We all know for sure {that a} new Samsung XR/VR headset is within the works, with the system being made in partnership with Google. However a lot of the XR product’s particulars (XR, or prolonged actuality, is a catchall for digital, augmented, and blended actuality) are nonetheless shrouded in thriller.
This so-called Apple Vision Pro rival (an XR headset from Apple) will seemingly have spectacular specs – Qualcomm has confirmed its new Snapdragon XR2 Plus Gen 2 chip shall be within the headset, and Samsung Show-made screens will in all probability be featured. It’s going to additionally seemingly have an equally premium price ticket. Sadly, till Samsung says something formally, we gained’t know precisely how a lot it should value, or when it will likely be launched.
However utilizing the few tidbits of official information, in addition to our business information and the rumors on the market, we are able to make some educated guesses that may clue you into the Samsung XR/VR headset’s potential value, launch date, and specs – and we’ve bought them down under. We’ve additionally highlighted a number of of the options we’d prefer to see when it’s ultimately unveiled to the general public.
Samsung XR/VR headset: Worth
We gained’t know the way a lot Samsung and Google’s new VR headset will value till the system is formally introduced, however most rumors level to it boasting premium specs – so count on a premium value.
Some early reports prompt Samsung was taking a look at one thing within the $1,000 / £1,000 / AU$1,500 vary (similar to the Meta Quest Pro) although it might have modified its plans. After the Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional reveal, it’s believed Samsung delayed the system more than likely to make it a greater Imaginative and prescient Professional rival in Samsung’s eyes – the Imaginative and prescient Professional is spectacular, as yow will discover out from our hands-on Apple Vision Pro review.
If that’s the case, the VR gadget may not solely extra intently match the Imaginative and prescient Professional’s specs it would undertake the Imaginative and prescient Professional’s $3,499 (about £2,725 / AUS$5,230) beginning value too, or one thing near it.
Samsung XR/VR headset: Launch date
Very like its value, we don’t know something concrete concerning the incoming Samsung VR headset’s launch date but. However a number of indicators level to a 2024 announcement – if not a 2024 launch.
Firstly, there was the teaser Samsung revealed in February 2023 when it mentioned it was partnering with Google to develop an XR headset. It didn’t set a date for once we’d hear extra, however Samsung seemingly wouldn’t make this teasing announcement if the mission was nonetheless a great distance from ending. Normally, a extra full reveal occurs a yr or so from the teaser – so round February 2024.
There was a rumor that Samsung’s VR headset project was delayed after the Vision Pro announcement, although the supply maintained that the headset would nonetheless arrive in 2024 – simply mid-to-late 2024, quite than February.
Then there’s the Snapdragon XR2 Plus Gen 2 chipset announcement. Qualcomm was eager to spotlight Samsung and Google as companions that will be placing the chipset to make use of.
It could be odd to spotlight these companions if its headset was nonetheless a yr or so from launching. These companions could have most well-liked to work with a later next-gen chip, if the XR/VR headset was due in 2025 or later. So this might once more level to a 2024 reveal, if not a exact date this yr.
Lastly, there have additionally been options that the Samsung VR headset might arrive alongside the Galaxy Z Flip 6 – Samsung’s folding telephone that is additionally attributable to arrive in 2024.
Samsung XR/VR headset: Specs
Numerous the brand new Samsung VR headset’s specs are nonetheless a thriller. We will assume it’ll use Samsung-made shows (it will be wild if Samsung used screens from one among its rivals) however the kind of show tech (for instance, QLED, OLED or LCD), decision, and measurement are nonetheless unknown.
We additionally don’t know what measurement battery it’ll have, or its cupboard space, or its RAM. Nor what design it should undertake – will it seem like the Imaginative and prescient Professional with an exterior show, just like the Meta Quest 3 or Quest Professional, or one thing all-new?
However we do know one factor. It’ll run (as we predicted) on a brand-new Snapdragon XR2 Plus Gen 2 chip from Qualcomm – an up to date model of the chipset utilized by the Meta Quest Professional, and barely extra highly effective than the XR2 Gen 2 discovered within the Meta Quest 3.
