Last updated: February 02, 2023, 4:59 PM IST
Samsung, Qualcomm and Google are working on some big ones
The company is building its own XR headset that will likely use Android as software and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon chip to power the device.
Samsung is a giant in the smartphone arena and has recently tried to change its fortunes with laptops. Now the South Korean brand has confirmed its plans to have a mixed Reality (XR) headset in the near future, for which it is seeking expertise from Qualcomm and Android.
Samsung launched the new Galaxy S23 phones and Galaxy Book3 Pro laptops, but on the sidelines of the event, the company had top executives from Qualcomm and Android sharing the update from this product development. We still don’t know the name of the product, but we can speculate that Samsung will power this headset on Android and use Qualcomm’s XR hardware to power the device.
Google has been working on a new version of Android compatible with devices like this, and we think Samsung could be one of the partners using this platform for its upcoming product. Mixed Reality has been touted as the next big focus for the tech industry, and Apple is rumored to be working in this space, with a product expected later this year according to reports.
Mixed reality is a mix of virtual and augmented reality, but you still need a headset to get the best results. That said, making them AR-ready means you can run them through the smartphones as well.
Samsung hopes that partnering with companies like Qualcomm and Android will create a successful model that will help them build a product that not only finds its way to market, but also becomes a viable option for buyers.
Many brands have tried to speed up their product development and failed to make an impact. Samsung will want to avoid that prospect and come out with a product only when it’s ready – both on the hardware and software side. Either way, we’re curious to see what comes out of this partnership and whether the new Android version is a better thing than on tablets and wearables over the years.
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