Samsung’s Android XR Headset Is Almost Here

I know we’ve probably had way too many Samsung events. But they are never enough. And apparently we’re getting one more this year – and it’s not for phones, laptops, or headphones, for a change.

Samsung has officially announced its next major launch event, titled “Worlds Wide Open,” which will be broadcast live on Tuesday, October 21 at 10 p.m. ET. For a change, it doesn’t appear to be called Unpacked, and that’s probably because we’re not getting a phone or tablet. Instead, Samsung is unveiling a whole new category: a headset powered by Android XR. The company will unveil its highly anticipated “Project Moohan” headset, set to be the first product built on the Android XR platform, a significant collaborative effort between Samsung, Google and Qualcomm.

According to Samsung’s announcement, the platform has been “optimized with AI from the ground up to fit all form factors.” The company didn’t provide specific details about the hardware, and they will remain under wraps until next week’s event, but Samsung said the product aims to “blend everyday utility with new immersive experiences.” The company also said that customers who reserve the upcoming Galaxy device will be eligible for a $100 credit, which can be applied toward the purchase of other eligible products. Hopefully the fact that it’s only $100 means it won’t be that expensive. A man can dream.

We’ve seen just about everything Samsung has in store in terms of hardware for this year, so we’re not really expecting anything other than the final Project Moohan announcement. This is the first time Samsung has released a headset in a while. Before that, Samsung’s best-known VR product was the Gear VR, a device that turned a Samsung Galaxy smartphone into a virtual reality headset. It was first introduced in 2014 as the “Innovator Edition” before a mainstream launch in 2015, and it’s a collaborative effort with Oculus, the company behind the Rift headset. It worked by asking users to insert a compatible Samsung smartphone, such as a Galaxy S or Note series device, into the front of the headset, thereby using the phone’s display and processing power to create the VR experience.

Then we had the HMD Odyssey range, which featured dual AMOLED displays with a higher resolution than many of its contemporaries, built-in AKG headphones for immersive audio, and indoor tracking, which meant it didn’t require external sensors to be installed in a room. It will be something closer to Apple’s Vision Pro headset, in that it is an independent device with AR/VR capabilities. It will also serve as a driver device for a range of Android XR headsets from other manufacturers. This will only be the first.

We’ll have more next week, so stay tuned for our coverage.

Source: Samsung