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[Eddie-Griffin]

https://www.gizmochina.com/2023/02/02/samsung-rival-apple-vr-headset/

Apple has long been rumored to be working on a mixed reality (AR/VR based) headset. And now, it appears that its rival Samsung is also looking to compete in this same segment as well. So here are all the details.

During the Galaxy Unpacked 2023 event, the South Korean tech giant announced that it is working on a new Mixed Reality headset of its own. This upcoming Augmented and Virtual reality headset is being built with the help from its partners, Google and Qualcomm. Samsung also stated that the launch of the device isn’t too far off and the company is referring to this wearable device as an Extended Reality (XR) headset.

The displays shows a live feed from the rear camera, which can also have arrows to show the users the way they need to head towards along with other useful information. Furthermore, Samsung revealed that the new XR headset will feature a custom made Qualcomm chipset, while the company is also partnering up with Meta and Microsoft for the XR headset project. The head of the XR headset also stated that the platform and software only needs to be “somewhat ready for the device to be a success.” But, it remains to be seen how Apple and Samsung compete in this all new segment.

Samsung, the original market leader of VR with the 7million or so Gear VR sales it had before that project shuttered, is apparently re-entering the VR market with this latest announcement.

Samsung is partnering with Google, Qualcomm, and others, in producing it's own mixed-reality headset it calls "Extended Reality" and has announced the headset isn't "too far off" which means there's a chance Samsung might have their headset ready this year to join the numerous other announcements.

TCl, Apple, and Samsung all coming into the market, with new headsets from Sony, Quest, HTC, and several new guys and wild cards would makes this the biggest VR launch since this new generation of VR started 7+ years ago.

While exciting, WHAT I find a bit concerning though is the bottom quote, the head of Samsungs XR development says "the platform and software only needs to be “somewhat ready for the device to be a success"." which to me seems like a crazy thing to say. Are they admitting they may be rushing it? Or that they have enough already done for it to big a hit on the market?

I'm not sure if that's confidence or a flub.

 

[Eddie-Griffin]

Picture from event, no rendered image was shown apparently just the announcement,

 

[bentanchorbolt]

I don't want more bespoke devices with their own storefronts if they are just going to sell the same games as everyone else. Seems needlessly segmented.

Quest 2 + 3 later on, PC VR, and PS VR2, seams like it casts a wide net enough for the bulk of gamers interested in VR. More devices is fine but more storefront, eh. Seems kind of lame.

 

[Kuranghi]

I don't want more bespoke devices with their own storefronts if they are just going to sell the same games as everyone else. Seems needlessly segmented.

Quest 2 + 3 later on, PC VR, and PS VR2, seams like it casts a wide net enough for the bulk of gamers interested in VR. More devices is fine but more storefront, eh. Seems kind of lame.

Indeed and taking into account how Samsung advertises in an intrusive and annoying way in their TV's Tizen OS, even including an NFT store in the last couple of years, you can imagine how awful their store could potentially be.

 

[bentanchorbolt]

Indeed and taking into account how Samsung advertises in an intrusive and annoying way in their TV's Tizen OS, even including an NFT store in the last couple of years, you can imagine how awful their store could potentially be.

You know, Samsung makes killer hardware but fuck them if they don't make the worst software (which btw is hyper redundant since everyone else makes a better version of whet they offer).

 

[Kuranghi]

You know, Samsung makes killer hardware but fuck them if they don't make the worst software (which btw is hyper redundant since everyone else makes a better version of whet they offer).

The funny thing is their TV's software is more feature filled and has the latest and greatest apps above other brands OSes (Some exceptions for picture/calibration stuff and LGs gaming menus/features) but they always find a way to fuck it up at the time or down the line.

Sony made a TV called the ZD9 in 2016 and Samsung tried so hard to copy its brightness and dimming capabilities for the next 6 years, but they only succeeded in making something closeish to it in 2018 (still big downsides, due to software processing ofc) and then the successors to that model just got worse and worse with every passing year (2018 Q9FN, then Q90R, Q90T, QN95A, QN95B). Seemed like it was going to be finally matched with the Neo QLEDs from 2021+ but they completely fucked the game mode on them so its subpar-to-useless for gaming, stellar work blue boys!

 

[splattered]

The version they already made which was a headset you placed your galaxy phone into for a screen made your phone hot pretty quickly... so this is a separate device that work in conjunction with the phone?

 

[Eddie-Griffin]

The version they already made which was a headset you placed your galaxy phone into for a screen made your phone hot pretty quickly... so this is a separate device that work in conjunction with the phone?

No, this is their own standalone XR headset.

They may add compatibility for phones though. Phones are much stronger than they were in 2015-2017 and one of the big problems with the many bricks, heat issues, and other problems people had using their old VR was Samsung to help adoption, gave a large compatibility list that included phones that should have never been included imo.

 

[Eddie-Griffin]

Rumors are going around saying 8K display is expected and news may drop sometime today.

 

[Henry Panic]

Was there ever an update to this? Has Samsung even talked about vr since?

I got a Zfold 5 so would be nice if Apple $3000 isn't the only option.