Samsung Galaxy XR: AI-Powered Mixed Reality Headset Launched at $1,799

Launch & Price: Samsung’s Galaxy XR headset went on sale Oct 21, 2025 in the US (and Oct 22 in Korea) at an official price of $1,799 (or $149/month financing) ^[1] ^[2].
Android XR & Gemini: It’s the first device running Google’s new Android XR operating system, with the Gemini AI assistant built in at the system level ^[3] ^[4]. Users can navigate via voice, hand gestures, and eye-tracking, and it supports Google’s suite of apps (Maps, Photos, YouTube, etc.) “reimagined for XR” ^[5] ^[6].
Display & Hardware: Galaxy XR features dual 4K micro-OLED displays (up to 90 Hz refresh) powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 chip ^[7] ^[8]. The headset itself weighs about 545 g (the detachable battery pack adds ~302 g) ^[9] ^[10], and it delivers roughly 2–2.5 hours of video playback per charge ^[11].
Controls & Interaction: No handheld controllers are included. Instead, Galaxy XR uses hand- and eye-tracking for UI control (e.g. a pinch gesture acts like a mouse click) ^[12]. There’s also a dedicated Gemini button and full voice support. (Optional wireless VR controllers and standard Bluetooth gamepads/mice/keyboards can be added for gaming and productivity ^[13] ^[14].)
Apps & Gaming: Because it’s Android-based, Galaxy XR can run millions of existing apps (in floating 2D windows) plus new “Made for XR” experiences. It supports PC-streamed VR gaming via SteamVR (or Moonlight/Steam Link) and mobile games from the Play Store ^[15]. Google’s services add immersive features: e.g. YouTube spatial videos, automatic 2D-to-3D conversion for photos and videos, multi-stream sports viewing, and context-aware search (circle an object and ask Gemini about it) ^[16] ^[17].
Bundles & Extras: Early adopters get the Explorer Pack bundle, which includes 12 months of Google AI Pro, YouTube Premium, and Google Play Pass, plus subscriptions like NBA League Pass, Adobe’s Project Pulsar, Calm, etc. ^[18] ^[19]. Buyers can order on Samsung’s site or at Samsung Experience Stores (and select Google Stores in NY/CA) ^[20].
Market Context: At $1,799, the Galaxy XR is about half the cost of Apple’s $3,499 Vision Pro ^[21] ^[22]. Still, it’s a high-end niche device: analysts note it will likely appeal to developers and enterprise more than casual consumers. (Meta’s Quest headsets dominate the VR market today, with ~80% share ^[23].) Samsung and Google view the XR as the start of a new era of AI wearables: they’ve already announced plans for Android XR smart glasses (in partnership with Warby Parker and Gentle Monster) to bring these XR experiences into everyday eyewear ^[24] ^[25].

Launch and availability

Samsung and Google unveiled the Galaxy XR at a global event in October 2025. As Google’s Android blog notes, it’s “the very first device built on Android XR” – a new OS developed by Google, Samsung and Qualcomm for mixed reality headsets ^[26]. The headset went on sale Oct 21 in the US (and Oct 22 in Korea) for $1,799 ^[27] ^[28]. That price undercuts Apple’s Vision Pro by roughly 50%, but it’s still a premium, $1,800 price point. Samsung says Galaxy XR can be ordered from Samsung.com and Experience Stores (with demos available at select Google and Samsung stores) ^[29].

In announcing the XR, Samsung emphasized an open ecosystem built around Google’s AI. Google executives describe Android XR as “the first Android platform built entirely for the Gemini era,” designed to unlock “new ways to explore, connect and create” ^[30]. In other words, Gemini – Google’s advanced generative AI – is deeply embedded throughout. VP & GM Shahram Izadi told CNN that Galaxy XR brings a “Jarvis”‑like AI companion to life: users can simply look at real-world objects and ask questions. For example, circling a tree or landmark in Google Maps will prompt Gemini to identify it or even offer to book travel ^[31] ^[32]. As Izadi put it, the Galaxy XR “does take you closer to that sort of Jarvis scenario from sci‑fi of having a digital assistant that can really be a companion by your side…you can invoke actions as simply as having a conversation” ^[33].

Design and hardware

The Galaxy XR is a tethered headset with a unique form factor. It uses a front visor of metal and glass, backed by plastics and fabric cushions, to balance weight. The goal is to make it lighter and more comfortable than many rivals – at 545 g (with the forehead cushion) it is slightly lighter than Apple’s Vision Pro ^[34]. Samsung even designed a detachable light shield to block external light for full immersion. Inside are two tiny micro-OLED screens (each 4K resolution, 90 Hz), fed by Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 processor ^[35]. The separate battery pack attaches to the back of the headband and provides about 2 to 2.5 hours of usage on a charge ^[36]. (Samsung promises up to 2.5 hours of continuous video playback ^[37].) The headset also supports vision correction via optional prescription inserts sold separately.

According to Samsung, Galaxy XR precisely tracks your head, hands and eyes for seamless interaction. It has six world-facing cameras, two high-res color passthrough cameras, four inward-facing eye trackers, plus multiple IMUs (motion sensors) and microphones. These sensors enable detailed mixed-reality: in pass-through mode you see the real world through the lenses, and can circle any object to trigger a search ^[38]. The headset also includes a two-way speaker (woofer+tweeter) near each ear, so you hear rich spatial audio without needing headphones, as well as six microphones (for voice commands and noise-cancellation) ^[39] ^[40].

