Las Vegas, Nevada – Samsung, Google, and Qualcomm announced their partnership to develop a mixed reality headset at the Unpacked event in February 2023. However, recent reports from Upload VR and The JoonAng indicate that the XR alliance has delayed the launch of their project after hitting the reset button. The JoonAng reported that Samsung has commissioned higher resolution screens from Samsung Display to match the 4K-in-each-eye displays made by Sony for their XR headset. This has resulted in a delay of the announcement and product launch, pushing the launch to the end of 2024.

Upload VR also reported that Samsung has communicated to developers that the new headset will now launch at the end of 2024. The production target for the Samsung headset is reportedly modest, with 30,000 units expected in 2024. The cost of the Samsung headset is anticipated to be around $2,000, compared to $3,500 for the Apple Vision Pro. This information has emerged after multiple reports surfaced this summer that Samsung, Google, and Qualcomm decided to go back to the drawing board following Apple’s announcement of the Vision Pro at WWDC in June.

Samsung is designing the hardware for the joint venture XR headset, while Google is developing a mixed reality version of Android, and Qualcomm is supplying the underlying chip technology. The trio is now undergoing a reset process to improve their project, which is reminiscent of Google’s response to Apple’s iPhone announcement, leading to the evolution of Android into a more iPhone-like multitouch interface. This indicates the potential for Samsung to produce a much more compelling hardware product with their next-generation headset in mid-2024.

In conclusion, Samsung, Google, and Qualcomm have faced delays and setbacks in the development of their XR headset, leading to a delayed launch and production target of 30,000 units in 2024. Despite these challenges, the partnership aims to produce a competitive mixed reality headset as they refine their plans. These developments in the XR industry demonstrate the intense competition and high stakes involved in the race to develop cutting-edge virtual and mixed reality technology.