Samsung's New VR Headset and Glasses: An AI-Powered Leap into Android XR

Samsung and Google are collaborating on a new VR and AR platform called "Android XR," set to power upcoming headsets and glasses. This platform will integrate Google's Gemini AI model, offering controls "beyond gestures."

Project Moohan: Samsung's First Android XR Headset

The initial device, codenamed "Project Moohan" (Korean for "infinity"), is an AR-first headset. A rendering shows a relatively constrained design compared to competitors like the Meta Quest 3 or Apple Vision Pro. It will operate similarly to the Vision Pro, using a pinch-to-select interface within an augmented reality environment. Samsung has confirmed internal displays and passthrough capabilities. Voice control, similar to Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, will be a key feature, along with eye and hand tracking.

Android XR: A Multimodal AI Experience

Android XR aims to seamlessly blend virtual reality, augmented reality, and mixed reality features with standard Android apps like Google Maps and YouTube. A demonstration video showcased a user accessing a YouTube VR video in Florence, Italy.

This platform leverages Google's recently announced Gemini 2.0 AI model, enabling AI agents to control the device on the user's behalf. Google's president of Android, Sameer Samat, stated that the platform's multimodal AI will provide "natural and intuitive ways" to interact with the devices.

The Future of AR Glasses

Both Google and Samsung are betting on AR glasses eventually surpassing smartphones in popularity. This move positions them against competitors like Meta (with its Orion glasses) and Apple, who are also investing heavily in the smart glasses market. Google's return to the AR space, after abandoning Google Glass, is notable, with Samsung taking the lead on hardware development while Google focuses on the Android XR ecosystem.

Further Details and Speculation from XR Today

While Gizmodo provides an initial overview, XR Today delves deeper into the uncertainties surrounding Samsung's XR headset. The article highlights the limited concrete information available, citing conflicting rumors about release dates (ranging from late 2024 to 2026) and the device's exact form (headset or AR glasses)

The article explores potential specifications based on leaks, including a possible 16GB RAM, a 6-core Android 14 chipset, a Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 (or successor) chip, and high-resolution micro-OLED displays from Sony. Pricing is speculated to be between $1,000 and $1,500, though this could change. The article concludes by expressing hope for an affordable price, strong spatial computing capabilities, comfortable design, high visual fidelity, and an integrated AI assistant.

Hands-on Experience from The Verge

The Verge offers a firsthand account of a demo showcasing Android XR, Project Moohan, and prototype smart glasses. The reporter highlights the seamless integration of Google's Gemini AI, enabling real-time translation and contextual understanding. Gemini's ability to interpret natural language commands and provide information without explicit app selection is emphasized.

The Project Moohan headset is described as a blend of Meta Quest 3 and Apple Vision Pro features, offering optional light sealing and a comfortable fit. The Verge reporter notes the similarity to the Vision Pro's user interface and calibration process but emphasizes Gemini as the differentiating factor. The article also mentions prototype smart glasses, though with no confirmed release timeline. The overall impression is positive, but the controlled nature of the demo is acknowledged.

This combined information paints a picture of an ambitious project with significant potential, though its ultimate success hinges on overcoming the challenges of market competition, technological hurdles, and meeting consumer expectations.