Samsung Was So Impressed With Apple Vision Pro It Delayed Its New Headset
Samsung is reportedly postponing the release of the next XR headphones to mid-2024.
The reason for the delay was Samsung's desire to "better compete with the Apple Vision Pro" when it launches next year.
A delayed phone may have a more refined design, better performance, and higher resolution images than expected.
Apple Vision Pro should hit consumers in early 2024; Now it looks like Android fans will have to wait a bit to try the Samsung version. Even though the earphones are scheduled for release later this year, Samsung has reportedly delayed the release of the XR earbuds until mid-2024.
An SBS Biz report claims that Samsung has sent notices to its billboard partners in anticipation of delays in the Samsung XR headset project originally announced in February 2023. According to the report, the internal message reads: “We have decided to review all internal specifications. and performance, such as the design and dashboard of the new XR product." Please note that XR is a term that includes AR and VR combined under one roof. .
If the report is correct, the Samsung XR headphones will undergo design changes and possibly better performance and higher resolution displays to better compete with the $3,500 Apple Vision Pro. If that's true, then it's clear that Samsung is more interested in competing with Apple's "facial laptop" form factor than competing with the upcoming Quest 3 for the title of best VR gaming console.
We've reached out to Samsung for comment and will update this article if we get back to you.
Despite the possible delay, Google is still developing an operating system for Samsung hardware. Google has reportedly put its AR glasses on hold to work full-time on the upcoming XR operating system to ensure it's "Android on XR," as one source put it.
As UploadVR rightly points out, all of these moves seem to be due to Samsung and Google repeating history and changing their plans after Apple unveiled its next big project. The last time we saw this was when Android moved from a Blackberry competitor to an iOS competitor in 2007.
Given Samsung and Google's troubled past with AR and VR devices, it's probably a good thing they refrain from making this headset the best it can be. Apple will be able to produce no more than a few hundred thousand headphones in 2024, severely limiting the number of units it can sell to anyone willing to sell them for $3,500.
As mentioned, it also seems clear that Samsung and Google want to focus on the XR as a platform rather than trying to build a gaming headset that can compete with the Meta. While the upcoming Quest 3 will include a series of mixed reality events that mix the worlds of AR and VR, Meta continues to promote the Quest as a gaming console that has made huge strides in this area.
The Quest 2 has sold over 20 million units this year, so there's plenty of room for growth as interest in the XR grows. Laptop replacements like the Apple Vision Pro are unlikely to sell in record numbers until prices drop and form factors shrink. However, Samsung and Google have some serious work to do to create a good product that consumers want, and Samsung's next headset might just be the ticket.
metaquest 2:
The next generation of VR and XR headsets are on the way, but none will be as affordable as the Meta Quest 2. If you're on a budget but want to get into VR, this is your best long-term choice.
