Samsung Galaxy XR | The XR event on October 22: Why is Samsung announcing the "Worlds Wide Open" event for Project Moohan?

Samsung Project Moohan and Android XR: The future of smart glasses? The beginning of the end of smartphones?

Samsung has announced a special Galaxy event titled "Worlds Wide Open" for October 22, 2025, at 4:00 a.m. Central European Summer Time. The South Korean technology giant plans to officially unveil its long-awaited mixed reality headset, Project Moohan. The event will be broadcast live on Samsung's YouTube channel and marks a pivotal moment in the development of extended reality technologies.

The announcement comes at a strategically important time, as the market for XR devices is rapidly evolving. While Apple failed to achieve significant commercial success with the Vision Pro, smart glasses are poised to become the next big technological phenomenon. Samsung is positioning itself as a serious contender in this market with Project Moohan and wants to demonstrate that the company is ready to set new standards in immersive technologies.

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What exactly is Project Moohan and what technology is behind it?

Project Moohan is the internal codename for Samsung's first mixed reality headset, expected to launch as the Galaxy XR. The name Moohan comes from Korean and means infinity, symbolizing the company's vision for limitless immersive experiences.

The headset is based on an impressive collaboration between three technology giants. Samsung provides the hardware expertise and display technology, Google contributes the Android XR operating system, and Qualcomm provides the necessary processing power with the Snapdragon XR2 Plus Gen 2 chip. This partnership combines the strengths of all three companies, creating an ecosystem that is both powerful and developer-friendly.

Project Moohan's technical specifications are impressive. The headset features two Sony Micro-OLED displays with a 4K resolution per eye, totaling 29 million pixels. This surpasses the Apple Vision Pro, which operates at 23 million pixels. The displays achieve a pixel density of approximately 3,500 pixels per inch on a 1.03-inch panel for each eye and offer a refresh rate of 90 Hz.

What hardware features characterize the Samsung headset?

The design of Project Moohan draws significant inspiration from both Apple's Vision Pro and the Meta Quest Pro. The headset utilizes pancake lenses for a more compact design and integrates eye-tracking technology that can be used for user interface navigation, foveated rendering, and automatic lens pitch adjustment.

A notable feature is its comparatively low weight of approximately 545 grams, significantly less than that of the Vision Pro. This advantage is partly due to the use of an external battery pack connected via a USB-C cable. This solution allows for better weight distribution and longer usage sessions. Another advantage is that any commercially available USB-C battery can be used, which is significantly more flexible than proprietary solutions.

For interaction, the headset features multiple sensors for hand, eye, and voice control. Four infrared LEDs and AI-assisted cameras enable precise detection of eye movements and pupil positions. Hand control is achieved through strategically placed sensors that can accurately detect hand gestures. In addition, multiple microphones are integrated that recognize speech patterns and enable natural voice control.

The headset also features a removable magnetic light shield, which can be removed as needed for complete immersion in virtual reality experiences or for more presence in mixed reality applications. The flexible head strap can be individually adjusted to ensure comfort even during extended usage sessions.

What makes Android XR so special and how does it differ from other platforms?

Android XR is a completely new operating system developed by Google specifically for extended reality devices. It was created jointly with Samsung and Qualcomm and is designed to scale across various form factors, from bulky headsets to sleek smart glasses. The platform puts artificial intelligence at the heart of immersive everyday experiences.

A fundamental difference from closed systems like Apple's VisionOS is the openness of Android XR. The platform is based on established standards like OpenXR and WebXR, which allows developers to more easily port their applications across platforms. Many Meta Quest games should, in theory, be relatively easy to port to Android XR headsets.

Modularity is another core feature of Android XR. Manufacturers and developers can integrate exactly the components they need and omit what they don't. They can add their preferred Gemini model, implement eye and hand tracking, and allow users to seamlessly switch between virtual reality and mixed reality.

The platform already supports familiar Android development tools such as Android Studio, ARCore, Jetpack Compose, and Unity. Most Android apps are automatically made available on Android XR without any additional development effort. Developers simply need to approve their apps for XR, and they can be displayed as floating windows in the virtual space.

