In an exciting development for the world of extended reality (XR), Samsung and Google have announced that they are collaborating on the creation of an XR headset. This announcement comes as a direct challenge to Apple’s Vision Pro, which has been dominating the XR market. The news was revealed during Samsung’s recent Unpacked event, where Google’s Senior Vice President of Platforms and Services, Rick Osterloh, made an appearance.
At the event, Samsung unveiled a range of new products, including the Samsung Galaxy Ring, the Galaxy Watch Ultra, and the Galaxy Z Fold 6. Osterloh took to the stage to emphasize Google’s commitment to bringing AI-powered capabilities, specifically through Google Gemini, to Samsung and other Android devices. The Gemini technology will be integrated into the operating systems of Samsung’s upcoming devices, such as the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6.
However, Osterloh’s appearance was not solely focused on Google’s existing collaboration with Samsung. He also announced that the two companies are “working closely to develop” a new XR platform. Qualcomm, a leading chipset maker, is also involved in this collaboration. Qualcomm is already known for its partnerships with Samsung to integrate its chipsets into Galaxy devices, and it has experience with XR devices, such as the Meta Quest 3, which runs on the Snapdragon XR2 processor developed by Qualcomm.
Samsung’s President, TM Roh, further emphasized this XR collaboration, revealing that the mixed-reality device is set to launch “later this year.” This timeline is surprising, as it suggests that the Samsung-Google XR headset could be released sooner than expected.
This collaboration between Samsung and Google is not entirely new. In last year’s Samsung Unpacked event in February 2023, executives from Google and Qualcomm also hinted at their XR plans. Cristiano Amon, President of Qualcomm, shared his vision of creating immersive digital experiences that bridge the gap between the physical and digital realms. XR encompasses technologies like augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR), which integrate digital elements into the physical world. For instance, both the Apple Vision Pro and the Meta Quest 3 fall into the XR category, offering AR and VR capabilities. AR enables users to interact with virtual elements while still perceiving their real-life surroundings, while VR transports users into fully immersive simulated experiences.
Although Samsung and Google have been discreet about their XR project, whispers in the XR community suggest that they are working on a headset named Samsung Flex Magic, which bears similarities to the Apple Vision Pro. These rumors have been circulating courtesy of a leaker on the platform X known as @TheGalox_alt.
Unfortunately, there is limited information available about the upcoming XR product from Samsung and Google. Thus, we will have to wait and see whether they can deliver a headset that can rival the success of Apple’s Vision Pro.
In conclusion, the collaboration between Samsung and Google on the creation of an XR headset is a significant development in the XR market. This partnership poses a direct threat to Apple’s dominance in the XR space and sets the stage for intense competition. While details are scarce, the prospect of a Samsung-Google XR headset has generated significant excitement and anticipation within the industry. Consumers eagerly await further information about the features, capabilities, and release date of this XR device. It remains to be seen whether Samsung and Google can deliver a compelling XR product that can challenge Apple’s Vision Pro in the market.
Source link
