The upcoming Samsung XR headset or AR smart glasses are still a mysterious piece of technology. Despite the firm broadly announcing a marketplace debut earlier this year, the firm remains relatively quiet regarding its device.
While the device could easily be a consumer-focused product, it could also find enterprise usage via its sub-divisions, like Samsung Heavy Industries. Thus, the firm could find itself in an excellent position to push XR device adoption among clients already reliant on Samsung workplace solutions.
Most recently, MySmartPrice keenly found that Samsung publicly updated the development of its XR device via a United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) patent listing.
While a USPTO listing does not completely reflect an upcoming device when it hits the market, it can reveal insight into a company’s direction with emerging products. For example, patent listings from years past revealed specific details regarding the Vision Pro ahead of release, such as its user interface design.
MySmartPrice found a USPTO filing from Samsung called “Method and System for Grouping Plurality of Devices,” highlighting an AR smart glasses feature allowing multiple users to interact with a shared piece of AR content.
Interestingly, the filling explains that users of the hypothetical Samsung smart glasses can interact with AR content while supporting an additional single mobile device user, who can experience the same augmented experiences via a smartphone or tablet.
This is a notable advancement, if reflected in a final product, as it shows that Samsung values interoperable XR hardware and software and is pushing to deliver an XR device that leverages its preexisting mobile product ecosystem, a massive asset.
Moreover, using an approach that spans smart glasses and mobile devices, Samsung can help drive AR adoption via users without advanced wearable hardware. This may, therefore, translate into consumer and workplace smart glasses adoption, with new users experiencing more accessible XR use cases and wanting to pick up purpose-built hardware.
Recent reports have emerged regarding Samsung’s highly anticipated XR headset, based on an older listing from GeekBench. Until now, information about the device has been limited. However, it appears that Samsung is developing this XR wearable as part of its larger mobile hardware ecosystem, with a planned launch in 2024 or 2025.
Leaked specifications suggest that the device will feature 16GB of RAM and a clock speed of 2.36GHz and operate on the Android 14 framework. Additionally, the leaks indicate that Samsung’s headset will utilize a 6-core Android 14 chipset, likely akin to the well-known Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 chipset. Earlier this year, Qualcomm laid the groundwork for the Samsung XR headset by announcing its XR2+ Gen 2 Platform, with Samsung and Google as partners, making this integration logical.
While many details remain undisclosed, this new information strongly suggests that Samsung is progressing towards fully revealing its upcoming XR device.
More on Samsung’s XR Device Development Journey
At Unpacked 2024, Samsung shared more details about its XR headset, first presented at MWC earlier this year. During the Galaxy Unpacked event in Paris, France, on July 10, the company’s top representatives announced that the XR device is expected to be released later this year, despite earlier reports from MWC suggesting a 2025 launch.
With the XR device, Samsung aims to provide a headset that integrates a comprehensive operating system and a supporting hardware ecosystem, leveraging the Galaxy product portfolio. Similar to how Apple offers a reliable framework for its Vision Pro headset, Samsung’s Galaxy ecosystem could foster familiarity and confidence, enhancing the visibility of the XR device.
At the event, TM Roh, the President of Samsung’s Mobile Division, and Google’s Senior Vice President of Platforms and Devices, Rick Osterloh, confirmed that the XR device is under rigorous development and aims for a late 2024 release.
He also added:
Looking forward, we’re collaborating to bring next-generation experiences across Galaxy products from smartphones and wearables to even future technologies like the upcoming XR platform we’ve been working closely to develop in partnership with Samsung and Qualcomm.
Roh also confirmed that the device will be released “later this year,” although Samsung has not provided a specific timeline. Both he and others seem confident about the potential launch of the XR device in 2024.
Samsung also officially unveiled the upcoming XR headset will be developed in collaboration with Google and Qualcomm. Alongside the XR headset, Samsung introduced several innovative tech products at MWC, including a smart ring and assistive mobility robotics, indicating the creation of a broader ecosystem.
Although specific details were limited then, prior reports indicate that the device will feature a microOLED display, eight tracking cameras, a Time-of-Flight (ToF) sensor, and capabilities for voice commands, eye tracking, and hand tracking.
