After months of speculation, Samsung finally has it unveiled the Galaxy XR headphones to take on Apple’s Vision Pro. The handset runs on Google’s Android XR operating system and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 platform.
The Galaxy XR costs $1,800, almost half the price of the Vision Pro. It is now available in the US and Korea. The headphones offer up to two hours of general use and up to two and a half hours of video playback.
The handset’s micro OLED display has 27 million pixels, six million more than the Vision Pro, and a resolution of 3,552 x 3,840. It has a 90Hz refresh rate, compared to the Vision Pro’s 120Hz. The Galaxy XR features two high-resolution pass-through cameras, six world-facing tracking cameras, and four eye-tracking cameras.
The headset weighs 545g, while the latest Apple Vision Pro weighs around 750-800g.
“Through the combination of its shape, advanced materials, and structural optimization of every component, the Galaxy XR strikes the optimal balance between lightweight design and ruggedness for everyday use,” Samsung wrote in a blog post. “The headset’s ergonomically balanced frame distributes pressure across the front and back of the head, minimizing facial discomfort while providing firm support.”
Samsung says the handsets feature several experiences optimized for XR, including Google Maps, YouTube, Circle to Search, and Google Photos.
Users can ask Gemini to navigate to places on Google Maps while exploring the world on immersive 3D maps. On YouTube, users can ask Gemini to find content they want to watch and learn more about the video they’re watching. Users can also convert 2D images to 3D in Photos.
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In pass-through mode, users can see the physical world around them and draw a circle with their hand to look for information about anything in front of them.
With the headset, users can multitask by opening multiple apps at any size, such as their browser, documents, and music app.
In terms of entertainment, users can stream content on a 4K Micro-OLED display. Streaming services including Crunchyroll, HBO Max, and Peacock have reworked their apps for Android XR.
People who buy the Galaxy XR by the end of the year will get an Explorer bundle that comes with 12 months of Google AI Pro, YouTube Premium and Google Play Pass. It also comes with a $1 per month trial of YouTube TV for 3 months, access to the 2025-2026 season of NBA League Pass and access to NFL PRO ERA by Status Pro, Project Pulsar by Adobe, Asteroid and Calm.
The move comes as Apple last week unveiled the latest version of its Vision Pro headphones powered by an M5 chip, replacing the current M2. The M5 chip improves screen performance by 10% and supports refresh rates up to 120Hz (up from 100Hz). The headset also boasts an extra 30 minutes of battery life over the previous model, with two and a half hours of general use and three hours of video playback.
