Samsung Electronics to Launch XR Headset 'Muhan' Next Year... First to Feature Platform Developed with Google

Samsung's First XR Headset, 'Muhan', Launching Next Year
Equipped with 'AndroidXR' Developed in Collaboration with Google and Qualcomm
Information Search Possible Through Conversational Interaction While Wearing Headset

Samsung Electronics has unveiled its extended reality (XR) headset device 'Project Muhan' scheduled for release next year. The device will be the first to feature an XR platform developed in collaboration with Google and Qualcomm. Users are expected to experience a unique interaction by exploring information through conversations with Google's artificial intelligence (AI) 'Gemini' while wearing the headset.

Samsung Electronics' XR headset device 'Project Muhan' scheduled for release next year / Photo by Samsung Electronics

On the 12th (local time), Samsung Electronics introduced the XR device 'Project Muhan' (hereafter Muhan) for the first time at the 'XR Unlock' event held at Google's campus in New York, USA. The XR Unlock event was conducted for developers by Samsung Electronics, Google, and Qualcomm. XR is a technology that provides experiences crossing between reality and virtual worlds by utilizing senses such as sight, hearing, and movement.

Muhan is scheduled for release in 2025 and, as its name suggests, signifies providing immersive experiences in spaces that transcend physical limits. Muhan is equipped with a 'passthrough' feature that allows users to see the external reality even while wearing the device, and multimodal sensors for natural recognition with the user.

At the event, the 'Android XR' platform, which will be first embedded in Muhan, was also unveiled. This platform was jointly developed through open collaboration by Samsung Electronics, Google, and Qualcomm, enabling users to interact with both external and virtual realities based on multimodal AI. Through Google Gemini, users can explore information and exchange responses conversationally, allowing it to function as an AI agent.

Android XR has enhanced scalability through open collaboration with existing Android, Open XR, virtual reality (VR), and mobile augmented reality (AR) communities. By securing third-party apps and service content, the platform's scale is expected to expand further. It is anticipated to be applied to various form factors such as headsets and glasses that will be released after Muhan.

On the 12th (local time), at the 'XR Unlock' event held at the Google Campus in New York, USA, Choi Won-jun, Vice President and Head of Development at Samsung Electronics MX Division (right), and Samir Samat, Head of Google's Android Ecosystem division, are shaking hands. Photo by Samsung Electronics

Choi Won-jun, Vice President and Head of Development at Samsung Electronics MX Division, who spoke at the event, said, "XR will open a completely new dimension by enabling interaction with technology without physical constraints while crossing between surrounding reality and virtual worlds," adding, "The combination of cutting-edge XR technology and multimodal AI that understands usage contexts has created the perfect conditions for innovation in new form factors."

Vice President Choi continued, "The Android XR platform has the advantage of excellent scalability and can be applied to various form factors," adding, "Based on the expanding ecosystem and broad content, it will provide users with a richer experience."

Kim Ki-hwan, Vice President of Samsung Electronics Immersive Solutions Development Team, also stated, "We focused on three core values to build the platform: immersive visual experiences through infinite visual content, interaction utilizing audiovisual and movement, and realizing a platform that pursues open collaboration." He emphasized, "Muhan is designed to provide an incomparable experience with the most comfortable and ergonomic design."

Meanwhile, Ziad Azga, Senior Vice President of Qualcomm XR and Spatial Computing, explained at the event that the 'Snapdragon XR2 Plus 2nd Generation' was developed for 'Project Muhan.'