**San Jose, CA – October 21, 2025** – Samsung has officially launched the Galaxy XR headset, previously codenamed Project Moohan. This device is the first to operate on Google’s new **Android XR** operating system, developed through a collaboration involving Samsung, Google, and Qualcomm Technologies. The Galaxy XR is priced at **$1,799.99** for the 256GB model. Availability commenced on October 21, 2025, in the U.S., followed by October 22, 2025, in Korea. While the announcement event itself was considered by some to be rather dry, the unveiling of a device at half the price of the Vision Pro certainly grabbed attention, even if its own price remains substantial.
Technical Specifications
The Galaxy XR is designed to support multimodal AI experiences and user cofort, incorporating the following technical specifications:
| Category | Specification Details |
|---|---|
| Processor (Chip) | Snapdragon® XR2+ Gen 2 Platform (20% increased CPU, 15% increased GPU freq, Qualcomm® Hexagon™ NPU) |
| Memory & Storage | 16GB Memory (RAM) / 256GB Storage |
| Display | Dual Micro-OLED (3,552 x 3,840 per eye, 4K per eye, 6.3‑micron pixel pitch, 95-96% DCI‑P3) |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz, 72Hz (Default), up to 90Hz |
| Field of View (FOV) | 109 degrees horizontal / 100 degrees vertical |
| Sensors | 2 Pass-through cams, 6 World-facing cams, 4 Eye-tracking Cams, 1 Depth sensor (dToF), 1 Flicker sensor, 5 IMUs |
| Cameras (Capture) | 3D Photo & video (18mm/F2.0, 6.5MP*) |
| Audio & Video | Two 2-Way speaker (Woofer+Tweeter), 6 Microphones array (beamforming), Dolby ATMOS, UHD 8K @60fps video, HDR10/HLG codecs |
| Battery & Weight | Up to 2 hours general use / 2.5 hours video, Separate battery (302g), Headset (545g). Usable while charging. |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 7 (802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax/be) / Bluetooth 5.4 (Up to) |
| Ergonomics/Optics | IPD: 54-70mm (automatic motorized), Separately purchasable optical inserts, Iris recognition |
The device’s visuals have been described as vibrant and incredibly sharp, with some suggesting they are potentially on par with the Apple Vision Pro. The passthrough video quality, in particular, has been noted by some as potentially “the best on the market yet” for its sharpness and depth perception. Weighing **545g** with a separate **302g** battery pack, the Galaxy XR is noticeably lighter than the Vision Pro, a design choice engineered for comfort. However, some initial assessments indicate that the forehead pad design, while contributing to a lighter device, can still feel front-heavy and uncomfortable after about 30 minutes for some users, a subjective experience that echoes feedback on other headsets like the Meta Quest Pro. Some users also reported a faint flickering effect when bright content was displayed at the edges of the lenses, which might be attributed to the power-saving 72Hz default refresh rate.
Announced Features and Functionalities
The Galaxy XR’s core functionality is deeply integrated with multimodal AI, specifically **Gemini**, through the Android XR platform.
Core Interaction and AI
Interaction methods include **hands, eyes, and voice**. Eye-tracking cameras enable menu navigation via glances. Hand tracking facilitates intuitive gestures, such as pinching to select items. **Gemini Live**, a system-level integration of Gemini, acts as an AI assistant designed to interpret the user’s surroundings through the headset’s visual and auditory inputs. This functionality aims to provide conversational, real-time assistance, app control, and context-based actions. The **Circle to Search** feature is available, allowing users to select both virtual content and real-world items seen through the passthrough view using a hand gesture.
#### Discovery and Entertainment
Users can access streaming applications such as Netflix, Crunchyroll, HBO Max, and Peacock, presented on the 4K Micro-OLED screens. **YouTube** features a dedicated spatial tab for 3D content and provides access to immersive 180 and 360-degree VR content, alongside a spatial multi-view capability for simultaneous viewing of multiple streams. **Google Maps** includes an immersive 3D view (Immersive View), enabling users to explore locations or navigate with Gemini offering contextual suggestions and information. **Google Photos** incorporates **Media Auto Spatialization**, which automatically converts existing 2D photos and videos into a 3D format. The interactive film *Asteroid*, featuring DK Metcalf and Hailee Steinfeld, showcases real-time AI translation and character conversation capabilities powered by Gemini Live.
