Samsung Electronics unveiled its next-generation Galaxy S23 series of phones at the Unpacked 2023 event today, where the company also said it will work with Google and Qualcomm on an upcoming mixed reality (XR) platform.
Samsung didn’t mention if it had any specific products in development, nor did it provide a timeline for any upcoming mixed reality products or services. “It’s more of a declarative announcement of how we’re going to try to build the XR ecosystem properly,” said TM Roh, president of Samsung’s mobile division.
Mixed reality is an umbrella term used to describe technologies that combine features of augmented reality and virtual reality. Augmented reality blends the virtual world with the real world by overlaying graphics on the user’s surroundings, similar to Google Glass. In contrast, virtual reality technology, like Meta Quest 2, contains the wearer within a 360-degree virtual world.
Apple is expected to release a mixed reality headset in 2023 that could cost as much as $3,000, according to Bloomberg. Sony’s PlayStation VR 2 and HTC’s Vive XR Elite are both launching this month, while Google teased a new pair of AR glasses at last year’s Google I/O conference aimed at translation, as will Meta’s Quest 3. Come before the end of this year.
Samsung has been relatively quiet on the virtual reality front, aside from its Gear VR headset, which it launched between 2015 and 2017. Consumers are demanding more augmented and virtual reality, Roh said, which is why the company chose to start the new initiative at this time. The company has been working on the category for some time, he said.
Regarding this partnership, Qualcomm said: “Based on our existing cooperation with Samsung and Google, we have meaningful plans to jointly promote the development of the XR experience. With our Snapdragon XR innovation technology-with Samsung’s With great products and Google’s technology – we have the foundation to turn these opportunities into reality and drive the future of the Internet of Space.”
Samsung also confirmed that it is working with Microsoft and Facebook parent company Meta to develop software for the new headset.
