A trade show visitor tries on smart glasses. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Nov. 19 (Korea Bizwire) – As Apple introduces its mixed-reality headset Vision Pro to the South Korean market, attention is turning to Samsung Electronics’ anticipated extended reality (XR) platform, highlighting the intensifying competition in the next frontier of personal computing.
According to industry sources, Samsung plans to unveil its XR platform by year’s end, with details expected to be revealed no later than early next year during the Galaxy S25 Unpacked event.
The announcement follows a July commitment from Roh Tae-moon, president of Samsung’s Mobile Experience division, who emphasized during the Galaxy Z Fold6 and Flip6 Unpacked event in Paris that the company would prioritize building an ecosystem before launching hardware devices.
The platform, primarily understood to be the software framework for XR devices, represents Samsung’s collaborative effort with tech giants Google and Qualcomm. The partnership, formed in February last year, gained momentum when Qualcomm unveiled its Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 Platform earlier this year, capable of delivering both mixed and virtual reality experiences.
Industry analysts suggest that following the platform’s release, Samsung’s XR device could debut in the latter half of next year, with some international media specifically pointing to the third quarter. The success of the device is expected to hinge on three critical factors: wearability, utility, and price point.
Reports indicate Samsung’s device will take the form of smart glasses, weighing approximately 50 grams – roughly one-tenth the weight of Apple’s Vision Pro, which exceeds 600 grams. The device is anticipated to feature AI-powered capabilities including payment processing, gesture recognition, and facial recognition technology.
“While the device itself is important, securing an ecosystem where consumers can enjoy various services and content is equally crucial,” Roh stated during the July Unpacked event, highlighting Samsung’s ecosystem-first approach.
Pricing strategy will be particularly scrutinized, as Apple’s Vision Pro has faced criticism for its 4.99 million won price tag in the South Korean market. Samsung’s positioning on this front could prove crucial for market adoption.
The broader XR landscape continues to evolve rapidly, with major tech players viewing XR devices as potential successors to smartphones. Meta recently unveiled a prototype of its AR smart glasses called Orion at its Connect 2024 conference in September, while Snapchat introduced its fifth-generation smart glasses, Spectacles.
“The XR market is reaching a critical juncture,” said an industry analyst speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of unreleased products. “With Apple’s Vision Pro setting a high-end benchmark, Samsung’s approach to balancing functionality with accessibility could reshape the industry’s trajectory.”
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
