There's no doubt the competition is heating up again, this time in the world of "spatial computing" or mixed reality. After Apple launched its Vision Pro glasses and caused a huge stir, Samsung decided not to stand idly by and announced its own new Galaxy XR glasses, directly challenging Apple. In this article, we won't tell you who the winner is, but rather help you determine which of these two glasses might be the best fit for you, should you ever decide to buy one. Will you be looking for power and a luxurious experience? Or will you prioritize comfort, a reasonable price, and advanced artificial intelligence? Let's delve into this comprehensive comparison.
Samsung XR or Apple Vision Pro?
When we talk about XR mixed reality glasses, we're not just talking about games. We're talking about a potential future for the PC, a new way to work, watch videos, and interact with the digital and real worlds simultaneously. Apple set a very high standard with the Vision Pro, but Samsung is taking a completely different approach with the Galaxy XR.
Price and value for money
Let's be honest, this is the biggest and most obvious difference.
◉ Samsung XR glasses: They come at a price of $1,799. This is a large sum, but it is considered "very cheap" when compared to the competition.
◉ Apple Vision Pro: Starting at $3,499. That's almost double the price of Samsung's glasses!
What do you get for the price of Samsung glasses?
It's not just the price. Samsung is offering a very tempting deal for early buyers: the "Explorer Pack," which they claim is worth over $1,140! This pack alone makes it a fantastic deal, and it includes:
◉ 12 months of Google AI Pro to get the most out of your Geely.
◉ 12 months of YouTube Premium, meaning ad-free viewing.
◉ 12 months of Google Play Pass, meaning access to a comprehensive library of games and apps.
◉ Subscriptions to other services such as Adobe Project Pulsar and Calm Premium.
◉ Even an NBA League Pass subscription!
Simply put, Apple sells you a premium piece of hardware at a very high price. Samsung, on the other hand, sells you a complete platform for half the price of its competitor, along with a software package that makes you feel like you've gotten the deal of a lifetime.
Design and comfort
When you wear a computer on your face, weight and comfort become crucial factors.
Apple Vision Pro: Luxury comes at a price
Apple's glasses are undeniably luxurious. They're made of polished glass, aluminum, and premium materials. But this luxury comes with a noticeable weight. Many reviews have noted that wearing them for extended periods can be tiring for the neck and face.
Samsung XR: Comfort First
Samsung made a smart decision. Instead of premium materials, they used high-quality plastic. It might not look quite as "luxury," but the result is a noticeably lighter pair of glasses.
◉ Weight: The Galaxy XR is lighter, making it very comfortable for long periods of use, such as watching a full movie or working for hours.
◉ Balance: Its design distributes weight evenly across the head.
◉ The strap: It comes with a single strap that wraps around the back of the head with a dial to easily tighten or loosen it, a design that has proven effective in distributing pressure.
If you care about comfort above all else, the Samsung XR is the undisputed winner.
Screen and immersion: Text accuracy or awareness of the surroundings?
Here two different philosophies emerge.
Apple Vision Pro
Apple uses stunning Micro-OLED displays. The goal is complete immersion. The Light Seal around the screen is designed to block out all external light, fully immersing you in the content. Its displays are also the clearest for displaying text, making them ideal for reading and working. They also support a higher refresh rate of up to 120Hz for a smoother experience.
Samsung XR
It also uses dual Micro-OLED displays that "look very good." But there are two key differences:
1. Text Clarity: The text isn't as sharp and clear as on the Apple Vision Pro. It's still excellent, but Apple excels in this area.
2. Light Blocking: The seal on Samsung glasses doesn't block all ambient light. This might seem like a drawback, but it's a deliberate design choice. It makes you feel less isolated from the world, reduces the nausea or dizziness some people experience, and makes you more aware of your surroundings.
In summary: Do you want complete immersion and unparalleled text accuracy? Choose Apple. Do you prefer to stay a little more connected to the real world and want an eye-friendly experience? Choose Samsung.
The mastermind: operating system, artificial intelligence, and applications
This is the real battleground that will determine the long-term winner.
visionOS vs. Android XR
◉ Apple VisionOS: A mature, polished system, built from the ground up for this experience. It works seamlessly with the Apple ecosystem—iPhone and Mac.
◉ Samsung Android XR: A completely new system, built in partnership with Google. Being new means it will face some initial hurdles, but it holds enormous potential as an "Android" device.
