Google and Samsung Challenge Apple and Meta with Their Mixed-reality Headset

By Evans Momodu
5 minute read


Google and Samsung are entering the wearable headset market, aiming to challenge Apple’s Vision Pro and Meta’s Quest 3 with a mixed-reality headset powered by a new Android operating system.

Scheduled for release in 2025, the Samsung-built headset is expected to offer a competitive alternative to Apple’s $3,499 Vision Pro and Meta’s $500 Quest 3.

The new Android for XR operating system, developed collaboratively by Google, Samsung, and Qualcomm, will power the headset and eventually other devices like smart glasses. It integrates Google’s AI capabilities, including its Gemini AI assistant, with Samsung’s hardware expertise.

Industry analysts suggest this partnership marks Google and Samsung’s strategic attempt to gain a foothold in the wearable tech market while leveraging AI innovations.

Ted Mortonson from Baird noted that this represents a “direct assault” on Apple, taking advantage of the lukewarm reception of the Vision Pro.

Meta, considered a market leader with its Quest 3 and collaborations with Ray-Ban, faces increased competition as headsets remain a niche product with room for innovation.

Analysts like Scott Kessler from Third Bridge emphasize that the market is still in its early stages, providing opportunities for experimentation and growth.

Google’s move into the XR space builds on its history in wearable tech, from the early days of Google Glass to the discontinued Daydream VR headset.

By integrating AI into the XR operating system, Google positions itself for future AI product growth while competing directly with Apple and Meta.

Samsung’s head of research and development, Won-Joon Choi, highlighted XR’s potential to redefine interactions with the world and enhance everyday experiences.

However, analysts caution that such headsets remain “nice to have” rather than essential, echoing lessons from Google Glass’s past trajectory.

With an expanding XR ecosystem and intensifying competition among tech giants, the wearable headset market is poised for significant evolution as companies vie for dominance in this emerging field.
Source: CNN 
Image: WTHI