The upshot is that this platform can now help two shows at 4.3K decision operating at as much as 90fps. It will possibly additionally handle over 12 separate digicam inputs that VR headsets will depend on for monitoring – together with controllers, objects within the area, and face actions – and it has extra superior AI capabilities, 2.5x higher GPU efficiency, and Wi-Fi 7 (in addition to 6 and 6E).
What we wish to see from the brand new Samsung XR/VR headset
1. Samsung’s XR/VR headset to run on the Quest OS
That is very a lot a pipe dream. With Google and Samsung already collaborating on the mission it’s unlikely they’d wish to herald a 3rd occasion – particularly if this headset is meant to compete with Apple and Meta {hardware}.
However the Quest platform is simply so good; by far one of the best we’ve seen on standalone VR headsets. It’s clear, feature-packed, and residential to one of the best library of VR video games and apps on the market. The one platform that possibly beats it’s Steam, however that’s just for individuals who wish to be tethered to a PC rig.
By partnering with Meta, Samsung’s headset would get all of those advantages, and Meta would have the chance to determine its OS because the Home windows or Android of the spatial computing area – which could assist its Actuality Labs division to generate some much-needed income by licensing the platform to different headset producers.
2. A (comparatively) reasonably priced price ticket
There’s solely been one profitable mainstream VR headset to this point: the Oculus Quest 2. The Meta-made system has accounted for the huge, overwhelming majority of VR headset gross sales over the previous few years (eclipsing the total lifetime sales of all previous Oculus VR headsets combined in just five months) and that’s down to 1 factor; it’s so darn low cost.
Different components (like a pandemic that compelled everybody inside) in all probability helped a bit. However essentially, getting a strong VR headset for $299 / £299 / AU$479 is a really engaging provide. It might be higher specs-wise however it’s greater than adequate and provides considerably extra bang on your buck than the PC-VR rigs and various standalone headsets that set you again over $1,000 if you think about the whole lot you want.
Meta’s Quest Professional, the primary headset it launched after the Quest 2 that has a way more premium $999 / £999 / AU$1,729 value (it launched at $1,500 / £1,500 / AU$2,450) has seemingly offered considerably worse. We don’t have precise figures however utilizing the Steam Hardware Survey figures for December 2023 we are able to see that whereas 37.87% of Steam VR gamers use a Quest 2 (making it the most well-liked choice, and greater than double the following headset) solely 0.44% use a Quest Professional – that’s about 86 occasions much less.
So by making its headset reasonably priced, Samsung would seemingly be in a win-win state of affairs. We win as a result of its headset isn’t ridiculously expensive just like the $3,499 (round £2,800 / AU$5,300) Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional. Samsung wins as a result of its headset has one of the best probability of promoting tremendous nicely.
We’ll have to attend and see what’s introduced by Samsung, however we suspect we’ll be dissatisfied on the worth entrance. An element that would hold this system from turning into one of many best VR headsets on the market.
3. Controllers and area for glasses
We’ve mixed two smaller factors into one for this final ‘what we wish to see’.
Hand monitoring is neat, however ideally it’ll simply be an elective function on the upcoming Samsung VR headset quite than the one option to function it – which is the case with the Imaginative and prescient Professional.
Most VR apps are designed with controllers in thoughts, and since most headsets now include handsets which have comparable button layouts it’s lots simpler to port software program to completely different programs.
There are nonetheless challenges, but when your management scheme doesn’t have to be reinvented, builders have instructed us that’s a large time-saver. So having controllers with this normal structure might assist Samsung get a strong library of video games and apps on its system by making it simpler for builders to deliver their software program to it.
We’d additionally prefer it to be simple for glasses wearers to make use of the brand new Samsung VR headset. The Vision Pro’s prescription lenses solution is needlessly expensive when headsets just like the Quest 2 and Quest 3 have a free in-built resolution for the issue – an elective spacer or option to barely lengthen the headset so it’s additional out of your face leaving room for specs.
Ideally, Samsung’s VR headset would even have a free and straightforward resolution for glasses wearers, too.
Discussion about this post