About a year ago, Samsung announced Android XR, an open, scalable platform for future extended reality (XR) devices. We also got news of “Project Moohan,” which would leverage Android XR while also providing a meaningful competitor to Apple’s premium Vision Pro headset, especially within the Samsung ecosystem.
Well, that day has arrived. Project Moohan, now officially going as the Galaxy XR headset, has debuted and, best of all, it’s (rather pointedly) half the price of the Vision Pro.
A Decade in the Making
Samsung isn’t exactly new to the XR space, though it has been a minute. Nearly a decade has passed since the Gear VR, which relied on smartphones to power its experience. This time around, the Galaxy XR is a full standalone headset — no phone required. It’s a partnership between Samsung, Google, and Qualcomm. The Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 chip handles the heavy lifting, while Google’s Android XR platform (built entirely for the Gemini era) runs the show. The name “Moohan,” meaning “infinity” in Korean, reflects Samsung’s ambition to create limitless immersive experiences, and after trying its hand at mobile VR years ago, the company seems ready to take XR seriously.
Gemini at the Core
Where the Galaxy XR really sets itself apart is in how deeply AI is woven into the experience. Gemini is embedded at the system level, functioning more like a companion than a tool. It can see what you see, hear what you hear, and respond conversationally. Ask Gemini to guide you through a 3D map in Google Maps, or have it pull up information about a YouTube video you’re watching. There’s even Circle to Search, which lets you draw a circle with your hand in passthrough mode to instantly search for information about anything in front of you. It’s a neat trick that blurs the line between the physical and digital worlds in a natural way.
Improved Design for Comfort
Samsung has clearly learned from the mistakes of earlier headsets. The Galaxy XR is lighter than you’d expect at around 19.22oz, with the battery pack separated from the headset itself to keep the weight off your face. The ergonomically balanced frame distributes pressure across the forehead and back of the head, minimizing facial fatigue. There’s also a detachable light shield that you can remove for comfort or attach it for deeper immersion.
The Rest of the Specs
The dual 4K micro-OLED displays deliver 27 million pixels with a 109-degree horizontal field of view and up to a 90Hz refresh rate. That’s plenty of visual real estate to get lost in, whether you’re watching sports or editing video in 3D with Adobe’s Project Pulsar. The headset tracks your head, hands, and eyes with precision, thanks to a suite of sensors: two high-resolution passthrough cameras, six world-facing tracking cameras, four eye-tracking cameras, and more. There’s even iris recognition for biometric authentication.
Battery life clocks in at up to 2 hours for general use or 2.5 hours for video playback, and the headset can be used while charging. Likewise, there’s also 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, plus Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity.
More Than Entertainment
While Samsung is leaning into entertainment — sports fans can watch multiple games at once, and gamers can chat with Gemini for real-time coaching — the Galaxy XR is also being positioned for enterprise use. Samsung Heavy Industries is already using it for virtual shipbuilding training, and the company is partnering with Qualcomm to bring business solutions to Android XR. There’s a broader vision here, one that extends beyond gaming and movies into productivity and professional training.
And speaking of vision, Samsung isn’t stopping with headsets. AI glasses are already in development, with partnerships lined up with Warby Parker and Gentle Monster.
Spec Sheet
Model: Samsung Galaxy XR
Operating System: Android XR
Display: 3,552 x 3,840 resolution, 27 million pixels, Micro-OLED
Refresh Rate: Up to 90Hz
Field of View: 109° horizontal, 100° vertical
Processor: Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 Platform
Memory: 16GB RAM
Storage: 256GB
Camera: 6.5MP (3D photo and video capture)
Audio: Two-way speakers (woofer + tweeter), Dolby Atmos
Battery Life: Up to 2 hours (general use), 2.5 hours (video playback)
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4
Special Features: Iris recognition, hand/eye tracking, Circle to Search, auto-spatialize 2D content into 3D
Pricing & Availability
The Samsung Galaxy XR is available now for $1,800. A separate Galaxy XR Controller retails for $250. Early adopters who purchase in 2025 will also receive “The Explorer Pack,” which includes a year of Google AI Pro, YouTube Premium, NBA League Pass, and more. You can order directly from Samsung’s online store.
Recap
Samsung Galaxy XR Headset
Samsung’s Galaxy XR headset — formerly known as Project Moohan — is finally here, and at $1,800, it’s half the price of Apple’s Vision Pro while packing serious specs and deep Gemini AI integration. It’s Samsung’s first real standalone XR play in nearly a decade, built on Android XR with Google and Qualcomm.
