Samsung's Galaxy XR is a promising step towards the future of wearables, but it's not a VR headset. It's a glimpse into the potential of 'facial computing', a concept that could revolutionize how we interact with technology. The Galaxy XR is a tech demo, a playground for nascent technologies, and it's clear that Samsung sees it as a stepping stone to something more compact and seamless.
The headset is relatively lightweight and comfortable, but it's still bulky compared to the competition. Samsung aims to make future versions as small as glasses and as seamless as a phone. This is a bold vision, and it's one that could change the way we think about wearables.
The Galaxy XR's design is a response to Apple's Vision Pro, a $3,500 spatial computer. Despite its high price, the Vision Pro has many of the same eye and gesture tracking capabilities as the Galaxy XR. However, the Galaxy XR's open design and lack of shield to block out ambient light impact its clarity and immersion.
The Galaxy XR supports two modes of control: hand gestures and eye tracking. While it works well, there are still issues with selecting the settings menu and pinching to drag windows around in AR space. Samsung and Google are fine-tuning the user experience, but it's clear that full individual finger tracking isn't quite there yet.
The Galaxy XR is a gaming device, but it's not a gaming-focused device. It's a tool for streaming passive content, and it's limited to Samsung's Galaxy Book laptops and PC mirroring. The Meta Quest 3S and Valve's Steam Frame are better options for unique play experiences.
The computing dilemma is a key issue. The Galaxy XR runs on a powerful chip, but it needs a large external battery pack. The future of wearables may involve a 'compute puck' or streaming from a dedicated phone, but it's unclear if users will truly want to carry around two devices for one experience.
Qualcomm is developing new chipsets for AR devices, and the end goal is a disaggregated mixed reality device. The challenge is shrinking everything for smaller form factors, and it's a complex problem that requires a lot of innovation.
