Samsung Galaxy XR hands-on: It’s similar to the cheaper Apple Vision Pro and launches today

Watch the first few minutes of Demon hunters in kpop As for Samsung’s Galaxy XR headphones, I think Apple’s Vision Pro might be cooked.

Not because of the Galaxy XR – which Samsung has previously teased Mohan Project – He is Which Much better than Vision Pro. It’s a comparable experience, but you get a lot more bang for your buck. Specifically, the Galaxy XR costs $1,799 compared to the Vision Pro’s astronomical price of $3,499. The headphones launch in the US and Korea today, and to attract more customers, Samsung and Google are offering an “Explorer Pack” with each headset that includes a free year of Google AI Pro, Google Play Pass, YouTube Premium, YouTube TV for $1 per month for three months, and a free season of NBA League Pass.

Did I mention it’s also lighter and more comfortable than the Vision Pro?

It comes with the original Netflix app. Who will get Vision Pro now? Well, maybe people who need Mac power to work and are an integral part of the Apple ecosystem. But a lot of other people probably want this instead.

These were the thoughts running through my mind when I got the second official demo of Samsung’s headset ahead of today’s announcement. I’ve got a demo of Mohan prototype last December, but this was the final iteration of this product. There are some noticeable changes. The front piece is more padded than I remembered from the last demo, and I finally got to try out the removable bottom light seal. But other than that, not much has changed.

The device still feels like Vision Pro mixed with Meta Quest 3. There are no creepy eyes on the front display, although there is still a glass panel that houses several cameras for capturing your surroundings and hand gestures. There are small LEDs inside that support 4K resolution and refresh rates of up to 90Hz, making scrolling and gaming feel smooth. Samsung promises up to 2.5 hours of battery life, on par with the Vision Pro.

There is no removable strap, it is made entirely of lightweight plastic with a padded back piece and a dial that you use to adjust the tightness. Materials don’t feel as premium as the Vision Pro. But plastic is easier to clean than fabric, and when I put it on my head, it’s much lighter, and the weight is evenly distributed. (My first Vision Pro was quite front-heavy, but the new strap helps a lot with that.) It took until the end of the 30-minute demo for me to start feeling some tension.

So much of the experience inside the headphones is similar to that of the Vision Pro that I can imagine Apple’s lawyers being annoyed. There is high-resolution crossover, although I wouldn’t call it completely clear. The headset tracks what you’re looking at, and you can tap your fingers to select it. One difference is that there’s a Quest-like indicator when pointing to menus and XR items, making it easier to see if the right thing is highlighted or not. Otherwise, the interface is a Google-flavored version of what you’ll find in the Vision Pro.

In terms of features, there’s everything from spatial visuals and immersive environments to blasting multiple browser windows for maximum productivity. There is also automatic spatial customization of existing 2D content. Like, when I go to YouTube to watch the latest vertcast episode, My colleague David Pearce’s 3D version jumps forward from the video.

Google and Samsung are keen to point out that this Android XR headset has Gemini. In fact, in a small keynote to the press, executives from both companies confirmed that this device has “artificial intelligence at its core.”

This means that if, for some reason, you decide to read an actual magazine with this headset, you can circle and view any interesting products you come across in virtual Chrome. When viewing an immersive 3D map in the Google Maps app, you can ask Gemini questions about your surroundings. If you’re watching a photo or video on YouTube, you can start a Gemini Live session, share your screen with the AI, and ask it questions. While looking at a photo of a quadruped at Machu Picchu, Jiminy told me that I was, in fact, looking at a llama and not an alpaca. He then proceeded to tell me lama facts. In the middle of watching a 3D YouTube video of an Icelandic volcano erupting. Gemini mistakenly identified it as a volcano in Hawaii. So, you know, there are limitations.

I’m not convinced the average person would want these expensive, high-tech XR headphones. You could say the Galaxy XR was also dead on arrival, especially since the zeitgeist seems to be shifting heavily towards smart glasses. But for those who want headphones? On paper, the Galaxy XR headset is a much better value. You are getting a similar consumption experience. It’s almost half the price. (Hell, it costs less than the Z Fold 7!) It’s much easier to wear for a longer period of time.

There’s a wealth of content, and you can access Google apps like YouTube, Maps, and more. If you think AI is a selling point, the Gemini is integrated into this headset much more effectively than Siri was in the Vision Pro. Compared to gadgets like phones, tablets, and computers, these headphones are much easier to use as standalone devices. But the most common use case we’ve seen so far for these speakers is using them as your own personal theater. The Galaxy

Plus, if you want to use it for productivity, you can cast your Samsung Galaxy Book laptop screen to the headset (though it’s unclear how that compares to sending a Mac to the Vision Pro), take calls from it, or share files between the headset and other devices.

I’ll caveat all of this with the reminder that demos aren’t the same as live with a device. When we get the Galaxy I’m curious to know how M5 Vision Pro – which goes on sale on October 22 – will be a hit. But if the Galaxy