Samsung's Project Moohan XR Headset: A Vision Pro Challenger
Samsung is preparing to launch its first extended reality (XR) headset, internally codenamed “Project Moohan.” Following an investor call this week, the device is slated for release in the second half of 2025 and is expected to be available for purchase before the year concludes. Samsung has been teasing the development of this headset for approximately a year, and several key details have emerged regarding its specifications and features.
Project Moohan is designed with premium specifications, aiming to compete directly with Apple’s Vision Pro. It will incorporate Qualcomm’s Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 chip and utilize pancake lenses, a common choice for compact XR devices. The user interface is anticipated to be similar to Apple’s Vision Pro, relying primarily on hand tracking, with future plans to integrate eye tracking. For display technology, Project Moohan is expected to feature Micro OLED panels, mirroring a key component of the $3,500 Vision Pro. Furthermore, in a design choice shared with its Apple counterpart, the headset will reportedly use an external battery pack to distribute weight and enhance user comfort.
A significant differentiator for Project Moohan lies in its operating system. It is set to be the first headset to run on Android XR, Google’s dedicated mixed-reality platform. This contrasts with Apple’s proprietary visionOS, and how Android XR performs against visionOS, particularly regarding user interface seamlessness, will be a critical point of evaluation.
The most crucial area for Samsung to distinguish Project Moohan from the Vision Pro may be its pricing strategy. Apple’s Vision Pro is notably expensive, which has limited its accessibility for many potential users interested in an Apple XR experience. Project Moohan’s reported premium components—including a high-quality display, a hand-tracking-based UI, a top-tier chip, and premium materials—suggest a potentially high price point.
However, given the modest sales performance of the Vision Pro since its 2024 release, largely attributed to its cost, Samsung might adopt a more competitive pricing approach. While Samsung, like Apple, is capable of playing a long game in emerging markets, widespread adoption of new technologies often hinges on initial accessibility. The entry of major players like Samsung into the XR space is generally viewed as a positive development, fostering increased attention and investment that could ultimately lead to the development of more compact, lighter, and affordable headsets in the future.