‘Samsung postpones its own XR headset to better compete with Apple’

Samsung is said to have postponed its own mixed reality headset internally to better compete with the Apple Vision Pro. The Korean publication SBS Biz writes this based on its own sources. Samsung’s headset should now launch sometime in mid-2024.

Reportedly, the initial intention was to release the XR headset in February 2024, but after the unveiling of Apple’s Vision Pro headset, Samsung decided to work on it for six months longer. The manufacturer would according to SBS Biz have sent an internal memo to its display partners in which they say they are ‘reconsidering’ the specifications and performance of the device. What exactly Samsung wants to change about its headset is not mentioned.

Samsung has not yet officially unveiled its mixed reality headset. However, the company announced earlier this year that it was working on a mixed reality device with Qualcomm and Google. The headset will probably have a Qualcomm chipset and an operating system from Google. The latter may also make apps and services suitable. Mixed reality is a hybrid of virtual reality and augmented reality; in practice, it usually means a VR headset with cameras to see the real world.

This will not be Samsung’s first VR headset. Previously, the South Korean manufacturer already released the Gear VR headsets, which served as a holder for its smartphones to run VR software. It also made a standalone VR headset, the HMD Odyssey.

The Apple Vision Pro mixed reality headset