The competition for wearable tech is heating up.
The Apple Vision Pro and Meta Quest 3 are getting a new mixed-reality headset rival, CNN reported on Friday. Google and Samsung are collaborating on an original piece of headgear and a new Android XR operating system that will contend with devices previously released by Apple Inc. and Meta Platforms. Code named Project Moohan (or “infinity” in Korean), the headset will hit the market sometime next year. However, the price has not yet been revealed.
In terms of capabilities, the headset will show locations in detail through Google Maps. Plus, users can watch videos via YouTube and take advantage of its trip planning capabilities with the help of Google’s AI chatbot, Gemini.
At the same time the mixed-reality headset was announced, the companies also introduced a new Android XR operating system, which will power future Samsung-built wearable devices including the forthcoming headset and even smart glasses.
“We are at an inflection point for the XR, where breakthroughs in multimodal AI enable natural and intuitive ways to use technology in your everyday life,” Sameer Samat, president of Android Ecosystem at Google, said in a press statement. “We’re thrilled to partner with Samsung to build a new ecosystem with Android XR, transforming computing for everyone on next-generation devices like headsets, glasses, and beyond.”
Since Apple released its Vision Pro earlier this year, the $3,499 headset has struggled to meet demand after users claimed it was uncomfortable to wear and were disappointed with its features. In response, the tech giant has reportedly slowed down production of the headset and could stop making the current version Vision Pro altogether in favor of a cheaper alternative.
In the meantime, news broke that Apple might be moving on to smart eyewear next after Meta previously released its own Ray-Ban smart specs. While nothing has been officially confirmed, Apple was allegedly workshopping the idea and testing products among its employees as it often does to better understand the current market. In addition to Meta’s Ray-Ban glasses, its CEO Mark Zuckerberg unveiled a prototype of the company’s first AR eyewear dubbed Orion during a conference in September, calling them “the most advanced glasses the world has ever seen.” Though, they’re not expected to be released to the public until at least 2027.
Authors
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Abby Montanez