Samsung and Google have officially staked their claim in the future of spatial computing and they’re going all in. The two tech giants unveiled the Galaxy XR, a $1,799 mixed reality headset that aims to blur the boundaries between the digital and physical worlds.
At first glance, the Galaxy XR might seem like just another addition to the expanding world of headsets. But according to Google, it’s much more than a screen strapped to your face. Users can control their digital environment using their voice, hands, or even eye movements, seamlessly pin multiple apps to a virtual workspace or enjoy a YouTube or NBA game in a private virtual theater.
Google describes the experience as: “An infinite screen to explore your apps, with Gemini by your side.”
That tagline isn’t just clever marketing it’s a roadmap for the company’s vision. The Galaxy XR represents Google’s most serious attempt yet to make Android a three-dimensional experience, extending beyond smartphones and tablets. With features like real-time 3D photo capture and Circle to Search, users can interact with the world in an entirely new way.
As one headline neatly put it, “Galaxy XR puts Google’s Gemini AI and Android right in front of your face.”
This device acts as a Trojan horse for Google’s AI ambitions, seamlessly merging hardware, software, and services into one ecosystem. Android XR, the operating system running beneath the surface, enables a fluid mix of real and digital environments, a clear push to bring context-aware, ambient computing to the masses.
Gemini, Google’s multimodal AI, takes center stage here. It doesn’t just respond to commands; it perceives what’s happening around you. Watching a YouTube video? Ask Gemini who’s on the screen. Exploring a new city in Google Maps Immersive View? Simply look at a landmark and ask, “What is that?” Even multitasking becomes easier say “Organize these” while juggling Chrome, Meet, and Docs, and Gemini will literally rearrange them mid-air.
This kind of intuitive, AI-powered interaction mirrors what Apple demonstrated with its Vision Pro but Google brings the full weight of Android’s app ecosystem along for the ride.
Gemini’s integration into the Galaxy XR is a turning point. AI is no longer confined to phones, speakers, or laptops it’s now an immersive experience that surrounds the user. This move positions Google to make its AI not just useful, but nearly unavoidable in daily life.
For Google, the Galaxy XR doubles as both a tech showcase and a strategic entry point for expanding its AI services. The headset comes bundled with an “Explorer Pack” including 12 months of Google AI Pro, YouTube Premium, Google Play Pass, and NBA League Pass designed to lock users into its service ecosystem.
Samsung, meanwhile, sees this as a chance to reclaim dominance in a hardware category it helped pioneer years ago. With the power of Google’s AI and Android’s vast app library, the Galaxy XR offers a more integrated experience than competitors like Meta’s Quest or Apple’s Vision Pro.