Samsung’s Vision Pro killer is half the price and half a pound lighter

Macworld

Apple last week unveiled the second generation of its Vision Pro headset, with a new head strap, faster chip, and slightly upgraded displays. It still costs $3,499 and is unlikely to move the needle much on sales.

But that doesn’t mean it hasn’t caught the attention of the rest of the tech world. Vision Pro might not be a hit with consumers, but its cutting-edge design and specs have set the benchmark for high-end AR/VR headsets. Just this week, in fact, Samsung announced its own Vision Pro competitor, the Galaxy XR, and it’s clearly inspired by Apple’s headset, with “an ergonomic design and soft touch fabric,” 4K micro-OLED display, spatial photos, virtual workstations, and magnetic prescription inserts. Here’s a look at how the key specs compare:

Apple Vision ProSamsung Galaxy XRDisplay23 million pixelsMicro‑OLEDSupported refresh rates: 90Hz, 96Hz, 100Hz, 120Hz92% DCI‑P327 million pixels Micro-OLEDSupported refresh rates: 60Hz, 72Hz, 90Hz95% DCI‑P3ChipM5Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 PlatformCameraStereoscopic 3D main camera system6.5MP (stereo)18 mm, ƒ/2.0 aperture6.5MP18 mm, ƒ/2.0 apertureSensorsTwo high‑resolution main camerasSix world‑facing tracking camerasFour eye‑tracking camerasTrueDepth cameraLiDAR scannerFour inertial measurement units (IMUs)Flicker sensorAmbient light sensorTwo high-resolution main camerasSix world-facing tracking camerasFour eye-tracking camerasFive IMUsDepth sensor Flicker sensorBatteryUp to 2.5 hours of general useUp to 2 hours of general useWeight28.2 ounces (800 grams)19.2 ounces (550 grams)Prescription insertsYes ($99/149)Yes (Starting at $99)

While Samsung’s headset is significantly lighter than Vision Pro, where the Galaxy XR crushes Vision Pro is the price. Samsung’s new headset is priced at $1,800, about half of Vision Pro’s $3,499 price tag. Samsung’s headset is still very expensive, but it’s hard not to see it as a cheap(er) imitation of Vision Pro. It looks like Vision Pro, acts like Vision Pro, and does many of the same things as Vision Pro. Samsung even calls its AI platform Spatial Intelligence.

Samsung’s XR headset is available for preorder now for delivery on October 29. Apple’s Vision Pro with the M5 chip will begin shipping today.