Imagine controlling your digital world with a simple gesture, right in the middle of your living room. That's the promise of Samsung and Google's XR headset, a device that's pushing the boundaries of mixed reality. But here's where it gets controversial: is this $1,799 gadget a glimpse into the future or just an overpriced experiment? Let’s dive in.
Sitting on my couch, I slip on the Samsung Galaxy XR headset and raise my hand. In my field of vision, I spot Junji Ito’s latest book, Moan. With a pinch and a circle motion in the air, a Google search result appears, offering me more details about the book. This is Circle to Search, a feature already familiar to Android users, but now it’s leaping off the screen and into my everyday reality. It’s a wild sign of where smart glasses are headed, but for now, it comes at a steep price.
The Galaxy XR sits at an interesting crossroads. It’s like a budget-friendly alternative to Apple’s Vision Pro, yet it’s also a premium upgrade to Android and Google-enabled Meta Quest devices. More importantly, it’s a gateway to the upcoming wave of AI-powered smart glasses and headsets, all built on the Android XR platform. But is it ready for prime time? And this is the part most people miss: while it’s packed with potential, it’s still a work in progress.
After a week of testing the Galaxy XR around my house, my verdict is mixed. Is it impressive? Absolutely. Would I recommend buying it today? Not a chance. The price is prohibitive, and the software feels half-baked. Yet, it’s given me some eye-opening moments that hint at what’s possible.
First surprise: It (sort of) works with my glasses. As someone who wears prescription glasses, I was pleasantly surprised to find that I could wedge my glasses inside the headset, though it’s not ideal. It blocks the eye-tracking cameras, forcing me to rely on hand gestures. Still, the flexibility and open design allow me to switch between my phone and the headset seamlessly, almost like wearing reality bifocals.
But here’s the catch: While it’s light, it’s not always comfortable. The fit feels cramped compared to the discontinued Meta Quest Pro, which was more ergonomic and glasses-friendly. The Galaxy XR’s magnetically attached head cushion has only two size settings, leaving me with forehead pressure and wishing for a top strap for better support.
Now, let’s talk about Gemini Live and Circle to Search. Gemini Live’s ability to recognize objects in pass-through video or app screens is mind-blowing. However, it feels too open-ended and often unhelpful. While it can pull up related searches or describe things, its advice isn’t always smart or practical. Circle to Search, on the other hand, is pure magic. Pinch, hold, and draw a circle around anything in your view—whether it’s a book, a show, or an object in a game—and you’ll get instant search results. It’s a game-changer.
Google Maps is another standout feature. Its immersive 3D mode, reminiscent of Google Earth, lets you zoom out to a globe view or explore Gaussian splat 3D scans of indoor businesses in major cities. It’s like teleporting into a real location, though the transition between immersive and 2D modes could be smoother. It’s not perfect, but it’s a stunning showcase of what’s possible.
But here’s the bigger question: What’s the Galaxy XR really for? The display is stunning, but there aren’t enough cinema modes to showcase it. YouTube and Netflix are limited to floating 2D screens, and Android XR immersive apps are few and far between. Games often require separate controllers, and some features seem to work best with a Samsung phone. It’s hard to justify its price when the Meta Quest 3 remains a more affordable and established option, and Apple’s Vision Pro, though pricier, feels more polished.
So, should you buy the Samsung Galaxy XR? Not yet. It hasn’t dethroned the Meta Quest 3 as the best VR headset for most people, and it’s not as refined as the Vision Pro. However, Gemini Live and the open Android ecosystem hint at a future where mixed reality becomes seamless. I’ll share more thoughts as I continue testing—hopefully with prescription lenses this time. But what do you think? Is the Galaxy XR a step in the right direction, or is it too early to invest in this technology? Let’s discuss in the comments!
