After teasing its first XR headset prototype last month, Samsung showcased its design at the Galaxy Unpacked event. However, people attending the event were not allowed to use it. Earlier today, popular YouTuber MKBHD published an exclusive hands-on video of the headset, offering us a closer look at its design, features, and software.
Even though it isn’t the final product, we think that Samsung’s first XR headset has at least two things going for it.
Samsung XR headset has two impressive features
The Project Moohan XR headset prototype uses a mix of metal, glass, plastic, and fabric for its build. To keep its lightweight, Samsung appears to have used an external battery pack to power the device, similar to Apple’s Vision Pro. However, one thing that Samsung improved compared to Apple’s implementation is the inclusion of a USB Type-C connector for the headset’s power cable.
Power via USB Tyle-C cable
A standard port means that you can attach it to any power bank (with sufficient power output) with a USB Type-C port. You can use a bigger power bank to keep the headset running much longer, especially if you are going out on a trip or flight. You can also use it directly with a USB charger when you are on the desk.
You can check out the external design of the XR headset in our video below.
Powerful Gemini AI assistant is the central part of Android XR experience
Another advantage that we see on Samsung’s XR headset over Apple’s Vision Pro is Google’s Gemini, especially the way Gemini is integrated into the headset’s software. Project Astra, a more powerful version of Gemini, is used in Android XR, which powers Samsung’s XR headset.
This powerful AI assistant can see everything you see on the XR headset’s screen and help you with several things. In addition to identifying things on the screen, Gemini can answer your questions, arrange/close your app windows, answer trivia questions, translate signs and languages, and even navigate the UI for you.
Gemini’s ability to convert voice to text, understand complex and natural language sentences, navigate the UI, and do things inside apps frees you up from a lot of hand gestures. It improves the overall user experience of the XR headset.
More importantly, Apple’s Vision Pro has no AI features right now, so Gemini gives Samsung’s XR headset an instant advantage over Apple’s XR headset. Is that enough for people to prefer it over the Vision Pro? We don’t think so. After all, people might not switch their ecosystems to just one device. However, that is a good starting point.
We hope Google and Samsung nail the basics with the first Android XR device. Those include performance, UI fluidity, multitasking, visuals, and battery life. Some other great advantages would be some killer apps and deeper integration with Android, Android TV, Chrome OS, and Wear OS devices.
Image Credits: Samsung, MKBHD YouTube
