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Need-to-knows
🥽 Samsung and Google have teamed up to create this VR headset
👨🏽🎨 The design appears to resemble Vision Pro
💾 It will most likely feature Qualcomm’s Snapdragon XR Plus Gen 2 chip
Google and Samsung have come together to create their own reality: The Samsung XR headset.
We discuss virtual reality a lot at Mark Ellis Reviews, mainly documenting Mark Ellis’ love/ hate relationship with Apple Vision Pro. We’ve looked at the Meta Quest 3 and the Meta Quest 3S and we’ve had some fun.
And now we are ready for more.
Powered by the newly unveiled Android XR platform, the Samsung XR headset is a Google/ Samsung VR hybrid. Here’s everything we know.
Project Moohan: Samsung’s XR Vision
At the Galaxy Unpacked event back in February 2023, Samsung made a surprising announcement – they were partnering with Google and Qualcomm to develop a next-generation XR device.
They called it Project “Moohan” because it means “infinity” in Korean. This makes sense because the aim was for the headset to harness the infinite possibilities of virtual spaces.
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The Android XR Foundation
At the heart of Project Moohan lies Google’s newly unveiled Android XR platform. This platform is designed to bring spatialized versions of your apps into the virtual world.
So, all those apps you know and love on your phone or tablet are reimagined for a 3D, immersive environment.
Release Dates
The idea of the Samsung XR headset started way back in 2022 but, for various reasons, the release date was moved several times. However, rumours are pointing towards an early 2025 launch.
Hardware Specs
At the core of Project Moohan lies Qualcomm’s Snapdragon XR Plus Gen 2 chip. This is a chip specifically designed for extended reality applications.
The Qualcomm’s Snapdragon XR Plus Gen 2 chip features:
- Up to 4.3K resolution per eye
- 90 frames per second
- 20% boost in CPU frequency
- 15% increase in GPU frequency
Compared to the Snapdragon XR Gen 2 chip found in the Meta Quest 3, this is a significant step up.
Display Technology: A Window to New Worlds
Given Samsung’s track record with OLED and QLED displays, I wouldn’t be surprised if we see a new screen technology in this headset. We could be looking at ultra-high resolution, wide colour gamut, and possibly even some form of micro-LED technology for unparalleled brightness and contrast.
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Passthrough Capabilities
One of the more exciting features Samsung has teased is advanced passthrough capabilities. This means the headset will be able to seamlessly blend the real world with virtual elements, opening up a whole new realm of mixed-reality experiences.
For example, whilst wearing the headset you can walk down the street and see virtual signposts guiding you to your destination, or sit in your living room surrounded by floating app windows.
Natural Multi-Modal Input: Intuitive Interactions
Samsung is promising “natural multi-modal input” for Project Moohan. This could include a combination of:
- Hand tracking: Use your hands to manipulate virtual objects.
- Eye tracking: Control interfaces and interact with content just by looking at it.
- Voice commands: Speak naturally to your device to get things done.
- Gesture recognition: Make intuitive gestures to navigate and control your virtual environment.
The goal here is to make interacting with the virtual world as natural and effortless as possible.
Software Ecosystem
Google’s Android XR platform is the beating heart of Project Moohan’s software experience.
Some key features of Android XR include:
- Seamless integration with existing Android apps
- Tools for developers to create immersive, spatialized versions of their apps
- Support for both fully immersive VR experiences and mixed-reality applications
- Deep integration with Google’s AI assistant, Gemini
Google Apps Reimagined for XR
The tech giant is working on XR-optimized versions of its most popular applications, including:
- YouTube: Watch videos on a virtual big screen or explore immersive 360-degree content.
- Google TV: Transform your living room into a personal IMAX theater.
- Google Photos: Relive your memories in stunning 3D environments.
- Google Maps: Soar above cities and landmarks with an enhanced Immersive View.
- Chrome: Multitask like a pro with multiple virtual screens at your disposal.
Third-Party App Support
Google has already announced partnerships with big names like Adobe, Calm, and Virtual Desktops to create XR-optimized versions of their apps.
Some potential categories of XR apps we might see include:
- Productivity tools: Virtual offices, collaborative workspaces, and 3D modeling software
- Entertainment: Immersive games, interactive storytelling experiences, and virtual concerts
- Education: Virtual field trips, interactive simulations, and 3D visualizations of complex concepts
- Fitness and wellness: Guided meditation in serene virtual environments, gamified workout experiences
- Social: New ways to connect and interact with friends and family in shared virtual spaces
Gemini: Your AI Assistant in the Virtual World
One of the most intriguing aspects of Android XR is its deep integration with Gemini, Google’s next-generation AI assistant.
Some potential use cases for Gemini in XR include:
- Real-time translation of text and speech in your field of view
- Intelligent summarization of information from multiple virtual screens
- Context-aware suggestions and information based on what you’re looking at
- Natural language control of your virtual environment and apps
Imagine asking Gemini to “show me all my emails about the Johnson project” and having relevant messages instantly appear in front of you, or saying “I need help fixing my bike” and seeing a virtual overlay guiding you through the repair process step-by-step..
Google AI: What is Google’s Gemini?
Design
While we’re still waiting for the official unveiling, Samsung has given us a teaser image of Project Moohan.
The design bears a striking resemblance to Apple’s Vision Pro, with what appears to be a sleek light shield and a ski mask-like front.
The outer shell seems to be made of a high-quality, matte-finished material – possibly a combination of lightweight metals and advanced polymers. This could help keep the device cool during extended use while also giving it a premium feel.
One standout feature is what appears to be a light shield around the edges of the headset. This could serve multiple purposes:
- Blocking out external light for a more immersive experience
- Housing sensors for environment tracking and hand detection
- Providing a seamless transition between the virtual world and reality
What do you think?
Despite this overload of information, we are still all left with a lot of questions.
Will we see the XR headset in the next coming months or will it be pushed back another 3 years?
Will it be all that different to Vision Pro or Meta Quest?
Will it cost a fortune?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments section down below!
