Galaxy XR Just Launched: Runs All Android Apps at Half Vision Pro Price

The Galaxy XR is just $1799, and you can pre-order starting today.

The new Galaxy XR headset launched as a Vision Pro competitor. Image: Samsung | Licensed By: Kinghacks365

Samsung is entering the XR (Extended Reality) arena with a banger. The South Korean tech giant just joined hands with Google and Qualcomm to bring the Galaxy XR headset to the market. The new Galaxy XR headset runs nearly all Android apps at a price of just $1799, which is a massive cutdown from Apple’s Vision Pro.

A Visual Powerhouse: Display and Refresh Rate

Today, Samsung officially launched its XR headset initiative, dubbed the Galaxy XR, at the World’s Wide Open event. This new XR headset isn't just a complete powerhouse for you, but it's also much handier for your pocket in this emerging XR arena.

The Galaxy XR headset has a stunning micro-OLED display with 3,552 x 3,840px resolution, which converts into 27 megapixels—nearly an 8K display. The headset also comes with a refresh rate of up to 90Hz (72Hz by default), which is pretty good for a seamless interaction between you and the XR device. Although it is slightly less than the new upgraded M5 Vision Pro (which can reach up to 100Hz or 120Hz), 90Hz is definitely not bad.

Design, Comfort, and Immersion

 The Galaxy XR's side view, highlighting its sleek design. Image: Samsung | Licensed By: Kinghacks365

The Galaxy XR headset design is pretty much what we reported earlier. It uses a strap design similar to the Meta Quest Pro's "Elite Strap." A cushioned ring cups the back of your head, and you tighten it with an adjustable dial on the back. This provides a more balanced and secure fit compared to a simple fabric strap. The headset uses a thicker head cushion, and Samsung claims this puts the pressure on your forehead and the back of your head, rather than on your nose and cheeks.

The Galaxy XR also provides you with an option for a fully immersive view by introducing a detachable light shield. You can remove this for full mixed reality by viewing your surroundings or add it for a fully immersive view. Unlike the Apple Vision Pro, the Galaxy XR headset has no EyeSight display to show a digital version of your eyes to people around you from the outer screen.

A Focus on Lightweight Design

Another feature that might make you prefer to buy the Galaxy XR headset is its light weight. A definite edge over its rival, the Vision Pro, is that the Galaxy XR headset's weight is just 545 grams. This is majorly less than the Meta Quest Pro and Apple’s Vision Pro. Samsung is directly addressing your concerns about the Vision Pro's weight on the face.

The whole credit goes to the Galaxy XR headset's engineering team, as they feature a light, high-quality "Silver Shadow" plastic build, in contrast to the Vision Pro's heavier aluminum and glass construction. Samsung’s headset also has a separate 320g battery, which you can also put in your pocket to reduce the weight. This battery can last up to 2.5 hours (or 2 hours for 2D video watching), making this a truly lightweight XR headset option.

Passthrough Cameras and Controls

 Galaxy XR's front view, detailing its passthrough cameras. Image: Samsung | Licensed By: Kinghacks365

The Galaxy XR headset's front visor is equipped with numerous cameras, including two high-resolution cameras for full-color video passthrough (so you can see the real world) and six world-tracking cameras. The headset includes physical buttons for volume, a button to activate Gemini (AI), and a touchpad on the side for easy UI navigation.

The Power Inside: Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2

The heart of Samsung’s headset is based on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 chipset, a chip specifically made for XR. The South Korean giant is continuing its tradition of introducing customized chipsets, which is why they collaborated with Qualcomm for this XR headset.

This chip's focus is on efficiently handling all the unique tasks of mixed reality:

• 12-millisecond video passthrough
• Sensor fusion
• 4K rendering per eye (equal to 8K for both eyes)
• On-device AI

Samsung uses a single, specialized chip (Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2) designed from the ground up to only do XR tasks. This is a primary reason Samsung can achieve a much lower price point, positioning it as an affordable mixed reality device.

The Game Changer: Google’s Android XR Platform

The biggest highlight of this new XR headset lies in the collaboration with Google for its Android platform. Samsung’s XR headset provides you with an even better range and runs almost all Android apps directly in front of your face.

The biggest advantage, in my point of view, is the new Google Android XR platform. Its biggest feature is its "open" nature. It can run "almost all" existing 2D Android apps (think Spotify, Chrome, Netflix) from the Google Play Store immediately as floating 2D windows. This gives it a library of millions of apps on day one. And of course, major video platforms like Netflix and YouTube will be fully accessible by you using this new XR headset.

"AI at the Core" with Gemini Integration

And of course, AI also takes center stage. The Galaxy XR should really be called Samsung’s AI headset, as both companies are championing “AI at the core.” Google’s Gemini holds the charge of bringing its AI functionalities directly to this new headset.

The Gemini AI integration in XR is at the system level. This is its "killer feature." It can "see" what you see and understand context. You can physically look at an object in your real-world room (through the passthrough cameras) and "circle" it with your finger in the air to get Google search results for it.

The Galaxy XR supports hand-and-eye tracking, but it also has optional, dedicated physical controllers you can buy. This makes it far superior for gaming, which is lacking slightly in the Apple Vision Pro. And of course, the "all apps" feature also makes room for other gaming apps to be made for this XR headset.

Galaxy XR Price and Pre-Order Details

The Galaxy XR headset outclasses the Apple Vision Pro in terms of its light weight, immersive view options, and, of course, its cut-down price. The new "open for all Android apps" ecosystem makes it a more reliable and satisfying Apple Vision Pro alternative for those users, like us, who want to use an XR headset at an economical price.

The pre-order for the Galaxy XR headset starts today, and the price for the headset is $1799. There is also a $100 discount if you pre-registered yourself for the XR headset, which turns it into $1699.

Plus, you can avail the benefits of:

• Google AI Pro (12 months free)
• YouTube Premium (12 months free)
• Google Play Pass (12 months free)

This is a value of up to $1000 if you bought them separately. Samsung’s XR headset has 256GB of built-in storage for the base price, the same as the Vision Pro. The external controllers, which can be attached, are around $250, but a 30% discount is also available for now.

What Are Your Thoughts?

Share your thoughts below in the comments section about the Galaxy XR headset. Do you prefer it over the Vision Pro or not?