Samsung confirms its Apple Vision Pro and Meta Quest 3 rival is coming in 2025 — what we know

woman using apple vision pro on a plane
(Image credit: Apple)

Samsung has recommitted to launching its Apple Vision Pro rival at some point next year. During a recent earnings call, the South Korean tech giant said its plan for 2025 is to "improve connectivity among products, including upcoming XR devices.”

The company's plans for an XR headset aren't exactly a secret. We reported on it throughout 2023 and the rumors have kept trickling through over the last twelve months. The only question left is: what's taking so long?

The South Korean tech giant partners with Qualcomm on the best Samsung phones, so it's reasonable to assume the chipmaker will provide the power for the headset. Meanwhile, the platform it runs on will likely be provided by Google. Back in July, at the end of Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked Summer 2024, Google's Rick Osterloh reaffirmed the two companies' partnership when he announced "a new XR platform is coming later this year."

Earlier this week a report emerged on Android Authority that Google's Play Store will start hosting apps designed for extended reality (XR) headsets. Since there aren't any other big Android-based hardware makers building headsets right now, this feels like a clue. Industry sources have speculated an "Android XR" platform will be Google's answer to visionOS.

What is XR?

Extended reality (XR) is the umbrella term for Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Mixed Reality (MR) generated through a headset like the Apple Vision Pro or Meta Quest.

Unfortunately, we're still no clearer on what Samsung's device could actually look like or how it'll compete with the likes of Apple Vision Pro or the Meta Quest 3. A report in June 2023 suggested the company wants to produce a headset that'll cost between $1,000 and $1,500 while still outperforming Apple's device. That's no small task.

An early report suggested an image sensor Samsung unveiled in December 2023 called the ISOCELL Version 931 would be the basis for the headset. The sensor works like the human eye — using a rolling shutter to exposes all pixels to light at the same time.

When it does arrive, there will be a lot of expectation riding on what Samsung can produce. Both Meta and Apple have a head start on hardware with rapidly-maturing software platforms to support them. But there's three ways Samsung's mixed reality headset could beat Apple Vision Pro.

More from Tom's Guide

Jeff Parsons
UK Editor In Chief

Jeff is UK Editor-in-Chief for Tom’s Guide looking after the day-to-day output of the site’s British contingent. Rising early and heading straight for the coffee machine, Jeff loves nothing more than dialling into the zeitgeist of the day’s tech news.

A tech journalist for over a decade, he’s travelled the world testing any gadget he can get his hands on. Jeff has a keen interest in fitness and wearables as well as the latest tablets and laptops. A lapsed gamer, he fondly remembers the days when problems were solved by taking out the cartridge and blowing away the dust.

Read more
Samsung's Project Moohan with Android XR at Galaxy Unpacked 2025
New Samsung XR headset report tips mass production for April — but I'm worried about the price
Samsung's Project Moohan with Android XR at Galaxy Unpacked 2025
Samsung’s new XR headset just tipped for a big advantage over the Apple Vision Pro
Project Moohan
Samsung's XR headset is cool and all, but I'm way more excited about the AR glasses — here's why
Project Moohan
Project Moohan hands-on might have revealed the Samsung headset’s secret weapon
Apple Vision Pro
Apple reportedly working on two different Vision Pro headsets — Vision Pro 2 and a cheaper model
android xr example footage
Samsung XR headset —Google just gave us our first look at what the apps will look like
Latest in VR & AR
Samsung's Project Moohan with Android XR at Galaxy Unpacked 2025
New Samsung XR headset report tips mass production for April — but I'm worried about the price
Samsung's Project Moohan with Android XR at Galaxy Unpacked 2025
Samsung’s new XR headset just tipped for a big advantage over the Apple Vision Pro
Samsung's Project Moohan with Android XR at Galaxy Unpacked 2025
Samsung’s bringing its Project Moohan headset to MWC 2025 — what we know
Project Cambria VR headset teaser
Valve VR headset just tipped to launch by end of this year — and this could be the price
Apple Vision Pro on table
Apple Vision Pro is getting a big Apple Intelligence upgrade with visionOS 2.4 — here's all the new features
Apple Vision Pro
Apple Vision Pro major upgrade tipped with visionOS 2.4 — here's all the new features
Latest in News
Google Assistant logo on a smartphone screen
Google Assistant is losing features to make way for Gemini — here's what's just been axed
3D printed model of alleged iPhone 17 Air design
iPhone 17 Air — these 5 big revelations have me excited for the first truly new iPhone in years
NYTimes Connections
NYT Connections today hints and answers — Tuesday, March 18 (#646)
Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles in 10 Things I Hate About You
My 7 favorite teen comedy movies from the ’90s when I need a dose of nostalgia
Zens Quattro Wireless Charging Pro 4 charging station with 3 iphones and an AirPods case
Double-decker 'AirPower' charger now available from Apple — here's what it costs
Igor
The Roku Channel is streaming one of my favorite kids' movies for free