During last month’s Unpacked event, Samsung offered another look at its XR headset. The device, developed in collaboration with Google, has been leaking for a long time. It will be the first product to run Android XR, the version of Android designed specifically for these types of experiences. Now, popular tech YouTuber Marques Brownlee has shared a hands-on video after spending some time with the Samsung XR headset.
Marques Brownlee’s hands-on video offers first impressions of the Samsung XR headset
Brownlee says that the product was an unfinished prototype, so the final product may be slightly different. The headset is aesthetically similar to the Apple Vision Pro if you view them from the front. However, the back support with an adjustment dial seems inspired by the Meta Quest Pro. The YouTuber says that, unlike Apple’s headset, which puts most of the weight on the eye area, Samsung’s puts it on the forehead.
The headset has physical buttons and a touchpad on the right side strap to control actions and other settings (like volume). One of the buttons automatically aligns the lenses to match the distance between the user’s eyes. Samsung will facilitate the use of external power banks thanks to a USB-C cable. It looks like the headset will include an external battery in the box. Another interesting thing is that you can remove the light shield from the lens to get more peripheral vision if you prefer.
Brownlee also offered his impressions of Android XR’s UI and features. There’s a start menu that you can navigate with your hands using swipe and pinch gestures. These same gestures can be used for apps, though it’s unknown if Samsung will include a dedicated controller in the box.
Android XR is designed with multitasking in mind, so it supports multiple windows. You can freely move and resize the app windows to the aspect ratio you like best. The Samsung XR headset is compatible with all Play Store apps, including non-VR-adapted ones. Even tablet apps will be available to download and use. The Play Store will have a section dedicated to Android XR-friendly apps. YouTube already has a “spatial” app.
The product supports peripherals like a keyboard and mouse, and they are pretty easy to use, Brownlee notes. However, the aspect the YouTuber liked most was the deep integration of Gemini. XR headsets may be among the best ways to take advantage of Gemini Live’s multimodal capabilities. The assistant will be able to answer questions about anything you’re currently viewing. There’s also support for Circle to Search, which works by circling anything visible in the viewfinder.
Deep integration with Gemini
Another pretty cool feature is that Gemini can save you a lot of hand gestures. There are a lot of things you can do just by asking the assistant with your voice. Want to open an app? Gemini will do it for you. Are you on Google Maps and want to go somewhere specific? Gemini can do that too.
There are no details yet on the price of the Samsung XR headset. However, it is expected to hit the market sometime in H2 2025. You can watch the full hands-on video below.
