We’ve identified for a while that Samsung is creating an XR headset. It needs a mixed-reality system to problem the Apple Vision Pro, even delaying its outdated XR prototype after seeing Apple’s announcement to present it a aggressive benefit. And now, due to a current Samsung trademark, we might know its title: Samsung Glasses.We do not know for sure if the Samsung Glasses trademark refers to its headset or one other prototype. Samsung may very well be creating AR glasses, or sensible glasses like Meta’s Ray-Bans. But we have heard no leaks about these, whereas we have heard loads about Samsung’s mixed-reality plans.Whatever it is known as, we all know when the Samsung XR headset is meant to launch, what sort of {hardware} it might use, and what software program methods Google is perhaps planning. Here’s the whole lot we find out about Samsung Glasses, its mixed-reality headset. Samsung Glasses: Launch and pricing rumorsAfter Apple introduced its Vision Pro in June 2023, Samsung allegedly despatched an inside memo to workers stating, “We decided to review all internal specifications and performance, such as the design and panel of the new XR product.” Essentially, the Apple Vision Pro spooked Samsung into delaying its XR headset into “mid-2024” for a serious redesign.Eventually, their inside XR launch goal shifted to December 2024. Several sources and leakers have confirmed this date, as Samsung has apparently informed XR builders to try to end their mixed-reality apps by this month.Samsung might push its headset out once more, however the report additionally signifies that the corporate solely plans to fabricate 30,000 headsets, in comparison with Apple’s 400,000 Vision Pros. With that conservative aim, the corporate should not have an excessive amount of hassle delivering sufficient Samsung Glasses in a 12 months earlier than ramping up with future prototypes. As for pricing, we realized from a Korean report a couple of Meta-LG partnership for the Quest Pro 2 that each Meta and Samsung hope to promote their subsequent high-end headsets for about $2,000, nicely beneath the $3,500 Apple Vision Pro. This report could also be analyst hypothesis somewhat than certainty, nevertheless it’s definitely probably that Samsung will attempt to undercut Apple whereas nonetheless focusing on a premium worth level.Samsung Glasses: DesignVR陀螺 printed info on a Samsung XR HMD prototype that was as soon as the idea for what they needed to make to compete with AppleIt included:•Micro-OLED shows/Pancake optics•Exynos 2200 chip w/ AMD RDNA2 structure•Inside Out monitoring with twin RGB digital camera… pic.twitter.com/xTFV8uiSvzAugust 10, 2023See extraThe above tweet exhibits an alleged leaked prototype of the Samsung XR headset earlier than the corporate scrapped it. One factor’s clear: it does not appear like “glasses” in any respect. But as a prototype, it is probably that it would not have been the official remaining look of Samsung’s headset. What’s nonetheless unclear is whether or not they’ll have the same look to the Apple Vision Pro or Meta Quest Pro — each of that are correct “glasses” designed for XR passthrough — or have a strong entrance and passthrough that is absolutely dependent upon RGB cameras, just like the Quest 3. The prototype factors to the latter, however a premium XR headset (or the Samsung Glasses title) would probably must have a extra fashionable, see-through look. The Meta Quest Pro (Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)Allegedly, Samsung’s unique prototype had OLED microdisplays, pancake lenses, dual-RGB cameras with a depth sensor for passthrough, inside eye-tracking cameras, no controllers, and a rear-mounted battery. Even if Samsung went again to the drafting board with its new prototype to make it extra highly effective, it is probably that a few of these design selections would carry over. Some of its selections make us optimistic: the pancake lenses and rear battery pack would make it well-balanced in your head with no need an exterior battery pack just like the Vision Pro.Samsung Glasses: Specs and efficiency(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)We already talked about Samsung’s plans for its first XR prototype, which allegedly would have used the infamous Exynos 2200 chip discovered within the worldwide Galaxy S22 sequence. But it reportedly scrapped these plans after seeing Apple’s headset, which can use a laptop-quality M2 chip and a separate R1 chip for cameras and sensors. It appears Samsung realized it wanted extra energy than a telephone chipset might ship, in different phrases.It’s now engaged on a brand new design, based on a Business Insider report on Google’s present XR plans. Google has entry to Samsung’s headset so as to develop software program for it; it