Samsung and Google's XR Collaboration: Delayed Launch, Key Employee Exodus, and Next-Gen Experiences

Seoul, South Korea Korea (Republic of)
Google's AR/VR teams have experienced significant employee exodus following layoffs and reshuffles.
Meta is actively courting hardware partners for its AR glasses project, with ASUS and Lenovo recently joining the list.
Samsung and Google announced partnership for XR headset collaboration at their respective events on July 12, 2024.
Samsung's XR headset, which will use Android XR software provided by Google and Qualcomm's Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chipset, was originally set to launch in early 2023 but has been delayed until March 2025.
Samsung and Google's XR Collaboration: Delayed Launch, Key Employee Exodus, and Next-Gen Experiences

In the world of technology, two major announcements took place last week. Samsung held its Unpacked event on July 12, 2024, where they unveiled several new products including the Galaxy Ring, Galaxy Watch Ultra, next-generation Galaxy Z line devices, and hinted at an upcoming XR headset collaboration with Google and Qualcomm. Meanwhile, Google's SVP of Platforms and Devices Rick Osterloh confirmed that Samsung's XR platform is coming this year during the same event.

According to various reports, Samsung has been working on its XR headset in partnership with Google for some time now. The device was originally set to launch earlier in 2023 but has since been delayed until March 2025. A developer version of the headset is expected to be released in October 2023.

Google's involvement includes handling the system software using Android XR and providing the chipset, Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2. Samsung has also raised expectations for its project due to Apple Vision Pro's impressive specs, causing delays in the launch timeline.

However, Google's AR/VR teams have faced a significant exodus of employees following layoffs and reshuffles. Some key employees have left to work on Meta's AR glasses project. Despite this, Google has pitched Android XR to other hardware makers but no reports of acceptance yet.

Meta, on the other hand, is actively courting hardware partners with its AR glasses project. Recently, ASUS and Lenovo have joined the list of partners working on Meta's AR glasses.

Samsung's XR platform is expected to bring next-generation experiences across Galaxy products from smartphones and wearables to future technologies. The collaboration between Samsung, Google, and Qualcomm aims to create a new era in mobile computing.

Stay tuned for more updates on these exciting developments in the tech industry.



Confidence

90%

Doubts
  • Are there any specific reports on why the Samsung XR headset launch was delayed?
  • What is the exact reason for the employee exodus from Google's AR/VR teams?

Sources

95%

  • Unique Points
    • Samsung headset development kits will be available in October 2023 before consumer launch in March 2025.
    • Samsung is working on an XR headset with Google handling system software using Android XR and Qualcomm providing the chipset, Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2.
    • The headset was originally set to launch earlier in 2023 but has been delayed to March 2025.
    • A developer version of the Samsung XR headset will be available from October 2023.
    • Samsung’s XR platform is coming this year.
    • Google confirmed its involvement in Samsung’s XR project.
    • Samsung raised goals and expectations for its project in response to Apple Vision Pro, causing delays.
    • Google’s AR/VR teams have faced a ‘stream of exits’ after layoffs and reshuffles, with multiple key employees leaving to work on Meta’s AR glasses project.
    • Google has pitched Android XR to other hardware makers but no reports of acceptance yet.
    • Meta is courting hardware partners, recently netting ASUS and Lenovo.
  • Accuracy
    • ]Samsung headset development kits will be available in October 2023 before consumer launch in March 2025.[
    • Samsung's XR platform is coming this year.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

95%

  • Unique Points
    • Samsung and Google's XR platform will be announced this year.
    • Google's SVP of Platform & Devices, Rick Osterloh, confirmed the announcement during Samsung Unpacked event.
    • Samsung's Head of Mobile, TM Roh, also confirmed the announcement during the same event.
  • Accuracy
    • Samsung's XR platform is coming this year.
    • Google confirmed its involvement in Samsung's XR project.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

84%

  • Unique Points
    • Samsung’s XR headset is coming later this year (article fact not present in other articles)
    • Google will discontinue official updates for Android Lollipop devices starting this month (article fact not present in other articles)
    • OnePlus Nord 4, Pad 2, Watch 2R, and Nord Buds 3 Pro are expected to launch on July 16 in Milan (article fact not present in other articles)
  • Accuracy
    • Samsung's XR headset is coming later this year
    • Samsung's XR platform is coming this year.
    • Google confirmed its involvement in Samsung's XR project.
  • Deception (50%)
    The article contains selective reporting as it only mentions the removal of PowerShare feature in the new Galaxy Watch series without mentioning that Samsung has introduced other new features to compensate for it. The article also uses emotional manipulation by implying that users will be disappointed about the missing feature and creating a sense of urgency around it.
    • The new Galaxy Watch series has let go of something called the PowerShare, a wireless charging feature that's compatible with smartphones.
    • This handy feature basically lets the phone's battery wirelessly charge compatible smartwatches by placing them close together – a great way to get some charge into your watch when it's almost dying.
    • While this feature won't be available on the new watches, it continues to be present in the older generation devices. Samsung had to remove this feature due to a design change with the new sensor array, which required reshaping the rear glass on both Watch models, increasing the distance between the internal wireless charging coil and the external charging surface.
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

100%

  • Unique Points
    • Samsung held an event called Unpacked in July 2024 where they launched several new products including the Galaxy Ring, Galaxy Watch Ultra, next-generation Galaxy Z line.
    • A Samsung XR headset was not officially announced at the event but there were subtle mentions of it.
    • Google’s Rick Osterloh mentioned collaboration with Samsung and Qualcomm to bring next-generation experiences across Galaxy products including the upcoming XR platform.
    • TM Roh, president of Samsung’s Mobile Division, mentioned a new XR platform is coming later this year.
    • Industry analysts have predicted a Samsung XR headset launch in late 2024.
    • Samsung has commissioned higher-resolution screens to match the Apple Vision Pro’s 4K-in-each-eye displays for their headset.
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

94%

  • Unique Points
    • Samsung’s Android XR headset, codenamed ‘Moohan’, is expected to have a developer version release in October 2025.
    • Google has pitched Android XR to other hardware makers but no reports of acceptance yet.
  • Accuracy
    • Samsung’s Android XR headset is expected to have a developer version release in October 2025.
    • The consumer launch of Samsung’s Android XR headset is predicted for March 2025.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (85%)
    The article contains a few informal fallacies and appeals to authority. It also uses inflammatory rhetoric by mentioning that Samsung's XR headset has been repeatedly pushed back, implying intentional deception or poor decision-making.
    • . . . the Apple Vision Pro coming out in February, but it has been repeatedly pushed back, with company leaders “fearing the device isn’t yet good enough to dazzle users.”
    • Looking ahead: There is internal speculation that Samsung will be the first to also build glasses with Google’s AR software, according to two employees familiar with the matter.
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication