Android XR: First VR headset on Google's new platform comes from Samsung
Samsung is launching a new VR headset on the market in 2025 that is very reminiscent of Apple's Vision Pro. It is based on Google's Android XR operating system.
Samsung is not yet revealing much about the "Project Moohan" VR headset, but already has a picture.
With Android XR, Google is launching a new operating system for augmented reality (AR), mixed reality (MR) and virtual reality (VR). The system was developed together with Samsung and Qualcomm for XR hardware, Google announced on Thursday. At the same time, Samsung announced the first VR glasses based on the new system, which are being developed under the code name "Project Moohan".
The new Google platform is now available as a preview for developers. It supports ARCore, Android Studio, Jetpack Compose, Unity and OpenXR. Manufacturers such as Lynx, Sony and Xreal, which rely on Qualcomm's hardware platform, can also develop systems and applications with Android XR. At the same time, Google intends to continue its partnership with Magic Leap announced in May, according to a blog post.
Samsung's "Project Moohan"
The first product based on Android XR will be VR glasses from Samsung. The project has been the subject of speculation for some time. However, Samsung has yet to reveal more than the name "Project Moohan" – which is Korean for "infinity". The hardware platform will probably be Qualcomm's Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2. Samsung's VR glasses are expected for 2025. A possible date would be the traditional "Galaxy Unpacked" event in spring.
"XR has quickly turned from a distant promise into a tangible reality," said Won-Joon Choi, Samsung's head of development for mobile devices. The technology has the potential for new ways of interacting with the world. "We look forward to working with Google to reshape the future of XR and take the first step in this direction with Project Moohan."
The image of the VR headset distributed by Samsung with the announcement is very reminiscent of Apple's Vision Pro. It has been rumored for months that Google is working with Samsung on a competing product. Google itself has already seen various XR projects come and go. And with the Horizon OS from Meta, the Android XR software platform also has a powerful competitor.
(Image: Screenshot/Google)
Mixed reality glasses
With Android XR on VR headsets, Google now promises immersive experiences with the various Google products and Android apps that are to be optimized for XR. For mixed reality headsets, Android XR can project useful information from the Google universe into the field of vision –, such as subtitles translated in real time during a lecture or navigation aids when traveling in a foreign city.
On Wednesday, Google had already announced that it would be testing the AI assistant "Project Astra" with a small group of users on prototypes of mixed reality glasses. It remains to be seen whether and when Google itself intends to launch such mixed reality glasses on the market.
Interaction with the hardware is also intended to facilitate AI. With the multimodal Gemini 2.0, the AI understands various inputs: Text, image and audio. "With Android XR, we are at a turning point where advanced multimodal AI enables the natural and intuitive use of technology in everyday life," said Google's Android boss Sameer Samat.
(vbr)
