At $1,800, the Galaxy XR is half the price of the Apple Vision Pro, but it’s still far from an impulse buy. However, I decided to buy one and am about to jump into virtual reality for the first time. Here’s why this headset appeals to me when others don’t.
The most interesting update for Android in years
First of all, I doubt I could justify this purchase if I didn’t cover Android for a living. I started my career at Android Police during the Nexus 5 days. But it’s not just that: Android has matured to a point where I can do all my professional work directly from a flip phone. That makes me an ideal candidate to confirm whether a headset like the Galaxy XR really is viable for professional work. Android is not just the operating system I cover. It’s the only one I usually use.
Android XR is the first version of Android aimed at a new platform in a decade. The last one was when Android first appeared on our TVs in 2014. While I love my phone, smartphone apps are a known quantity. But XR apps? That’s the wild frontier.
Android XR will come to other devices
Galaxy XR is not a headset with its own custom operating system. Rather, it is a showcase for Android XR. Samsung has created the hardware, but virtually all of the software will eventually appear on other devices. XREAL’s Project Aura glasses are an example of one of those products that we already know is in the works.
This doesn’t surprise me. When I first saw demos of Android reviewed for MakeUseOf last year. It was a compelling vision held back by underpowered hardware, and I ultimately preferred to continue connecting my XREAL Air 2 Pro glasses to my phone.
Galaxy XR is primarily a collaboration between Samsung and Google, but those aren’t the only two companies that invested in Android XR.
It will integrate with my other Galaxy hardware.
The Galaxy XR may largely be running a basic version of Android VR, but the fact that it’s a Samsung device is a plus for me. That means I’ll probably have an easier time integrating this headset with my other devices. I’m surprised to say this, as someone who hated Samsung phones back in my Android Police days, but the company’s modern hardware has won me over. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 I’m holding in my hand is a combination of sleek hardware and configurable software that I can’t buy from anyone else (even the Chinese foldables that don’t make it to the US lack anything equivalent to Samsung’s Good Lock, DeX, and S Pen apps all in one device).
I use Samsung exclusive apps like Samsung Calendar, Reminder and Notes. I go back and forth between Home Assistant and Samsung SmartThings to control all the Matter devices in my house. My wife was given a Frame TV that serves as a smart home hub. I hope to be able to transfer videos and photos between my phone and the Galaxy XR headphones like I do on my phone and Frame TV.
It’s not the best hardware, but it’s close.
Galaxy XR isn’t the most powerful high-end VR headset you can buy; It’s still the Apple Vision Pro. Galaxy XR is second best, but based on first impressions I’ve seen, it’s not far behind.
I have XREAL Air 2 Pro glasses, which I used for a while as a desktop monitor replacement. In the end I found that the low resolution and blurry text were impediments. I hope the Galaxy XR screens solve this problem. The Qualcomm Snapdragon
As far as Android XR headphones and glasses go, the Galaxy XR could possibly be the flagship product for years to come. I want to see what the experience is like when it’s at its best.
For most people interested in VR headsets, the question isn’t how the Galaxy With a price tag of $1,800, it’s still unclear who exactly a headset like the Galaxy XR is for.
Unfortunately for me, I refuse to buy a Meta product. I care about data privacy and Meta has made it clear time and time again that this is not the case. That means products like the Ray-ban Meta smart glasses aren’t a great start either. It’s a shame too, considering Meta is miles ahead of everyone else in making XR products that people actually buy.
Are Samsung and Google significantly better? You’ll be hard pressed to find a giant multinational that is squeaky clean, but the beauty of these two companies’ products is that I can disable or remove most of what I don’t want. My Google Account exists almost exclusively to download apps from the Play Store, and I avoid almost all other offerings from the company. Do you realize I haven’t mentioned Gemini even once before? I hope to be able to disable Gemini on the headphones, just like I do on my phone and smartwatch. AI-powered headphones? No, thanks.
I’ve dabbled in augmented reality, but I’ve never owned a virtual reality product. I’m excited to explore a world of 360-degree video that I’ve missed over the last decade of VR experimentation. While I’m intrigued by AR glasses that primarily serve as private home theater screens, the Galaxy XR is the first virtual reality headset that piques my interest in the same way.
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