What role does Gemini AI play in the Android XR experience?

Google's AI assistant, Gemini, is at the very heart of the Android XR experience. The so-called multimodal AI simultaneously processes speech, gaze direction, and gestures, understanding the context of the environment and reacting appropriately. Users can ask Gemini anything about what they see while wearing the headset, and the AI ​​can provide information about it, including interactions with objects in mixed reality.

Gemini enables natural language commands to control the user interface or ask contextual questions about what's being seen, whether in the real world or in XR applications. With Gemini Live's conversational capabilities, users can engage in natural dialogue and gain AI-powered insights into their surroundings.

AI integration goes beyond simple voice commands. For example, Gemini can automatically detect what's in the fridge and make suitable recipe suggestions. When traveling, the AI ​​can translate restaurant menus in real time. The functionality is continually expanding and is intended to make the glasses a true everyday assistant.

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Which applications and apps will be available on Android XR?

The application ecosystem for Android XR promises to be extraordinarily diverse. Google has already announced that well-known services such as YouTube, Google TV, Google Photos, Google Maps Immersive View, Google Meet, and Chrome will be optimized specifically for the XR platform. The integration of Circle to Search allows you to circle anything you see and instantly search for it, whether it's digitally represented or exists in the real world around you.

For entertainment, the platform offers support for 2D, 180-degree, and 360-degree video content. Google has even built special tricks into the software that add a certain 3D depth to normal 2D videos using onboard AI. The display quality on Project Moohan is reportedly so clear that 4K nature videos on YouTube allow you to virtually immerse yourself in the landscapes.

In the gaming space, titles like Les Mills XR BODYCOMBAT have already been announced, making the headset a great way to workout at home. Google is collaborating with the developers of Job Simulator to give its headsets a unique personality, including a new onboarding game.

For professional applications, users can create virtual workspaces or manipulate 3D models in the real environment. The platform allows for the use of multiple apps simultaneously and the free positioning of them in virtual space. Developers such as MLB, Calm, and Adobe have already gained early access and are developing apps for Android XR.

How do smart glasses differ from VR headsets?

The distinction between smart glasses and VR headsets is fundamental to understanding the different approaches in XR technology. Smart glasses focus on integrating digital information into the physical world. They never completely remove the user from the real world, but rather overlay information onto the environment they see.

Smart glasses are typically significantly slimmer and lighter than VR headsets. They are designed for all-day wear and often look like regular glasses. This makes them far more ergonomic and comfortable for extended wear. However, this also means they typically have less processing power and are unable to display complex virtual environments with the same level of detail as headsets.

VR headsets like Project Moohan, on the other hand, offer varying levels of immersion. With a VR headset, you can decide how deeply you want to immerse yourself in a scenario. You can maintain a view of the real environment or immerse yourself completely in a virtual reality space. Some devices even offer very precise control over these levels.

The use cases also differ significantly. Smart glasses are ideal for real-time information, support, and guidance. In the industrial metaverse, they can help engineers troubleshoot problems, build products, and collaborate with employees wherever they are. VR headsets, in addition to collaboration and communication, offer excellent opportunities for entertainment, complete virtual worlds, and access to rich, unique simulations.

How successful are smart glasses already on the market?

The smart glasses market is currently experiencing explosive growth that far exceeds initially optimistic forecasts. After a prolonged period of stagnation and the failure of predecessor models like Google Glass, smart glasses are finally reaching the mass market. The numbers speak for themselves: The market recorded impressive growth of 110 percent in the first half of 2025, while global sales growth of 210 percent has already been reported for 2024.

Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses have proven to be a breakthrough product. Since their launch in October 2023, over 2 million units have been sold, and sales tripled in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period last year. They are the best-selling eyewear collection in 60 percent of Ray-Ban stores across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has admitted that demand still exceeds their production capacity. This success is particularly remarkable given the glasses' very accessible price point of $299 and their appearance, similar to regular Ray-Bans. The fact that they're also selling well in Europe, where Meta AI isn't yet available, demonstrates that basic features like a camera, speaker, and hands-free functionality are already impressive.

