Samsung Galaxy XR: The Vision Pro we’ve been waiting for… or close enough? 🥽

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Samsung just unveiled its Galaxy XR headset, and let’s get one thing straight: this is exactly what you’d expect. A mixed reality headset that clearly takes cues from Apple’s Vision Pro, but with Samsung and Google’s DNA baked in. So the question isn’t whether Samsung borrowed from Cupertino (spoiler: they absolutely did), but whether they managed to do it better. And that’s where things get interesting.

Vision Pro, revised and improved 🥽

Let’s state the obvious: the Galaxy XR looks like the Vision Pro. Same approach, same general form factor, same ambitions. But Samsung listened to the criticisms and made strategic decisions to address Apple’s biggest pain points.

© Samsung

The headset is significantly lighter at 545 grams (battery excluded), compared to 750-800 grams for the Vision Pro M5. We’re talking about a real difference you’ll feel after 30 minutes of use. Weight distribution has been carefully thought out, with an integrated plastic strap, padded rear piece, and a dial to adjust tightness.

© Samsung

And most importantly, it’s way cheaper. Where Apple asks for $3,499 (€3,699 in France for the Vision Pro M5), Samsung offers an entry point at $1,799—nearly half the price. The design remains premium, with polished finishes that remind you this is Samsung, not some third-tier manufacturer. On paper at least, Samsung did its homework on the hardware front.

Trade-offs to cut the price ⚖️

But how did Samsung manage to slash the price in half? By making smart choices—and yes, some sacrifices.

First major sacrifice: no external display showing the user’s eyes. This Vision Pro feature, as technologically impressive as it was, proved largely useless in practice. Samsung wisely saved money by skipping this expensive gimmick.

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Second trade-off: using reinforced plastic rather than ultra-premium materials. Reviewers note that the materials aren’t as high-end as the Vision Pro’s, but the plastic is easier to clean and directly contributes to the lighter weight.

Third adjustment: refresh rate capped at 90Hz (72Hz by default) versus up to 120Hz for the Vision Pro. It’s a technical compromise visible on paper, but more than adequate for most use cases.

Finally, dedicated controllers aren’t included—they’re sold separately for $249, as is the travel case at the same price. If you want the full experience, expect to pay around $2,300 total.

Where Samsung didn’t compromise, however, is on the display. The Galaxy XR packs dual 4K micro-OLED screens (3,552 x 3,840 pixels per eye), delivering a total resolution that actually surpasses the Vision Pro. Early testers are calling it the best resolution ever seen in a VR headset.

Android XR and Gemini: the real stars of the show 🌟

But the real battle isn’t fought on design or weight. It’s fought in software. And that’s where things get genuinely interesting, because Android XR is coming in hot.

Unlike visionOS, which remains a closed and still-limited ecosystem, Android XR opens the door to the entire Android universe. All apps built on the Android platform work out of the box on Galaxy XR. That’s a massive advantage in terms of day-one content catalog.

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But the real game changer is Gemini. The integration is deep, native, and baked in from the ground up. We’re not talking about a basic voice assistant you occasionally invoke. Gemini is everywhere: it understands what you’re seeing and doing, enabling natural interactions through voice, gestures, and gaze.

You can use Circle to Search on real and virtual objects, ask Gemini « What’s the story behind this building? » while looking at a landmark in Google Maps’ immersive view, or get real-time stats during a game.

Imagine a meeting where Gemini takes notes, summarizes key points, and suggests follow-ups. That’s the level of integration Samsung is promising, and if it works as advertised, it’s potentially a step beyond what Vision Pro offers with Siri.

Pricing, accessories, and availability: Samsung plays the accessibility card 💰

The Galaxy XR is available starting today in the United States and South Korea for $1,799.99. It’s an aggressive positioning clearly aimed at democratizing mixed reality.

Accessory-wise, Samsung offers a dedicated controller for $249.99 and a travel case at the same price. Prescription lenses will also be available separately via EyeBuyDirect.com.

© Samsung

© Samsung

But here’s the catch: for now, Samsung hasn’t revealed any details about launches in other markets. Unlike the Vision Pro, which launched in a dozen countries, the Galaxy XR starts with very limited availability. No announcement for Europe, let alone France.

However, those who purchase the Galaxy XR before the end of 2025 will receive « The Explorer Pack » worth over $1,000: 12 months of Google AI Pro, YouTube Premium, Google Play Pass, 3 months of YouTube TV (in the US), and access to NBA League Pass. A generous bundle that sweetens the entry price.

Spec-wise, the Galaxy XR packs Qualcomm’s Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage. Battery life is rated at approximately 2.5 hours of video playback with the 300-gram external battery.

The « why though? » problem 🤔

Now let’s ask the real question: why would you buy this headset ? Because here’s the issue: despite all these innovations, despite Android XR, despite Gemini, there’s still no killer feature. That one unique functionality that makes you say « OK, I absolutely need this in my life. » The Vision Pro has the same problem. So does the Quest 3. And the Galaxy XR is no exception.

You can watch movies on a giant virtual screen—nice, but your TV already does that just fine. You can work with multiple virtual displays—interesting, but your two physical monitors get the job done. You can play mixed reality games—cool, but is it really worth the $1,800 investment (plus $250 for controllers)?

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Mixed reality remains a solution in search of a problem. It’s technologically impressive, it’s fun to use, but it’s hard to justify the daily purchase. Samsung knows this, by the way.

A stepping stone to real AR glasses 👓

And that’s where the story gets truly fascinating. Samsung clearly stated that the Galaxy XR is just the first step in a long-term XR journey, with innovations coming across the full spectrum of XR form factors, including AI glasses.

© Samsung

The Galaxy XR is starting to look like what it really is: a first step. A necessary stage to develop the technology, test the market, refine Android XR and Gemini, before miniaturizing all of this into wearable all-day glasses.

It’s the same strategy as Apple, which clearly sees the Vision Pro as a transitional product toward something bigger (and smaller). Samsung is following suit, but with potentially more agility thanks to Android’s openness and Gemini’s power.

The (provisional) verdict ⚖️

The Galaxy XR is a solid but not revolutionary product. It fixes the Vision Pro’s major flaws—weight (545g vs. 750-800g) and price ($1,799 vs. $3,499)—goes further in some aspects (Android XR, Gemini, screen resolution), but doesn’t solve the fundamental problem of daily utility.

The trade-offs to reach this price point are real but smart: no useless external display, plastic rather than ultra-premium materials, 90Hz instead of 120Hz, controllers sold separately. None of these sacrifices are deal-breakers, especially considering the 50% price reduction.

It’s an excellent product for early adopters, developers, and those wanting to explore the future of spatial computing. It’s also a statement of intent from Samsung: we’re in the race, and we have serious assets.

But for the general public? Wait a bit longer. Wait for the glasses. Wait for the technology to miniaturize, for use cases to clarify. And above all, wait for it to launch outside the US and Korea—because right now, if you’re in France, you can’t buy it anyway.

The Galaxy XR isn’t the product that will change your life tomorrow. It’s the one that will allow Samsung to create that product in a few years. And honestly? That might be enough for now.

So, convinced by this Galaxy XR? At $1,799 (plus accessories), does the price seem justified, or will you wisely wait for a price drop (or those AR glasses)? And most importantly: do you think Gemini can really make the difference against Apple’s closed ecosystem? The floor is yours—drop your thoughts in the comments! 👇