Samsung and Google’s VR Headset Rematch Taking on Vision Pro with a Reboot, Eyeing end of 2024
Samsung and Google Revamp VR Headset Plans to Compete Against Vision Pro, Aiming for Late 2024 Release Report
XR Alliance Hits the Reset Button: Samsung’s Delayed Headset Launch
Hold onto your VR headsets, folks, because it seems the XR Alliance has hit the reset button on their highly anticipated mixed reality headset project. Samsung, Google, and Qualcomm were set to blow our minds with their collaboration, but it looks like we’re going to have to wait a little longer.
According to sources from both Upload VR and Korean newspaper The JoonAng, Samsung is delaying the launch of their XR headset due to a rather surprising reason. They have commissioned higher resolution screens from Samsung Display to match the eye-popping 4K-in-each-eye (yes, you read that right, we’re talking 8K) displays made by Sony that Apple unveiled in the Vision Pro. Talk about trying to match up to Apple’s standards!
Now the launch date for the Samsung headset has been pushed from early 2024 to a more “fashionably late” mid-2024, with the actual release now expected towards the end of the year. It seems like they couldn’t resist but to participate in the delayed launch party Apple’s throwing.
But wait, there’s more! The JoonAng also claims that Samsung’s production target for the headset is a modest 30,000 units for 2024. In comparison, Apple’s production targets for the Vision Pro have also taken a hit, scaling back from a whopping 1 million to a still respectable 400,000 units. It seems like both companies are feeling the pressure to deliver on their promises.
Meanwhile, Upload VR reports that Samsung has been busy communicating with developers, informing them of the delay in the headset’s launch. Yeah, we can almost hear the collective groans of disappointed technology enthusiasts.
This news confirms what we’ve been hearing in the tech grapevine since this summer – Samsung, Google, and Qualcomm had to go back to the drawing board after Apple threw down the gauntlet with the Vision Pro at WWDC. It seems that Apple’s high-end specs surprised the industry, and the XR Alliance had to go into reboot mode to keep up.
While we’re waiting for the next-gen headset to finally hit the market, let’s give credit where it’s due. Samsung is in charge of designing the hardware for this joint venture, Google is developing a mixed reality version of Android, and Qualcomm is supplying the underlying chip technology, most likely the powerful Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 Platform. Let’s hope this trio can deliver something truly mind-blowing.
This reset scenario perfectly mirrors the birth of Android. Google initially had a more BlackBerry-like system in mind, but after witnessing Apple’s revolutionary iPhone announcement, they scrapped their plans and launched the Android platform we know and love today. In a similar fashion, Samsung quickly became the leading proponent of Android, dominating the hardware market.
If the leaked prototype of the Samsung headset is anything to go by (and let’s hope it is), then this reset could be a blessing in disguise. The early Oculus Quest and HTC Vive-inspired design shows potential, and with this reboot, we can expect Samsung to come back with a hardware product that will blow our minds.
So mark your calendars for mid-2024, folks. The summer Unpacked event might just be the stage where Samsung unveils their highly anticipated next-gen headset. Let’s keep our fingers crossed and hope their new creation lives up to the hype!
Interact with us: Are you excited about the XR Alliance’s upcoming headset? What features would you like to see in a next-gen VR device? Let us know in the comments!
