The Apple Vision Pro features a sophisticated hardware and software experience that no augmented reality (AR) or virtual reality (VR) headsets available on the market can match. Rivals like Meta have criticized the expensive Apple spatial computer more than once, but Iām certain the Vision Pro alternatives of the future will draw inspiration from Appleās gadget.
One of these devices might be the mysterious Samsung XR headset. The Korean giant is developing it in partnership with Google and Qualcomm. XR stands for mixed reality, so it would be a device that can support augmented and virtual reality experiences, just like Vision Pro.
If all this sounds new to you, I wouldnāt be surprised. Samsung invited Google and Qualcomm on stage during its Galaxy S23 event in February 2023 to tease the ānext XR experienceā theyāre building together. More than a year later, that experience isnāt here. But could we see the gadget at Google I/O 2024 next month?
āGoogleās been investing for a long time across both experiences and technology in AR and VR,ā Googleās SVP of Android Hiroshi Lockheimer said during the Galaxy S23 event last year. āThese technologies are integral to the new phase of computing as it can change the way we interact with people and information to get things done in the real world.ā
āBut delivering this next generation of experiences requires cutting-edge advanced hardware and software,ā he continued. āThatās why our collaboration with Samsung and Qualcomm is so exciting.ā
When Samsung, Google, and Qualcomm said they were building the next XR experience, we were already expecting Apple to unveil the Vision Pro at WWDC 2023. Appleās then-unnamed spatial computer had appeared in reports for well over a year.
The joint Samsung, Google, and Qualcomm announcement sounded more like a declaration to compete against Apple at some point in the distant future. The companies didnāt set any release dates for new XR product announcements or share any specifics.
At this point, you might have forgotten this XR device was even in the works, but Google and Samsung might make some sort of mixed reality announcement at Google I/O 2024. SamMobile spotted the āAR announcementā teaser that Google posted on X a few days ago.
Hereās what Google posted on its @GoogleARVR account on X:
Mark your calendars. Join us at #GoogleIO on May 14th to learn about the latest developer products and #AR announcements!
Thatās not enough to confirm that Samsungās XR headset is coming out next month. And Iād speculate that Samsung would want to control the venue where it drops such a big announcement. It might be working with Google and Qualcomm, but the product Samsung teased last year will be a Samsung gadget.
Also, Google might be teasing something else. The company offers AR features on mobile, with Google Maps Live View being one such example. Google could always demo AR innovations without announcing any sort of new device. Or without having Samsung on stage. It could simply show off software advancements that will let developers create apps for whatever XR headset Samsung launches.
The teaser does signal that AR is important for Google, too. Or better said, that it continues to be important. Samsung and Google had been toying with AR well before the Vision Pro dropped. This wouldnāt be their first try at XR experiences, though the new headset should be better than any previous product.
Iām interested to see what sort of XR device Samsung can come up with, considering the Vision Pro is now a real product. Anything that Samsung makes will be compared to Appleās spatial computer. But I expect Samsungās device to be a lot more affordable than the $3,500 Vision Pro. The XR headset will probably compete against Metaās VR gadgets rather than the Vision Pro.
Thankfully, we donāt have to wait that long to see what Googleās AR announcements are and whether Samsung is ready to introduce its XR device. Google I/O 2024 kicks off in about a month.