The market size for smart glasses is estimated to range from $878.8 million to $5.98 billion by 2024, with discrepancies due to different product category definitions. Market researchers forecast values ​​between $4.13 billion and $8.26 billion for 2030. Average annual growth rates range from 27.3 to 29.4 percent, with some analysts even predicting growth rates of over 60 percent by 2029.

Was the Apple Vision Pro a commercial success?

The Apple Vision Pro is often described as a flop in media reports, but this assessment requires a more nuanced view. By the end of 2024, the headset will have sold approximately 500,000 units. For comparison, this figure is almost exactly the same as Apple's revenue from the iPhone in 2008, the first full calendar year after its launch.

While 500,000 units seems small compared to current iPhone or Mac sales, it's impressive for a first, albeit expensive, foray into VR. For the first five months, the Vision Pro was available only in the US. In June 2024, Apple expanded sales to Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, and the UK. In November, it debuted in South Korea and the United Arab Emirates.

According to IDC, Apple secured a 17 percent market share by unit shipments in the first quarter of 2024, selling 90,000 Vision Pros, followed by 87,000 in the second quarter. However, in Q3 2024, sales jumped to 190,000 units, representing 211 percent growth over the launch quarter. Apple secured 9 percent of the AR and VR market in the third quarter of 2024, which is notable given the Vision Pro's price point, which is 7 to 11 times higher than the leading Meta Quest 3 and 3S headsets.

The Vision Pro's main problem remains its high retail price of $3,500, which prevents wider adoption among the mainstream audience. Nevertheless, the Apple Vision Pro is selling quite well for an AR/VR device. International expansion has offset declining sales in the US, where sales had fallen by 75 percent by August 2024.

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What pricing strategy is Samsung pursuing with Project Moohan?

Samsung strategically positions Project Moohan between the more affordable Meta Quest headsets and the high-priced Apple Vision Pro. Reports from South Korea indicate a price between 2.5 and 4 million won, or approximately $1,800 to $2,900. Most sources estimate a starting price around $1,800, which is significantly lower than the Vision Pro but still in the premium segment.

This pricing strategy is clever. Samsung undercuts Apple by more than a thousand dollars while offering comparable specs and better AI integration. At the same time, Samsung remains well above the Meta Quest line, which starts at $499. The bet is clear: Samsung wants to attract enterprise customers and early adopters who want Vision Pro functionality but don't want to pay the Vision Pro price.

Samsung is reportedly planning approximately 100,000 units for the market launch. This limited initial run fits with a measured risk strategy. Initial availability in South Korea and possibly China will allow Samsung to study real-world user behavior, identify durability issues, and optimize manufacturing before a wider release.

Also interesting is that Samsung is offering reservations on its event website with a $100 credit that can be used toward the purchase of qualifying Galaxy products. This suggests that Samsung wants to position the headset as part of its broader Galaxy ecosystem.

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What role does Qualcomm play in the development of Android XR?

Qualcomm plays a central role in the Android XR ecosystem as the hardware platform provider. The Snapdragon XR2 Plus Gen 2 is the heart of Project Moohan and was specifically developed for premium mixed reality applications. This chip is a performance-enhanced version of the XR2 Gen 2 used in Meta Quest 3.

The technical improvements are considerable. Compared to the standard XR2 Gen 2, the Plus version offers a 15 percent higher GPU clock speed and a 20 percent higher CPU clock speed. The GPU builds on the foundations of the Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 and offers 2.5x better GPU performance compared to the first generation. The additional GPU power can be used to increase the visual quality of apps and games or deliver similar visuals to Gen 1 with up to 50 percent power savings.

A unique feature is support for up to 4.3K resolution per eye at 90 frames per second or 3.7K per eye at 120 Hertz. This is a significant increase over the standard XR2 Gen 2, which supports up to 3.1K per eye at 90 Hertz or 2.7K per eye at 120 Hertz. For demanding mixed reality applications, the chip supports 12 or more simultaneous cameras, compared to 10 for the standard chip.

