The Apple Vision Pro.
Samsung and Google's XR headset is expected to launch around the summer of 2024 according to Business Insider.
Sources told Business Insider that Google is working closely with Samsung on the Extended Reality (XR) headset, which has an internal codename "Project Moohan". The Samsung-branded XR headset will run on the Android XR software that Google is developing.
However, the "Project Moohan" team is reportedly facing some issues. As Google is also working on a separate "Micro XR" platform for third-party makers, Samsung is concerned that the design and specs of the XR headset might be used by other Google teams to build a competing product.
The "Micro XR" platform is said to be tested on a pair of monocular glasses codenamed "Betty". A purported roadmap indicates products powered by the platform to hit the market in 2025. Google is also recruiting partners for the platform as early as this year.
This led Samsung to be protective over the development and features of the XR headset, which led to the project team having no clear direction on the product. One source describes the current situation as a "political headache" within Google.
Moreover, sources corroborate an earlier report that the XR headset was delayed due to the Apple Vision Pro. The unveiling of the Apple Vision Pro prompted Samsung to push back plans so that the team could review the design and specs.
Google employees, who have been informed of the delay, reportedly did not think the XR headset will be as impressive as the Apple Vision Pro. A Google employee told Business Insider that even with the delayed launch timeframe, it might not even provide enough buffer for the XR device to match what the Apple Vision Pro has to offer.
Only time will tell whether Samsung and Google will be pressurised to launch their device next year or delay even further.
Source: Business Insider via Android Authority
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