Samsung is finalizing its XR solutions plans and collaborating with Google and Qualcomm on upcoming mixed reality gadgets.
Aside from smartphones and laptops, Samsung Unpacked 2018 included a wide range of other innovations from the tech giant. Samsung’s comeback to mixed reality will be made possible by Samsung XR solutions developed with Qualcomm and Google, and further information on these technologies and collaborations has been released.
Although Samsung didn’t provide any product information or a release date, this supports predictions that the company would introduce an XR gadget to take on its long-standing competitor Apple. Despite the fact that Apple hasn’t commented on the rumoured XR headset, an announcement is anticipated in 2023, and Samsung could feel under pressure to meet that challenge.
Prior rumours suggested that Samsung and Microsoft may work together on an XR headset, but such plans are unlikely to proceed in light of recent budget cuts to the HoloLens and Windows Mixed Reality teams. In order to develop its next goods, Samsung didn’t have to seek very far for a new solution and is working with a few close partners.
Qualcomm’s CPUs are used in most standalone VR headsets and smart eyewear, making the company’s involvement a significant decision. The Snapdragon XR marked the introduction of Meta’s Quest, while the XR2 Gen 1 provided a significant improvement to the performance of Meta’s Quest 2.
According to reports, Qualcomm will deliver the Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 CPU in 2023, something that is going to have a significant edge over the earlier edition XR2 Gen 1 by three years. It will be fascinating to see what Samsung can do with its XR devices now that more performance is available.
With its AR2 Gen 1 chipset, Qualcomm recently stated that it is also extending into specialized processors for augmented reality. The next generation of augmented reality glasses will be substantially thinner and more energy-efficient thanks to the dispersed chip architecture.
Google has a long history of developing augmented reality (AR) software and has integrated AR Core into Android to allow mixed reality on your smartphone. With its Google Cardboard product, Google played a significant role in fostering public interest in VR.
The Android developer revealed a preview of future AR glasses with built-in translation and transcription at the Google IO event in 2022, making it possible to speak in any language without looking at your smartphone. This fresh Google innovation, known as Project Iris, offers a strong justification for owning AR glasses.
With its 2015 Samsung Gear VR gadget, which utilized a Galaxy S or Note phone as the display, Samsung was a pioneer in virtual reality. The collaboration between Gear VR and Oculus VR games expedited the development of consumer VR. Additionally, the Samsung Gear VR came with a 3DoF controller, which gave gamers more choices than those with less engaging VR systems.
Samsung withdrew from the VR market in 2020 after abandoning Gear VR, leaving Meta and HTC to continue the goal of a standalone VR headset. It’s great to see that Samsung continues to be interested in augmented and virtual reality.
