Samsung's Galaxy XR is more than just a "cheaper copy" of the Vision Pro. It's the loudest proof that the future of XR technology is open, cheaper, and - perhaps surprisingly - more human.
If Apple built a “face computer” with its Vision Pro, then Samsung with its Samsung Galaxy XR is sending its more accessible, more open, and less snobbish version into the world. It's a device that could be called: "Futurism for those who still go to work."
Samsung has proven itself a master of industrial aikido — the art of using your opponent's power to your advantage. Remember: when Apple launched the first iPhone, Samsung was already supplying its displays. And now, as Apple tries to take the XR to a new level of luxury, Samsung is coming up with its own version: the Galaxy XR. The first headset based on the platform Android XR, with artificial intelligence Gemini AI deeply woven into everyday use.
A completely new reality – and this time for real
The Galaxy XR looks almost identical to the Vision Pro. The silver body, the wide front lens, the luxurious feel in the hand — yes, the inspiration is obvious. But that's where the similarities end. Samsung built the device around openness: open software foundations, open ecosystem, open ideas about what we can do with XR.
Instead of being locked into a single world of “Apple apps,” the Galaxy XR opens the door to the Android universe — and without the typical limitations. The user sees the real world through two cameras with exceptional “pass-through,” can work with virtual screens, talk to the Gemini digital assistant, and check the weather, email, documents, or Netflix. All in space, not on a screen.
A chip beats in the background. Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2, supported by 16 GB of memory and 256 GB of storage. But the specs aren't the point here. The feeling is key. Everyone who has tried the device describes a feeling of "lighter reality" - not because the device is physically invisible (far from it), but because it doesn't push the user into their own world, but rather subtly expands it.
Samsung vs. Apple – a match that is not a match
Yes, the Samsung Galaxy XR is clearly an answer to the Apple Vision Pro. But perhaps it's more of a reinterpretation than an "answer." If Apple said, "XR is the future," Samsung added, "But the future has to be usable."
Rather than an elite device for developers and wealthy enthusiasts, the Galaxy XR is – relatively speaking – more “human.” It costs around $1,799, which is about half the price of the Vision Pro. This number is not just a marketing gimmick, but a clear signal: this is not a toy for tech millionaires, this is the first serious attempt to democratize XR.
Samsung is not alone in this. Google is co-authoring the Android XR platform, and Qualcomm is providing the chipset. This “power trio” wants to put the XR experience where the smartphone is today: in every pocket, or – in this case – on every head.
A reality that lasts two hours
Of course, it's not perfect yet. The device only lasts about two hours of use - meaning we're not quite at the "all-day digital" stage yet. But Samsung isn't trying to sell the illusion that you'll be wearing the XR all day. Instead, it offers short but intense "bursts of productivity" - or fun.
The user interface is smooth, responsive, and intuitive, thanks to tight integration with Gemini AI, which can handle basic tasks with voice, gestures, or gaze. Within a few minutes of use, you’ll realize that XR is no longer just a lab experiment. It’s a tool you can actually use—and enjoy.
Why the Galaxy XR is a game-changer
The Galaxy XR is important because it defines how XR technology can become mainstreamApple opened the door, but Samsung left it wide open.
It's the first device that sees XR not as a spectacle, but as the next logical step in computing. As a natural bridge between phone, tablet, and – well, reality. And while it's not perfect yet (weight, price, limited app set), it works as a convincing prototype of a future we're finally no longer afraid of.
Samsung is not a follower here, but a quiet revolutionary. The Galaxy XR proves that sometimes “copying” is not a sign of lack of imagination, but of intelligence. Because sometimes the future doesn’t start with invention – it starts with taking something good and making it accessible.
Epilogue: Mirror of the Future
When you put on the Galaxy XR, it's no longer clear what's screen and what's reality. Perhaps that's where the charm lies: not in escaping the world, but in the ability to expand it.
Samsung It may still be walking the path that Apple paved, but every step it takes is more confident, more pragmatic, more – Asian-realistic. The Galaxy XR is not a device that wants to be a fashionable status symbol. It is a device that wants to be a new definition of reality.
And in this – at least for now – Samsung is leading.