The artificial intelligence revolution (Gemini is the secret weapon)
This is where Samsung excels, and by a wide margin. The Galaxy XR isn't just a pair of glasses; it's a platform for Google's Gemini artificial intelligence.
◉ Deep integration: Gemini can use the cameras in the glasses to see what you see.
Some real-world examples of this include:
◉ You can look at a building on the street and ask, “What is this building?” and Gemini will answer you.
◉ And you can use the “Circle to Search” feature to search for things in the real world! Imagine drawing a circle in the air around a vase you liked at your friend’s house, and Gemini will tell you where you can buy one like it.
These aren't just features; this is a change in how we interact with reality. Apple has "Apple Intelligence," but this level of visual integration with the real world is a step ahead of Google and Samsung.
The application gap (experience vs. beginnings)
Apple Vision Pro has a larger and more mature library of custom apps because it has been on the market longer. Developers have taken their time to build unique experiences for VisionOS.
◉ As for the Samsung Galaxy XR: Since the operating system is new, its dedicated app library is still in its early stages. It comes with pre-installed basic apps such as YouTube, Google Maps, Photos, and Netflix.
You can download regular Android apps from the Google Play Store, but they will not be optimized for mixed reality, as they will appear as a regular flat window.
This is a clear weakness for Samsung at the moment, but with Google's support and the huge Android developer base, this gap could be closed quickly.
Power and performance: M5/M2 vs. SnapDragon
This is where Apple's clear superiority becomes apparent.
◉ Apple Vision Pro: Powered by the powerful M-series chips such as the M2 or the newer M5. These are the same chips used in MacBooks. They deliver unparalleled processing and graphics power.
◉ As for the Samsung XR: it runs on the Snapdragon 2nd generation chip in addition to the XR2. It is a very powerful chip designed for mixed reality, but it simply does not match the power of Apple's chips.
But will the average user notice this difference?
Perhaps not for simple tasks, but for heavy gaming, intensive multitasking, and complex productivity applications, Apple Vision Pro will be faster and smoother.
Control and interaction
◉ Apple Vision Pro relies entirely on hand and eye tracking. The experience has been described as “magical.” You don’t need any controls. You simply look at an icon and pinch to tap. It’s the most intuitive and seamless system on the market.
◉ As for the Samsung XR: it also supports hand and eye tracking, but initial reviews suggest it's not as accurate or smooth as Apple's system. To address this, Samsung sells optional controllers for $250.
This may seem like an added cost, but it is actually a strength for gamers, many of whom prefer the tactile buttons of controllers over hand gestures.
Connecting to the computer and battery
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The Apple Vision Pro connects to your Mac to transform it into a giant virtual display. The experience is very seamless and works perfectly within the Apple ecosystem.
◉ The Samsung XR can connect to a computer for the same purpose. However, the experience is not as seamless and requires several applications and programs to configure it.
the battery
Both glasses rely on an external battery connected by a wire to reduce the weight on the head.
◉ The Apple Vision Pro M5 glasses work for about two and a half hours of general use, and three hours for watching videos.
◉ The Samsung XR glasses last for about two hours of general use, and two and a half hours for watching videos.
Apple has a slight edge, but both require you to stay close to the charger or carry extra batteries for extended use.
Conclusion
We've analyzed everything, and now it's time to decide. There's no "best" pair of glasses for everyone, only the "most suitable" pair for you.
Buy Apple Vision Pro if:
◉ You had enough money and spending such an amount was not a problem for you at all.
◉ I was deeply immersed in the Apple ecosystem and used all Apple devices.
◉ You wanted absolute raw power because of the M chip, and if you wanted the best screen resolution for reading texts.
◉ You wanted a smooth “magical” eye-and-hand control experience and didn’t want any controls.
◉ You wanted a mature app library from day one.
Buy Samsung XR glasses if:
◉ You wanted to save a huge amount of around $1700! And get amazing value with the “Explorer Pack”.
◉ Comfort and light weight were your top priorities for long-term use.
◉ I was very excited about the potential of Gemini's artificial intelligence and seeing the world through it.
◉ You were an Android or Windows user.
◉ You were a “gamer” and preferred using physical controllers.
◉You wouldn't mind being one of the "early explorers" of the new Android XR system and waiting for its application library to grow.
Ultimately, Samsung's strong entry at this price point is good for all of us as consumers. It forces Apple to innovate and compete more, bringing this future technology closer to us as ordinary users.
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