Exploring Samsung’s Innovative Android XR Headset: A Unique Blend of Features

Samsung is making waves in the tech world with its groundbreaking Android XR Headset, a product that stands out due to its integration of mixed reality (MR) features. Codenamed “Project Moohan,” this impressive headset is set to hit the market in 2025. We had the opportunity to get an early look at this innovative device during a recent hands-on demo.

Note: At this point, Samsung and Google have not disclosed many significant details regarding the headset’s specifications, including resolution, weight, field-of-view, or pricing. Consequently, we were only able to capture an official image during the demo.

From our first experience with Project Moohan, it was clear that this Android XR Headset blends elements from well-known devices like the Quest series and Vision Pro. The design choices illustrate how Samsung has taken cues from leading products. Adapting features to create an exciting new user experience. The headset’s design closely resembles Vision Pro, with thoughtful decisions about color schemes and button placements. showcasing Samsung’s awareness of industry competition.

On the software front, the Android XR Headset draws inspiration from Horizon OS and VisionOS. It’s as if a collaborative effort combined the strengths of both systems, leading to the creation of Android XR, which emphasizes the thoughtful curation of existing technologies.

This goes beyond simple imitation. Tech companies often borrow innovative ideas while improving them. If Project Moohan and Android XR manage to enhance the best features while avoiding common pitfalls, it could mark a major victory for developers and users alike.

Hands-on Experience with Samsung’s Project

Starting with the hardware, Project Moohan impresses visually. It embodies the ‘goggles’ design reminiscent of the Vision Pro. However, unlike the soft strap of the Vision Pro—which some users find uncomfortable—the Samsung headset incorporates a rigid strap with a tightening dial for improved ergonomics, similar to the Quest Pro. This design layout allows for a more open-periphery experience, making it ideal for augmented reality applications. Like the Quest Pro, the headset includes magnetic snap-on blinders, creating a more immersive environment by blocking distractions.

Interestingly, while Project Moohan borrows many visual elements from Vision Pro, such as the configuration and style of buttons, it lacks an external display to show the wearer’s eyes. Vision Pro’s ‘EyeSight’ feature, though criticized by some, is still viewed favorably by many. Experiencing the headset without this feature felt a bit odd, as it limits the visibility of the wearer to others around them.

Project Moohan

Details regarding the technical specifications of Project Moohan remain under wraps, as it is still in the prototype phase. However, we learned that the headset operates on a powerful Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 processor, a notable upgrade from the chips in Quest 3 and Quest 3S devices.

During my hands-on session, I noted a few significant aspects about the headset. Particularly, it features pancake lenses with automatic Inter-Pupillary Distance (IPD) adjustments, facilitated by integrated eye-tracking technology. While the initial assessment indicated a narrower field-of-view compared to the Quest 3 and Vision Pro. Experimenting with various forehead pad options—which are confirmed to be included—might help enhance this aspect.

• The field-of-view feels immersive but might be smaller than competitors.
• Brightness decreases toward the display’s edges.
• Final experiences with the field-of-view will depend on lens positioning and forehead pad adjustments.

Throughout the demo experience, I relied solely on hand-tracking and eye-tracking inputs. This combination provided a seamless integration of features reminiscent of both Horizon OS and VisionOS. Users can interact via raycast cursors—similar to those found in Horizon OS—or utilize eye-tracking with pinch gestures typical of VisionOS. Additionally, the headset incorporates downward-facing cameras for pinch detection, even when hands are resting in the user’s lap.

The passthrough cameras showed more sharpness compared to those on the Quest 3, with reduced motion blur compared to Vision Pro. However, this observation occurred in an optimal lighting scenario. Although my hands looked crisp, distant objects lost some clarity, suggesting that the passthrough cameras prioritize items at arm’s length.

Diving into Android XR

Shifting focus to the software, Android XR shows clear influences from Horizon OS and VisionOS. Users encounter a home screen layout akin to Vision Pro, with app icons displayed in front of a transparent backdrop. By looking at an app icon and performing a pinch gesture, users can access floating panels with various applications. Accessing the home screen mimics previous experiences, where users glance at their palm and follow with a pinch action.

Moreover, Android XR not only supports flat app functionalities, but it also encompasses immersive experiences. During my testing, I experienced a VR version of Google Maps, which intriguingly resembled Google Earth VR, allowing me to explore different locations globally. It granted access to major cities in 3D, Street View panoramic imagery, and interactions with volumetric representations of interior spaces.

• Street View imagery remains as monoscopic 360 content.
• Volumetric captures are rendered in real-time, which enhances user interactivity.
• We can anticipate improved sharpness from future technology advancements.

Furthermore, Google Photos has been updated optimally for Android XR. Showcasing a delightful ability to automatically transform any 2D photo or video into a 3D representation. My brief encounter yielded impressive results, on par with features observed on Vision Pro.

YouTube, another application improved upon, allows users to enjoy regular content on a large curved display while also providing a vast library of 180, 360, and 3D videos. Though not all content reaches the highest quality, it’s promising to see support for diverse media types. Indicating future advancements as more headsets adopt this technology.

The Noteworthy Edge: Conversational AI

Both Android XR and Project Moohan showcase a Google-influenced iteration of existing technology, excelling especially in conversational AI functionalities. Google’s AI agent, Gemini, specifically the Project Astra version, can be directly activated from the home screen. More notably, Gemini can observe both real-world and virtual environments seamlessly, integrating experiences more holistically than current AI agents found on rival headsets.

While Vision Pro utilizes Siri, its capabilities lack depth beyond performing isolated tasks. Conversely, Meta’s AI on the Quest can perceive and interact with the physical world but struggles with virtual content awareness, leading to disconnects in user interactions.

In contrast, Gemini offers a more integrated experience. It continuously streams observations made by users in both realms, minimizing the lag commonly present when asking questions or interacting with your surroundings.

Notably, Gemini possesses a memory function, allowing it to remember essential details from prior conversations. Google mentions a rolling memory of ten minutes, enabling users to seamlessly refer back to previous discussions and context.

I had the chance to test Gemini by requesting translations for various signs within a room. I was impressed by its contextual grasp. For example, upon asking for the translation of a Spanish sign followed by a nearby French one, Gemini accurately recognized that the second was already in French and responded appropriately.

This AI could also actively control the headset. A simple command like “take me to the Eiffel Tower” launched a 3D Google Maps view, facilitating exploration while engaging in verbal interaction.

By integrating conversational capabilities, Gemini can fetch relevant YouTube videos based on inquiries about virtual content. Thus, asking “show a video of the view from the ground” resulted in a curated video displayed within the immersive environment.

While additional capabilities of Gemini will reveal themselves at the official launch of the headset, this AI integration signifies a substantial leap in enhancing user experience through spatial productivity.