Samsung has launched the Galaxy XR, the first extended reality headset built on Google’s Android XR platform. Priced at $1,800, it’s available now in the US and South Korea — roughly half the cost of Apple’s Vision Pro — and signals Google’s entry into the spatial computing race.

The headset runs on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 chip and uses a 3,552 x 3,840 micro-OLED display with 29 million pixels. It carries dual passthrough cameras, eye-tracking sensors, and iris recognition for secure access. At 545 grams, it’s lighter than the Vision Pro, with an external battery adding 302 grams. Samsung says the “ergonomically balanced frame distributes pressure across the forehead and the back of the head, minimizing facial discomfort while providing steady support”.

Controls include hand gestures, eye tracking, or standard peripherals like keyboards and mice. Audio runs through dual Dolby Atmos speakers and six microphones. Battery life tops out at around two hours for general use, 2.5 for video playback. Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 are built in, with optional prescription lens inserts.

The device runs Android XR, Google’s new operating system built for spatial computing and AI. “Android XR is the first Android platform built entirely for the Gemini era,” said Sameer Samat, Google’s president of Android Ecosystem. Gemini, Google’s AI assistant, is embedded across the interface, handling navigation, search, and multitasking. Users can ask for 3D routes in Maps, turn 2D photos into spatial images, or identify real-world objects through the headset’s cameras.

Most Google Play apps work on launch, while re-engineered versions of Chrome, Google TV, and Meet have been adapted for mixed reality. Multiple apps can be pinned or resized within a virtual workspace.

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For entertainment, users can stream 4K video in a virtual theater, browse 180- and 360-degree clips, or play titles like NFL Pro Era and Inside [JOB]. Adobe’s Project Pulsar brings 3D video editing into the mix, and sports apps from MLB and Fox Sports offer multi-view feeds.

Early buyers get a year of Google AI Pro, YouTube Premium, and Google Play Pass, plus bundled access to Calm, Project Pulsar, and other apps. Samsung also confirmed it’s working with Warby Parker on Android XR smart glasses, hinting at a broader push beyond headsets.

No regional release has been set, but XR developers in the Middle East — particularly in retail and tourism — are likely watching closely. The Galaxy XR positions Android as a new heavyweight in spatial tech.