Samsung introduces latest extended reality headset
Samsung Electronics teamed up with Google and Qualcomm to introduce its latest extended reality (XR) headset, code-named Project Moohan, jumping into the fray with big tech firms over XR devices.
Latest
 |
| An image of Samsung Electronics' Project Moohan, an extended reality headset/Courtesy of Samsung Electronics. |
Samsung Electronics on Thursday (local time) held a developer event titled “XR Unlocked” in New York and announced that Project Moohan will make its global debut next year.
It will be powered by the new version of Google’s Android XR, a platform jointly developed by the three companies, enabling users to interact with both physical and virtual realities through multi-modal artificial intelligence (AI) that integrates various sensory experiences.
Samsung said Google’s Gemini AI chatbot will be embedded in the headset, allowing users to explore new information through natural conversations and physical gestures.
XR is an umbrella term referring to a range of virtual reality (VR), augmented reality and mixed reality technologies.
Upon release, the new device is expected to compete with Apple’s Vision Pro and Meta’s Quest, both of which currently dominate the XR device market.
This is not Samsung’s first attempt in the XR device market. In 2014, Samsung unveiled Gear VR, developed in collaboration with Oculus, which is now Meta, and rolled out a series of variations to the headset, but terminated services on related apps in 2020.
Since 2017, Samsung also launched a number of VR headsets under its gaming gear brand Odyssey, but failed to gain popularity.
Against this backdrop, Project Moohan is expected to face tough competition, as the XR market - whose growth potential remains uncertain - is currently dominated by Quest, while Vision Pro continues to struggle to secure its position.
U.S. tech media AppleInsider reported that Apple only sold around 370,000 headsets in the first three quarters of 2024 and anticipated that only another 50,000 units will be sold by January, while analysts are also saying the device’s expensive price tag, limited content and inconvenience show that the company focused on the product, rather than the market.
Against this backdrop, reports suggest that Apple is preparing to release a more affordable Vision device next year to better compete with Quest. While Samsung has yet to disclose the price or detailed specifications regarding Moohan, Apple’s strategy underscores the need for Samsung to carefully consider pricing and focus on delivering diverse and engaging content.
“XR will open an entirely new dimension by seamlessly transitioning between the real world and virtual environments, enabling interaction with technology without physical limitations,” Samsung Electronics Executive Vice President Choi Won-jun said during the event.
“Android XR platform excels in its scalability that can be applied across various form factors. Through expanding ecosystem and a broad range of content, the Android XR platform will offer users a richer and more immersive experience,” he said.
(Source: Korea Times)
