XR?

The Samsung XR is a rumored upcoming high-end product that will be capable of mixed reality. There is little official information on the Samsung XR’s specs, but the company has revealed its plans to partner with Google and Qualcomm for the device’s software and hardware needs.

As for what is the most likely Samsung XR release date? Previous rumors have suggested the device was delayed after the Apple Vision Pro launch, though we might see the Samsung XR towards the end of this year.

The good news is we hopefully won’t have to wait too much longer to get more information. It was originally believed we would learn more about the Samsung XR at Google I/O, alongside the rumored launch of the Android XR platform that will power it. It has since been clarified that the two companies will reveal more about the platform behind the XR with Google at a separate event soon.

The tech giant revealed during July’s Galaxy Unpacked that the device will launch this year, so that separate event should happen in the coming months. Unfortunately, we don’t have an exact time or date to share just yet. However, leading up to the unannounced event, Qualcomm’s CEO revealed in early September that the XR product is a pair of mixed-reality smart glasses.

What rumored specs and features could the Samsung XR have?

While there’s a lot we don’t know about the Samsung XR just yet, we can confirm that the device will run on the new Snapdragon XR2 Plus Gen 2 chip. The latest Qualcomm chip supports powerful specs, including 4.3k per-eye resolutions, 90Hz refresh rates, and support for 12 concurrent cameras. Remember that this doesn’t necessarily mean Samsung will match these capabilities, only that the SoC is capable of it.

It’s also confirmed that Google has partnered with Samsung to bring a version of Android to the device, as mentioned briefly above. Neither company has provided any specifics yet, but previous rumors have hinted that it will be called Android XR.

As for what Android XR will offer, while we don’t have any official details, it would be safe to assume it will be similar in scope to Meta Horizon OS. Speaking of which, Samsung also partnered with Meta and Microsoft for the purpose of providing the product with services.

As mentioned earlier, Qualcomm’s CEO revealed that the device will be smart glasses. During that interview, he also revealed that it will connect to your phone and that the glasses will have AI. “AI is going to run on the device. It’s going to run on the cloud,” the CEO said. “It’s going to run some in the glass, some in the phone, but at the end of the day, there’s going to be whole new experiences.”

The revelation that Samsung XR is a pair of smart glasses is particularly notable as rumors had suggested it would be a headset. In 2023 we saw a few images of a prototype (below), but it appears that’s all it was — a prototype.

Other than that, a report from Daily Korea (via SamMobile), said the XR will have micro-OLEDs with a resolution of 3,840 x 3,552 pixels with a 90Hz refresh rate. It could also support a maximum brightness of 1,000 nits. It’s too early to say how accurate this report is, but we do know the Snapdragon XR2 Plus Gen 2 is definitely able to handle displays of this caliber.

Other rumored specs include a ToF sensor, eight tracking cameras, voice command support, eye tracking, and hand tracking. That’s all we know with any real certainty in terms of specs, but there are a few other Samsung XR rumors out there.

What might the Samsung XR price be?

All rumors paint the Samsung XR as a premium device, so it’s unsurprising to hear that this device might set you back a pretty penny. There were early reports that the product would aim for the $1,000 mark, but this was before the Apple Vision Pro arrived and reportedly led Samsung to retool its plans.

Based on the lack of information, it’s hard to nail down a price. However, knowing this device will be a pair of smart glasses, there’s a good chance Samsung will try to aim for a price that’s similar to Meta’s Ray Ban smart glasses, which are about $300.

Should you wait for the Samsung XR?

The Samsung XR is expected to be announced sometime later this year, so is it worth the wait? It depends on what you’re looking for. If you’re just intrigued by VR and are hoping this will cost $1,000 or less, you’d be better off considering the Quest 3 ($499.99 at Best Buy) or Quest Pro.

For those who simply want the best XR device money can buy, you might want to wait, though. It’s likely that the Samsung XR will outgun the Meta Ray Ban ($329 at Amazon) in terms of specs and it could be a better alternative. Either way, it’s likely you’ll only have to wait a few months to learn enough about the device to make your decision.

Samsung XR: What we want to see

The Samsung-Google XR device is shrouded in mystery but there’s plenty I want to see from the final product when it eventually emerges.

Hit the price and performance sweet spot

Thanks to Meta and Apple, the focus on the XR market has picked up again. Apple’s commercials make the Vision Pro look straight out of the future, but the average consumer run for the hills when they see its price. However, Apple went with a different approach for its XR product, going with a headset form factor. As such, Samsung’s solution should be much more affordable, but this does show the importance of nailing that sweet spot.

If it could get close or even undercut Meta’s Ray Ban smart glasses, that would be a boon for Samsung. Especially if this product turns out to be a high-end alternative. However, we also know the Samsung XR has a better processor than the Meta Quest Pro, so it will likely cost a pretty penny.

Guaranteed commitment

Let’s be honest, Google and Samsung have a mixed track record when it comes to both their VR implementations and their long-term support. Devices like the Gear VR and Daydream are just two hardware examples, but Google’s general attitude towards VR has always been that it’s more of a side experiment. With Meta and Apple bringing their A-game, Google and Samsung need to show that they are serious this time. For me, that means some kind of guaranteed commitment policy for Android XR (or whatever the rumored Android-based OS is named) and the devices that run it. Matching Samsung and Google’s Android software support with a seven-year XR commitment would definitely help put my concerns at ease.

While Samsung might not quite match its flagship phones, I suspect it will at least have some kind of game plan in place to ensure long-term support.

Universal components with other Android XR devices

There are rumors Google will also unveil its own Android XR device at some point or at least other partner devices, though it is very possible they will focus on the initial launch of Samsung’s device first and foremost, similar to how Samsung’s watches tend to get first dibs for major Wear OS updates.

We can’t say for certain that Google intends to make its own Pixel XR or something similar, but it seems unlikely they would invest in making a whole Android-based VR platform for just Samsung.

It could just be a matter of time before other brands like OnePlus put out their own Android XR devices. Once this happens we could see two things happen: a bunch of devices could ship with Android XR while having little capability beyond the OS, or Google could opt to take a heavier hand with Android XR and what its OEMs can and can’t do, similar again to its wearable efforts. I’m hoping for the latter.

If Google has a standard controller in mind, this will certainly remove some of the developer headaches involved with supporting multiple controller configurations. Similarly, we’d like to see a certain level of uniformity with Android XR accessories like expandable batteries or better audio accessories. How likely is it that Google would do this? Honestly, I’m possibly being overly optimistic about accessories, but the idea of a standard layout for Android XR controllers makes a lot of sense and is much more likely.