#### Productivity and Creation
The headset offers an “infinite screen” workspace, designed to allow users to arrange multiple applications across large virtual displays for multitasking. Gemini can perform tasks such as organizing cluttered virtual windows on command. The **Galaxy Connected Experience** facilitates connections to compatible PCs (e.g., Galaxy Book with Windows 11) and smartphones (e.g., devices with One UI 6.1+). This enables features like instant file sharing, answering calls within the XR environment, and cross-device copy/paste. External keyboards and mice can be paired, or a PC can be linked for a full desktop experience.
**XR-Optimized Apps** are identifiable by a “Made for XR” tag in Google Play. Noted examples include **Project Pulsar (Adobe)**, described as an immersive 3D video editing application, and **Concepts (TopHatch)**, a sketching application. **Google Meet** supports expandable video tiles and is slated to feature “Likeness” (Persona-like) avatars. For **Gaming**, the device supports immersive games, PC game streaming via PC Link, and native Android games, with Gemini capable of functioning as an AI gaming companion for real-time coaching and tips.
Pricing and Availability
The Galaxy XR headset (256GB model) is priced at **$1,799.99**. It became available on **October 21, 2025**, in the U.S. and **October 22, 2025**, in Korea. Samsung offers financing options, including $149 per month for 12 months or $75.01 per month for 24 months. While the price point is notably lower than some competitors, it still represents a significant investment, likely appealing primarily to prosumers and enterprise users rather than a mass consumer market at launch.
Accessories and Pricing
The **Galaxy XR Controller** is available separately for **$249.99**. A limited-time offer provides a 30% discount on the controller and travel case if purchased with the headset before November 17. The controllers provide six degrees of freedom (6 DoF) and haptic feedback. The decision to sell controllers separately was met with some industry commentary suggesting it could potentially “kneecap the software market” by presenting an inconsistent hardware target for developers. However, the optional controllers **sold out quickly** within two hours of launch, indicating that early adopters placed high value on this input method for gaming and enterprise applications. The **Galaxy XR Travel Case** is also sold separately for **$249.99**. Prescription optical inserts are available for separate purchase.
The Explorer Pack
A limited-time bundle, referred to as the Explorer Pack and valued at over $1,000, is included with every Galaxy XR purchase made by the end of 2025. This package includes:
| Inclusions (Subscription) | Duration/Detail |
|---|---|
| Google AI Pro | 12 months access. |
| YouTube Premium | 12 months access. |
| Google Play Pass | 12 months access (for over 1,000 2D games and apps without ads/in-app purchases). |
| YouTube TV (US) | 3-month subscription for $1/month. |
| TVING Premium (Korea) | 6-month subscription. |
| NBA League Pass (US) | Access for the entire 2025-2026 season. |
| Coupang Play Sports Pass (Korea) | 12 months access. |
| Apps/Content | StatusPro’s NFL PRO ERA, Project Pulsar from Adobe, Asteroid, and Calm. |
Ecosystem and Future Developments
Samsung has confirmed a broader XR roadmap that includes **AI glasses**. Collaborations with Google and eyewear brands **Warby Parker** and **Gentle Monster** are underway to introduce AI-native glasses connected to the Android XR ecosystem. Android XR supports open standards such as OpenXR and WebXR, as well as industry tools like the Unity engine and Jetpack XR SDK. Unity has announced day-one Android XR support in Unity 6, with initial launch titles including *Google Maps XR*, *NFL Pro Era*, *Inside [JOB]*, *Vacation Simulator*, and *Job Simulator* developed using Unity. The device is intended for enterprise adoption, offering features relevant to virtual training and secure remote collaboration, with future support for the Android Enterprise framework planned for scalable deployment. While some initial buyer comments expressed concern over Google’s history of launching and then abandoning hardware and platforms, the deep AI integration and open ecosystem are positioned as a long-term strategy for market presence. The headset’s appearance and feature set have led to comparisons with the Apple Vision Pro, with some labeling it a “Vision Pro clone,” though Samsung and Google emphasize its role in establishing a “new category” of AI-native devices through a strategy of compatibility and openness.
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