Samsung Galaxy XR Headset Unveiled: A Cheaper Rival to Apple’s Vision Pro
Samsung has unveiled its first mixed reality (MR) headset — the Galaxy XR — positioning it as a direct competitor to Apple’s Vision Pro, but at a significantly lower price. While the company is yet to reveal its anticipated tri-foldable smartphone, the Galaxy XR marks Samsung’s entry into the premium MR space.
Powered by the new Android XR platform, the device reflects Samsung’s growing partnership with Google. Unlike Apple’s VisionOS that powers the Vision Pro, Android XR represents Google’s push into the spatial computing category — traditionally dominated by mobile operating systems. Samsung has also collaborated with Qualcomm for the headset’s chipset and is banking on the expansive Android developer community for app support.
Price and Availability
The Samsung Galaxy XR headset is priced at $1,700 (around ₹1.58 lakh) for the 16GB + 256GB model. It will be available first in the US and South Korea, with other markets — including India — expected to follow soon.
Samsung Galaxy XR vs Apple Vision Pro: Key Features
The Galaxy XR runs on Android XR, mirroring many features of Apple’s Vision Pro. It sports a micro-OLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate and a 109-degree field of view, powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 chipset. With 16GB RAM, the headset promises smooth performance for apps and immersive experiences.
At 545 grams, it is lighter than Apple’s Vision Pro, though its design draws clear inspiration from Apple’s premium aesthetics. Battery life is rated at up to 2 hours of general use and 2.5 hours for video playback.
Samsung’s collaboration with Google also brings Gemini AI integration, giving the headset intelligent features across apps like Maps, Search, and more — similar to Apple’s AI features within Vision Pro.
For multimedia, the Galaxy XR features a 6.5MP 3D camera for spatial photo and video capture, dual speakers with woofer and tweeter, and six microphones with support for popular audio and video codecs, ensuring an immersive entertainment experience.
With a competitive price and deep Google integration, Samsung’s Galaxy XR could emerge as one of the most compelling alternatives to Apple’s Vision Pro in the mixed reality space.
