Circle to Search in Real Life: Standout Features and Big Questions for Samsung and Google’s XR Headset

Sitting on a couch in my living room, wearing a state-of-the-art mixed reality headset, I raise my hand to control what I see. In my vision is Junji Ito’s new book, Moan. I pinch and hold it with my fingers, then spin the book in the air. A Google search result pops up about the book, ready to show me more.

Circle to search is a thing on Android phones, and now it’s a thing in daily reality while I carry Samsung Galaxy. Maybe one day this feature will make it into smart glasses, but right now I have to wear a $1,799 headset to achieve it.

The Galaxy XR is a bit like a half-price version of Apple Vision Proor a more expensive Android and Google device Metaquest. It’s really both, but it’s also a foot in the door to a wave of AI smart glasses and upcoming headsets, powered by the Android XR platform and designed to compete with Apple, Meta and other tech heavyweights.

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I’ve been wearing and using the Samsung headset around the house for about a week. Is it good? Sometimes. Is this something I suggest you buy today? Absolutely not. It’s way too expensive and its software and applications aren’t completely finished yet. On the other hand, this foot in the door has already offered me some eye-opening moments.

Watch this: My first moments of life with the Samsung Galaxy XR: what’s different here?

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First surprise: it works with my glasses (sort of)

I normally wear prescription glasses and when testing Quest and Vision Pro I use prescription inserts. However, Samsung did not install corrective lenses for the headset it loaned me to test. The only lens supplier doesn’t seem to have my prescription, which is disappointing.

I was surprised to discover that the Galaxy XR will allow me to fit my normal glasses inside, behind the helmet lenses. They barely fit, but enough to use. But it blocks the eye tracking cameras, so I just have to use hand gestures.

Still, I like the flexibility and open periphery of the headset. I can look at my phone and then look into the headset, almost like reality bifocals.

It’s light, but not always comfortable

I’m not crazy about the fit of the Galaxy XR now that I’m living with it. First of all, I often wedge my glasses inside, which is not recommended (see above). This is already getting in the way.

But even without wearing glasses (I also tested it with contact lenses), the entire headset feels smaller and more cramped over time than the now-discontinued model. Meta Quest Pro. This headset had a similar design idea but a much more ergonomic fit and worked well with glasses.

Samsung’s magnetically attached front head cushion has two size adjustments. I wish there were more. I feel pressure on my forehead and sometimes feel like I could have used a top strap, similar to the one included on the much heavier model. new M5 Vision Pro.

Gemini Live sees what I see and Circle to Search is magic

This headset can use Gemini Live to recognize anything in pass-through video or on app screens. It’s conceptually wild. There are so many things this could do or enable.

However, this seems too open and unnecessary in many cases at the moment. Gemini can do related research, describe things, and even try to give advice, but I haven’t always found the advice helpful or intelligent enough. And it struggled to perform basic headset control functions; it wouldn’t close apps, for example.

But Circle to Search is amazing. I can pinch, hold, and invoke the mode, then draw a circle around anything in my field of vision. I’ll get an answer to a search, whether it’s a book, a show I’m watching, or content in an app or game.

Google Maps is the other flagship application of this headset

I wish Apple would have created an immersive Maps app for the Vision Pro, but Google beat Apple to it, and that’s fantastic. Some Maps apps are just standard 2D, but “Immersive Mode” opens a 3D map that can be zoomed into globe mode like Google Earth, which already had a VR app for PC VR years ago.

There is also 3D scans of Gaussian splashes of certain domestic companies in large cities. Diving into these seems to be the closest thing to teleporting to an actual location. It’s like a 3D Street View tour.

I wish immersive mode and 2D mode blended more easily and had more mixed reality type viewing modes. It’s not a perfect app by any means, but it’s a great showcase.

What else am I supposed to do on it?

I’m full of concerns about the real usefulness of the Samsung Galaxy XR. The screen looks great, but I wish there were more cinema modes to show it off. Currently, YouTube and Netflix only have floating 2D screens and no theater-style setup. Immersive Android XR apps are rare, and games often need the separately sold controllers to work. And some phone-connected modes seem to require a Samsung phone to maximize the stream.

I don’t think you should get a Samsung Galaxy XR now, and it certainly hasn’t proven itself compared to well-established and much cheaper models. Meta Quest 3S and 3, who remain best VR headsets for most people. Meanwhile, Apple Vision Pro is both much more expensive and much more refined. Gemini Live makes a big difference for Google and Samsung, as well as the more open Android ecosystem. I’ll have more thoughts as I use it over time – and hopefully I’ll buy some corrective lenses to try.