The dedicated hardware-accelerated computer vision block enables enhanced, power-efficient, and highly accurate perception algorithms, including head tracking, 3D reconstruction, and more. Perception computation includes hand, head, controller, facial expression, depth estimation, and 3D reconstruction for intuitive interactions. The hardware-accelerated camera passthrough reduces end-to-end latency to approximately 12 milliseconds.

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Which partners are working on Android XR devices?

In addition to Samsung as its first hardware partner, Google has announced a number of other companies that will develop Android XR devices. Sony, Lynx, and Xreal were explicitly named as partners that plan to bring hardware based on Android XR to market.

In the smart glasses space, Google announced that Gentle Monster and Warby Parker will be the first eyewear partners to develop glasses powered by Android XR. Google also plans to collaborate with Kering Eyewear and other partners in the future to create even more options for users. These partnerships are strategically important because they bring design expertise and retail reach to the ecosystem.

Xreal has announced Project Aura, a lightweight XR device that will join the Android XR ecosystem. This diversity of manufacturers and form factors reflects Google's vision that there is no one-size-fits-all solution for XR, and users will use different devices throughout their day.

Magic Leap is another key partner. Google has announced that it will continue its partnership with Magic Leap, which was announced in May, bringing additional expertise in augmented reality to the ecosystem.

What does the future of VR and smart glasses look like?

The future of VR and smart glasses promises transformative changes in the way we interact with technology. Several key trends are emerging for the period 2026 to 2030 that will shape the industry.

Hyper-realistic immersion is becoming the norm. By 2030, hyper-realism in VR is expected to be commonplace. Ultra-high-resolution displays with over 8K resolution per eye using MicroLED and OLED-on-Silicon technologies will deliver vivid visuals without pixelation. Advanced haptic feedback through suits and gloves will simulate real-world sensations such as touch, texture, and temperature. Multi-sensory integration with innovations in olfactory and gustatory technologies will further enhance immersive experiences.

The integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning will significantly expand the functionality of XR devices. AI could be used to track user behavior, improve content recommendations, and personalize the VR experience. Machine learning algorithms can optimize the VR system for better performance, reduce latency, and improve overall user satisfaction.

The trend toward wireless and standalone devices will continue. With the advent of 5G technology, it's possible that future XR headsets will be completely wireless, eliminating the need for bulky cables and external computers. Standalone devices like the Meta Quest are already paving the way for wireless, high-quality VR experiences.

Forecasts predict that more than 60 million XR devices could be sold annually by 2035, valued at $47.1 billion. By 2045, this number could rise to over 200 million devices, valued at $217 billion. By comparison, 1.2 billion smartphones were shipped in 2024, valued at $609 billion.

Which application areas will XR technologies transform?

Extended reality technologies have the potential to fundamentally transform numerous industries. In the healthcare industry, VR and mixed reality headsets are already being used to enhance training opportunities and enable outstanding patient care. Medical training institutions are using Meta Quest headsets along with custom applications to increase training effectiveness and improve team productivity.

AR glasses support complex surgeries by displaying medical data and anatomical models. Telemedicine applications enable remote patient care, allowing specialists to guide on-site staff. Organizations like LifeArc are using virtual reality to revolutionize drug development and design.

In the manufacturing industry, smart glasses enable the digitization of experienced employees' knowledge. Assembly instructions, quality checks, and safety instructions can be transmitted directly, which is especially important when skilled workers are in short supply. Virtual reality applications complement this by enabling safe training on virtual systems.

The automotive industry uses AR glasses in both development and production. Designers can virtually inspect full-size vehicle models, while assembly workers receive work instructions via the glasses. These applications justify higher investments and specialized hardware.

In education, XR enables the creation of interactive learning environments. VR is increasingly being used in schools and universities to illustrate complex concepts. Students can experience historical events, observe scientific phenomena, or take virtual field trips.

What does the Android XR platform mean for developers?

