Samsung Electronics has announced a temporary postponement of its augmented reality (XR) headset development project, signaling a comprehensive reevaluation of its plans. The company recently informed its panel suppliers about the delay, with the original timeline pushed back by approximately 3 to 6 months.

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The Implications of Apple’s Vision Pro on Samsung’s XR Project

The decision to reevaluate the XR project was prompted by the unveiling of Apple’s mixed reality (MR) headset, known as ‘Vision Pro.’ Samsung took into account the specifications and features of Apple’s competitor product, leading to a reconsideration of the design, internal specifications, and overall performance of Samsung’s XR offering.

Previously, Samsung collaborated with Oculus in 2014 to release the ‘Gear VR’ headset, followed by the launch of Odyssey Plus in 2018. However, these products failed to gain significant traction due to performance limitations and the lack of a well-established XR market. User feedback also highlighted inconveniences associated with docking the devices with smartphones.

To enhance its XR capabilities, Samsung Electronics established the Immersive Display Lab within its Mobile Experience (MX) Business Unit, dedicated to XR research and development. While specific details about Samsung’s XR devices remain undisclosed, industry experts anticipate the integration of Qualcomm chipsets and Google operating systems (OS) to deliver innovative features. The upcoming products are expected to take the form of goggles, glasses, or headsets and are likely to be compatible with Galaxy smartphones and watches.

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