allegedly calls the headset “Project Moohan.” Somewhat worryingly, Google workers supposedly informed BI that they had been “skeptical” Samsung might redesign its headset shortly sufficient to compete with Apple by its 2024 deadline.Plus, as a result of Google has its personal {hardware} aspirations, Samsung demanded this Project Moohan crew not converse to some other Google XR groups, “for fear they might build a competing product based on that information.” It’s clear that Samsung is being very secretive about its prototype, and likewise that it will not be completed but. Samsung is reportedly altering up the design and will use a chip extra highly effective than the one within the Quest 3.Despite all of that uncertainty, there’s one factor we do know: Qualcomm plans to launch a brand new XR chip in early 2024 that is extra highly effective than the Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 housed within the Meta Quest 3. And we suspect Samsung might use that chip to compete with the Apple Vision Pro, as a substitute of Exynos {hardware}.Qualcomm might theoretically construct this new chip off of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, however we suspect as a substitute that it will use a variation of the Snapdragon X Elite, with its 12-core Oryon CPU that hits 3.8GHz, or as much as 4.3GHz when boosted, together with a GPU with 4.6 TFLOPS. These stats might simply compete with what the Vision Pro’s M2 brings to the desk. Otherwise, the one concrete Samsung Glasses spec we have heard is that it will allegedly use a 3,000-dpi show, based on tipster @Tech_Reve. We in all probability will not know extra for a while.Samsung Glasses: Software programThe Samsung XR headset, like Apple’s Vision Pro, targets a singular mixed-reality productiveness phase; it will not be like Samsung Gear VR — or newer gaming VR headsets just like the Quest 3 and PSVR 2 — primarily based on Samsung’s plans to give attention to eye and hand monitoring with out conventional controllers.Mixed-reality passthrough will allow apps that sit on digital screens inside your “real” front room, some extent of emphasis with Apple’s VisionOS. Apple’s OS makes use of design components from MacOS and iPadOS whereas pulling apps from the Apple App Store. We can safely assume the same method for Samsung Glasses: it might pull from conventional One UI 6, its tablets’ DeX mode, or different Android software program methods. Since it is Google designing the XR OS, we’re unsure how a lot of Samsung’s persona will seem within the OS, or if it’s going to be extra “stock” Android at first.However it really works, the OS ought to help Android Play Store apps. We just lately heard that Google vetoed Android apps on the Meta Quest, which is smart if Google needs to maintain that unique to Android XR headsets whereas shutting out the competitors from its productiveness apps. Google’s XR OS might take the same method to VisionOS. (Image credit score: Apple)We have no different onerous info on Samsung XR software program, however Google has given us loads to invest about. Google has its personal {hardware} plans, and any software program leaks might pertain to these. But since Google has to develop Samsung’s working system as nicely, these software program methods may also apply to Samsung Glasses.First, an October Google app beta replace revealed a buried code string for a Project Iris command: “Just touch & hold the right temple to talk to your Assistant.” Iris, for context, refers back to the long-rumored codename for Google’s personal XR challenge that was supposedly canceled earlier this 12 months.If Google needs to allow you to press a button to activate Google Assistant on its sensible glasses, we might simply see Samsung providing Assistant or Bixby on its Glasses by way of the same shortcut.Next, a Google patent filed in November confirmed plans to make use of a smartwatch as a makeshift touchscreen controller for an XR headset. The system would have a “gesture library” and would use cameras to evaluate if the person was their smartwatch earlier than accepting instructions. You might then open particular apps with gestures, like drawing a “U” to open Uber or a “C” for Calendar.Image 1 of 3(Image credit score: Google, US Patent Office)(Image credit score: Google, US Patent Office)(Image credit score: Google, US Patent Office)The reference to Uber makes us assume that is meant for moveable sensible glasses, not an indoor productiveness headset. And we assumed Google would use the Pixel Watch 2 as its controller. Still, Google might very simply make this type of know-how obtainable for Samsung Glasses, with the Galaxy Watch 6 or Watch 7 as its controller as a substitute.The aforementioned @Tech_Reve leak steered that Samsung is “considering adding