Samsung’s Upcoming XR Headset to Run on Android, Confirmed by Google

Samsung remains dedicated to advancing its XR ambitions. Following the Google I/O event, new information about Samsung’s forthcoming XR headset emerged.

At the Galaxy S23 series launch earlier this year, Samsung disclosed its collaboration with Google and Qualcomm. This collaboration is to create novel immersive XR experiences for users. During the recent Google I/O 2023 keynote event, Google reiterated its partnership with Samsung to work on XR experiences.

New Information the Google I/O Presents

During the Google I/O 2023, the tech giant reiterated its partnership with Samsung. It disclosed their joint efforts to develop a cutting-edge extended reality (XR) experience through Android. Google did not explicitly mention a specialized Android version tailored to XR devices. However, it appears that they are crafting an offering that accommodates the unique form factor of the XR headset.

During the event, Google revealed creating a platform for the headset. However, information about the program itself remains secret. It’s still unknown whether or not utilizing the headset will result in a fully virtual, augmented, or mixed-reality experience.

The much-awaited Samsung XR headset, which combines augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) features, will deliver a mixed-reality experience, claims GalaxyClub.

Samsung is collaborating with Qualcomm, Meta, and Microsoft and cooperating with Google to achieve its XR vision. Qualcomm reportedly supplies the processor to power the headset.

Samsung has a good VR track record; in 2014, it collaborated with Facebook to create the Gear VR device. One of the first widely available VR headsets was the Gear VR, released before rivals like the Daydream View. However, as standalone headsets like the Oculus Go gained popularity, the Gear VR became obsolete, and Facebook ultimately abandoned it in 2020.

Samsung Journey in its VR Headset Journey

Samsung entered the VR headset market in late 2017 with the launch of Odyssey, a Windows-based headset. A year later, it introduced the upgraded Odyssey+. Both models utilized OLED displays, similar to those in the original Oculus Quest and HTC Vive Pro. However, in 2020, a patent for a successor was awarded to Samsung by China’s intellectual property office, but no product materialized. The Daydream, Gear VR, and Odyssey did not succeed, the triumph of Meta’s Quest. Nevertheless, developments in mixed reality and Apple’s headset launch could have lured these companies into the XR space.

The featured image is from mixed-news.com