Simultaneous Recognition of Images and Voice
Multimodal AI Technology at the Core
Weighs 545g, Priced at Half of Apple Vision Pro 2
On October 22, Samsung Electronics launched the 'Galaxy XR,' marking its entry into the smart glasses market. This is the first device to feature the jointly developed 'Android XR' platform by Samsung Electronics, Google, and Qualcomm. It offers a new AI experience that allows users to control the device using voice, gaze, and gestures, seamlessly transitioning between reality and virtual environments. Notably, this device is positioned as a direct competitor to Apple's 'Vision Pro,' which is also being released on the same day. The move highlights the start of a full-scale technological competition among major tech companies in the XR market.
Samsung Electronics held a media briefing at 'Samsung Gangnam' in Seocho-gu, Seoul, to unveil the product. The 'Galaxy XR' serves as a next-generation computing platform that combines AI and XR, primarily as a technology demonstration model. Samsung plans to use this as a starting point to expand the Android XR ecosystem into various form factors, including future smart glasses. Lim Sungtaek, Vice President of Samsung Electronics Korea, stated, "The most important aspect of this product is the convergence of AI and XR," adding, "With the rapid evolution of both technologies, the collaboration between Samsung and Google will allow customers to experience the most differentiated products and services."
The Galaxy XR is a headset-type extended reality (XR) device, with multimodal AI technology at its core, enabling it to simultaneously recognize various inputs such as text, images, voice, and video. For example, users can ask to find a video on YouTube, select it with their gaze, and execute the command with a finger gesture. It is equipped with Google's 'Gemini' and the real-time conversational AI 'Gemini Live,' which recognize the user's gaze and surrounding environment, understand context, and perform tasks naturally. The retail price is set at 2.69 million won, about half the price of Apple's competing 'Vision Pro,' which is 4.99 million won.
Choi Wonjun, President of Samsung Electronics MX Division, said, "The Galaxy XR is a product that extends the infinite possibilities of mobile AI into reality," and added, "We will build a new mobile ecosystem based on Android XR."
The Android XR platform is compatible with existing Android applications. Not only basic apps such as Google Maps, Photos, and YouTube XR, but also existing smartphone apps can be implemented in the XR environment. Samir Samat, Vice President of Google Android Ecosystem, emphasized, "Android XR is a new platform for the Gemini era," adding, "It will be a turning point that changes the way we explore, connect, and create."
The Galaxy XR is an ergonomically designed, lightweight headset weighing 545 grams, offering a balanced fit and immersive field of view. It is equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 chipset, along with precision sensors, microphones, and cameras that recognize movements of the user's head, hands, and eyes in real time. For users with poor eyesight, custom prescription insert lenses (priced at 140,000 won) can be magnetically attached. After a prescription check at any Davich Optical store nationwide, users can order and receive their lenses.
With Google Maps, users can interactively explore desired locations using immersive 3D maps, while Google Photos allows them to view existing 2D images as lifelike 3D content. In 'Pass Through' mode, which displays the real-world environment, users can instantly search for objects in front of them using the 'Circle to Search' feature.
Purchasers will receive ten types of online video service (OTT) and productivity subscription benefits, including Gemini AI Pro, YouTube Premium, Google Play Pass, Coupang Play Sports Pass, and Tving Premium. The product will be released simultaneously in Korea and the United States and will be available for purchase on Samsung.com. Up to 36 months of interest-free installment plans are available, and experience zones will be operated at seven Samsung Stores nationwide.
Samsung Electronics is also expanding XR technology in the B2B (business-to-business) sector. The company signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Samsung Heavy Industries to develop a virtual shipbuilding training solution utilizing the Galaxy XR. This system will allow new engineers to undergo sufficient training, such as inspecting ship engines in a virtual environment, before being deployed to actual field operations.
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