Samsung XR Headset Delayed: Is This the Last Hurrah for Never-Ending Virtual Reality?

The Samsung XR Headset: Still a Thing?

Will we ever see the Samsung XR headset? That’s the question I’m left asking myself after yet another report claiming the rumored XR hardware collaboration between Samsung and Google has been delayed – this time until 2025 or possibly even 2026.

At first, delay rumors aren’t too concerning, especially for unannounced tech. However, Samsung’s repeated delays have me wondering if their headset might never see the light of day.

The Apple Vision Pro Conundrum

A significant part of the Vision Pro’s limited success, I suspect, lies in the fact that it’s an Apple product. Apple has a devoted fan base that many mainstream tech brands – including Samsung and Google – can only dream of replicating. I believe a $2,499, $2,499, or $4,499 Samsung headset – even one that’s a bit cheaper – would struggle to sell as well as the Vision Pro, unless it boasts massive performance and utility upgrades.

Could Glasses Be the Way to Go?

Enter the new kid on the block: Meta’s Orion AR glasses. Even in this prototype stage, Meta has wowed tech journalists and industry experts alike – our own Lance Ulanoff has described the experience as "everything Apple Vision Pro should be today."

Full immersion or mixed reality via a bulky face wearable isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. Thinner, lighter, and more comfortable glasses are much more approachable.

Can Samsung Compete with Meta Orion?

If Meta’s Orion had launched this year, I suspect Samsung’s hardware could have made a name for itself, but if it’s delayed until 2026, it only gives Samsung about a year, or maybe a year-and-a-half, before the consumer version of Orion is expected to debut (late 2027, per leaks).

Could the Samsung XR Headset Be a Distant Memory?

If Meta brings Orion to market sooner or teases the consumer version a year in advance – as it did with the Meta Quest Pro – that could provide an even swifter end to the Samsung XR headset hype. Next to fully-fledged AR glasses, I imagine the headset will feel almost ancient.

Staying Hopeful

Samsung and Google promised we’d hear more about their XR collab before the end of 2024, and until the official word changes, I’m hopeful we’ll see something in a few months.

The Verdict

I’m not holding my breath. The winds of change are blowing strong in the XR space, and Samsung’s high-end headset feels progressively dated as the days pass. Maybe it’s time to pull the plug and focus on the rumored Samsung smart glasses instead.

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