Samsung has launched its Galaxy XR mixed reality headset at a price point far lower than Apple’s Vision Pro, igniting a new rivalry in the immersive technology sector. With advanced display technology, deep AI integration, and a focus on accessibility for mainstream users and businesses, Samsung’s latest device signals a major shift in the mixed reality landscape.
Samsung Galaxy XR Brings Next-Gen Tech at Nearly Half the Price
The Galaxy XR was officially released with a retail price of $1,799, substantially undercutting Apple’s Vision Pro, which retails for $3,499. In partnership with Google and Qualcomm, Samsung positions the device as a premium yet more attainable mixed reality headset, seeking wide adoption beyond early adopters and creative professionals.
The hardware features dual 4K micro-OLED displays pushing 3,552 x 3,840 pixels per eye—totaling approximately 27 million pixels. This surpasses the Vision Pro’s pixel count, though Apple retains an advantage in refresh rate, offering up to 120Hz compared to Samsung’s 90Hz maximum. Field of view is also competitive, with the Galaxy XR delivering 109 degrees horizontal and 100 degrees vertical coverage.
Samsung’s device runs on Android XR, Google’s new platform optimized for immersive computing. This provides access to thousands of 2D Android apps via the Play Store and supports deployment of custom XR apps. In contrast, Apple’s Vision Pro leverages the visionOS ecosystem with tight integration across Mac and iPhone devices, and over a million compatible apps, though native spatial apps remain limited in number.
Both devices target different user profiles: Galaxy XR appeals to those already within the Android and Windows universes, while the Vision Pro is best integrated within the Apple product lineup.Samsung has embedded Google’s Gemini AI deeply into the Galaxy XR, enabling the headset to interpret users’ surroundings, facilitate contextual voice and hand gesture commands, and even power new features like Circle to Search in immersive mode. This proactive and conversational AI support sets a new standard for headset intelligence in real-world environments.
Apple’s Vision Pro, by comparison, sticks to the more limited Siri assistant, focusing instead on seamless device handoff and workflow continuity for creative and professional users.
Bundled Value and Mainstream Ambitions
In an effort to further entice early adopters and businesses, Samsung includes an “Explorer Pack” valued at over $1,000, with subscriptions to YouTube Premium, Google AI Pro, Google Play Pass, and NBA League Pass. This emphasis on practical, mainstream work and entertainment solutions aims to push mixed reality into broader consumer and enterprise use.