Controls and user interface

Galaxy XR’s user interface is designed around natural gestures and voice. There are no handheld controllers in the box. Instead, the headset’s cameras track your hands in real time: a pinch gesture acts like a mouse click, and a pinch-and-hold or a two-finger pinch can drag, zoom, or open menus ^[41]. The integrated eye-tracking means you can simply look at an icon or window to highlight it. Voice commands to Gemini work with a dedicated button or a wake word. (For gamers or power users, Samsung also sells optional XR controllers, and you can connect any Bluetooth gamepad, keyboard or mouse ^[42] ^[43].) Samsung’s demoers noted that adjusting the headband is easier than on previous VR kits, and a cushioned strap spreads the weight around your head and back for comfort.

On the software side, Android XR presents a giant virtual screen environment. Apps from the Google Play Store run in sizable 2D windows. Samsung and Google have already adapted key apps: Google Photos lets you view your pictures in lifelike 3D (with an on-the-fly depth effect), YouTube has a “spatial” tab for 180/360 videos, and Google TV and HBO Max can be watched on a giant floating display. There’s even a multi-window desktop mode: users can pull up multiple Chrome or Meet windows around them. You can type with a Bluetooth keyboard/trackpad or connect a PC for high-end VR gaming. If the workspace gets cluttered, you can tell Gemini to “organize these windows,” and the AI will neatly arrange them for you. Samsung highlights enterprise uses too – for example, virtual training and remote collaboration – and has already demoed Galaxy XR for shipbuilding training with Samsung Heavy Industries ^[44]. Qualcomm’s Ari Katouzian noted that by combining AI and XR, the device “will bring new use cases across various industries and pave the way for exciting multi-device experiences” ^[45].

Performance and gaming

Thanks to the Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 chip and 16 GB RAM, the Galaxy XR is built for performance. Samsung and reviewers emphasize its gaming chops: unlike the Vision Pro (Apple’s focus is more on productivity), Galaxy XR explicitly supports PC VR games and mobile gaming. In a hands-on, Android Authority reported that you can connect to a VR-ready PC to play SteamVR games, or stream from PC via apps like Steam Link and Moonlight ^[46]. You can also play any Android game on a big virtual screen. Wireless Bluetooth controllers (even from Xbox/PlayStation) are easily recognized, making more games playable. The Google-Galaxy partnership is clearly avoiding Apple’s approach of limiting game support – Samsung’s executives pointed out that gaming “isn’t an afterthought” on XR ^[47].

Bundles and extras

Samsung sweetened the launch with bundled subscriptions. Buyers of Galaxy XR gain access to an Explorer Pack: 12 months of Google AI Pro (Gemini Premium), YouTube Premium, and Google Play Pass are included ^[48]. The pack also adds content partnerships: for example, NBA League Pass for 2025–26 in the US, Adobe’s Project Pulsar video-editing tools, subscription meditation app Calm, and sports packages in other regions ^[49]. In effect, Google is promising a year of its most advanced AI and entertainment services to new XR users, in hopes of building an ecosystem. All Galaxy XR buyers (in US/Korea in 2025) get these benefits; after a free trial, those services auto-renew at standard rates.

Market impact and comparison

Analysts note that extended reality headsets remain a niche market. Meta’s Quest line currently dominates VR (about 80% market share worldwide ^[50]), and Apple’s Vision Pro has so far sold only on the order of millions of units – reportedly fewer than 1 million so far ^[51] ^[52]. Samsung positions the XR as a high-end device: at $1,799 it is indeed much cheaper than the Vision Pro, but still a splurge for typical consumers. “We have been agonizing over when to bring the product to market… and we believe that now is the best timing,” said Samsung’s Jay Kim at the launch briefing ^[53].

Experts see Google’s AI as a major differentiator. Moor Insights analyst Anshel Sag told Reuters that Google’s inclusion of Gemini “adds about $1,000 in value” to the device ^[54]. Counterpoint’s Flora Tang points out that the Galaxy XR’s lower price could make it appealing for enterprise and prosumers: “With a potentially more competitive price point than Apple’s Vision Pro, Samsung’s… headset could emerge as a strong contender in the premium VR segment, particularly within the enterprise market,” she said ^[55]. However, even Samsung’s own execs acknowledge the price is high: Drew Blackard of Samsung US commented to CNN, “Is that enough to drive mass market adoption? Probably not. You probably need to see it come down over time” ^[56].

Future outlook: Android XR glasses

Samsung and Google stress that Galaxy XR is just the opening act. In the press event and follow-up communications, Samsung executives repeatedly call it “the first step” toward a larger Android XR ecosystem ^[57]. The company has announced partnerships with eyewear brands Gentle Monster (Korea) and Warby Parker (US) to develop sleek AI smart glasses. These devices, expected in the 2026–27 timeframe, will run the same Android XR software and embed Gemini, but in a lightweight glasses form factor ^[58] ^[59]. Samsung’s vision is that one day users could wear ordinary-looking glasses to do many of the tasks Galaxy XR can do – like asking Gemini questions about their surroundings or seeing app windows overlaid on the real world. If the smartphone revolutionized communication, Samsung and Google clearly see XR headsets (and glasses) as the next frontier of personal computing.

Sources: Samsung and Google press releases and blogs ^[60] ^[61]; hands-on reviews and reports from Android Authority ^[62] ^[63], Wired ^[64] ^[65], CNN (Eadicicco) ^[66] ^[67], Reuters ^[68] ^[69], and Moneycontrol ^[70] ^[71].

Samsung mixed reality headset running Android XR - First Look

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References

Samsung Galaxy XR: AI-Powered Mixed Reality Headset Launched at $1,799 – Half the Price of Apple’s Vision Pro