For developers, Android XR offers exceptional opportunities and a comparatively low entry point. The platform is designed to meet developers where they already are. If a company already uses Android phones or tablets, or the development team is familiar with common tools like Unity or OpenXR, the path to successful Android XR adoption is already paved.

The Android XR Software Development Kit supports users with a range of development tools, from WebXR to Android Studio to any 3D tool of their choice, from Blender to Maya. Developers get access to pre-built code labs, frameworks, and libraries for spatial computing experiences. This means they don't have to start from scratch and can continue to publish their Android apps to the Google Play Store.

Most Android apps are compatible with Android XR without any additional development effort. Android XR handles device interaction and lifecycle management, allowing developers to focus on innovation. To differentiate an existing Compose app, developers can choose to automatically spatialize Material Design components and use Compose for adaptive layouts in XR.

The platform supports a variety of development approaches. With Jetpack XR, developers can use familiar Android APIs and frameworks to reduce the learning curve and develop for a range of XR devices. Unity provides full access to content production features and makes it easy to bring apps from other platforms to Android XR. OpenXR streamlines development with its royalty-free open standard, and WebXR harnesses the power of web technologies to create XR experiences directly in a browser.

How will competition in the XR market develop?

Competition in the XR market is rapidly intensifying, with several major technology companies vying for market share. Meta's success with Ray-Ban smart glasses hasn't gone unnoticed. Both Apple and Google are reportedly working on their own smart glasses, while Meta continues to expand its portfolio with rumored high-fashion AI glasses in partnership with Prada.

This round of competition confirms what many in the XR industry have suspected: smart glasses, not headsets, could be the breakthrough form factor for mainstream adoption. For business leaders, this competition is good news. More players mean better products, competitive pricing, and faster innovation cycles.

Meta currently holds the largest market share in the XR space. IDC found that over 70 percent of global AR and VR headset shipments in 2024 were attributed to Meta. With Ray-Ban Meta glasses already selling 2 million units and plans for 10 million annually by 2026, Meta is well positioned.

Apple is taking a different approach with the Vision Pro, which focuses on premium spatial computing. Reports suggest that Apple may be redirecting its attention to smart glasses as the likely next step in its XR roadmap, with a launch planned for 2026 focused on acoustic interaction and Apple Intelligence.

Samsung is strategically positioning itself between these extremes with Android XR. The open Android approach could appeal to both developers and consumers who want more freedom with software and accessories. The partnership with Google and Qualcomm creates an advantage that Apple's closed approach can't easily replicate.

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What can we expect at the Samsung event on October 22nd?

The Samsung Galaxy Event Worlds Wide Open on October 22 at 4:00 a.m. CEST promises to be a groundbreaking moment for the XR industry. Samsung will officially unveil Project Moohan, including the final product name, full technical specifications, pricing, and availability dates.

In addition to the headset itself, Samsung is expected to introduce VR motion controllers that have not yet been revealed. These controllers will likely offer precise input options for games and applications that go beyond hand and eye control.

Android XR will play a central role in the event. Google will likely demonstrate the platform's latest features and capabilities, including deep integration with Gemini AI. Partnerships with app developers and content providers are also expected to be announced to strengthen the initial ecosystem.

Multimodal AI capabilities will be the focus. Samsung describes the event as the beginning of a new era of AI-native devices, emphasizing the seamless connection between everyday utility and immersive new experiences. The demonstration will show how natural interactions through voice, gestures, and gaze enable the most intuitive way of operation.

For viewers in different time zones: The event will begin at 10 p.m. ET on October 21, which corresponds to 4 a.m. CEST on October 22, 11 a.m. Japan Time on October 22, and 7:30 a.m. India Standard Time on October 22. The live stream will be available on the Samsung Newsroom website and Samsung's official YouTube channel.

The announcement of Project Moohan marks the beginning of a new era for extended reality, where open platforms, powerful AI integration, and diverse hardware options come together to make immersive technologies accessible to millions of people. Whether Samsung succeeds with this vision will become clear in the coming months, but the stage is set for an exciting competition for the future of human-computer interaction.

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