support for touch and even smell(!)” to its Glasses. We’re not likely positive if a smell-o-vision gimmick could be particularly helpful or widespread, however a touchpad controller could be helpful (and would mesh with Google’s smartwatch contact management thought).Samsung Glasses: WishlistHow will Samsung Glasses compete with the Apple Vision Pro? (Image credit score: Apple)If the above leaks are true, the Samsung XR headset will use a 3,000-dpi OLED show, pancake lenses, full-color passthrough just like the Quest 3, eye monitoring, an built-in rear battery pack, hand-tracking controls with an optionally available touchpad, and a extra highly effective chipset than the Exynos 2200.That all quantities to a fairly nice baseline to problem the very best XR headsets. Still, primarily based on our time testing different mixed-reality and virtual-reality headsets, we’ve different hopes and requests for what the Samsung Glasses deliver to the desk to problem Apple — particularly because it might value about $2,000.A robust software program launch lineupOne key downside that sunk the Quest Pro was its lack of apps, making it very depending on the Oculus Browser for working. Meta made partnerships with sure third-party devs that both by no means panned out or took too lengthy to materialize. The Apple Vision Pro may have the developer’s personal first-party apps from the bounce, and it is partnered with Microsoft, Disney, Zoom, Adobe, and Zoom for a (seemingly) sturdy third-party app lineup. Samsung might want to supply one thing related. Specifically, it will need Google Workspace apps, Microsoft, and different productiveness suites to sound compelling, not simply its personal Galaxy Store apps. Otherwise, nobody outdoors of Samsung superfans will need to spend a pair thousand {dollars} on one. An expensive head strapThe very idea of a productiveness headset solely works if it is snug sporting it for hours a day at a time. Apple needed to make its headset cool-looking and glasses-like for advertising, however then we came upon that the Vision Pro has a secret prime strap to raised help your weight. Samsung can take the same sneaky, “optional” method when unveiling its Glasses, nevertheless it wants a prime strap. Mixed-reality headsets have so many cameras and parts that they put a variety of stress in your brow and again of your head with out one. It’s a grievance lots of people had with the strapless Quest Pro, so that they could not put on it for lengthy. Top strap apart, we merely hope that Samsung comes up with an total head strap that is extraordinarily snug and works with a wide range of head dimensions and shapes. Choosing the best supplies to relaxation in opposition to your face is vital, too. Powerful, balanced efficiencyWe hope that Samsung will use a strong XR chip just like the Snapdragon X Elite to compete with the Apple Vision Pro. But we won’t know for sure what it’s going to do and whether or not this chip will be capable of compete with Apple’s M2 and R1 chips. With a $2,000 price ticket, the Samsung Glasses will actually need to ship on efficiency.It’s additionally vital to notice that Apple units sometimes beat Android units in benchmarks and that Apple designs its software program to work in tandem with its personal silicon. Samsung has the problem of counting on Qualcomm {hardware} and Google software program in its personal design; with that many shifting components, it may very well be difficult to make the whole lot work in equilibrium, an vital side for any XR headset.Strong battery lifeApple makes use of an exterior battery pack that sits in your belt; regardless of that, the Vision Pro barely hits two hours per cost. If Samsung intends to match its M2 chip in energy whereas additionally integrating the battery into the headset, that’ll be a problem. It’s potential that Samsung will find yourself taking the same external-battery method. Whatever it does, it’s going to must ship no less than a comparable battery lifetime of two hours, and ideally longer. Gaming on the aspectWe perceive that the Samsung Glasses particularly goal productiveness customers. But even probably the most severe employee will obtain Steam on their laptop computer, and Samsung’s previous work on Gear VR makes us hope that it will incorporate a few of its gaming legacy into the headset. Even although there are many nice hand-tracking Quest video games, the very best experiences depend on controllers. It’d be good if Samsung bought optionally available movement controllers to pair with its headsets, particularly for gaming functions. Since the headset may have cameras and sensors for hand monitoring, they might theoretically work simply as nicely for following controller actions.
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