Samsung Electronics is set to unveil its first extended reality (XR) headset, “Project Moohan,” during the Galaxy Unpacked 2025 event on January 22 in San Jose, California. This launch comes at a pivotal moment for the XR market, which saw a slowdown last year following the lackluster performance of Apple’s Vision Pro. The Vision Pro faced challenges such as uncomfortable wearability and limited content offerings, leaving a gap in the market for innovation.
The “Project Moohan” headset marks Samsung’s entry into the XR space and will be the first to run on the Android XR platform. Developed in collaboration with Google and Qualcomm, the device combines cutting-edge technology from the three tech giants. Alongside the anticipated Galaxy S25 smartphone series, the headset is expected to highlight the Galaxy Unpacked event, showcasing Samsung’s push into immersive technology.
Project Moohan represents an advancement in XR technology. It is the first headset to feature Android XR, a platform specifically developed for XR devices by Samsung, Google, and Qualcomm. This collaboration aims to address past issues faced by XR devices, such as wearability and content limitations. Additionally, Project Moohan will integrate Google’s generative AI service, Gemini, which is expected to enhance the user experience by offering more personalized and dynamic interactions.
Samsung plans to release Project Moohan initially for developers, with a broader consumer launch expected at a later date. During the Galaxy Unpacked 2025 event, the company is expected to showcase prototypes or teaser videos of the device, highlighting its cutting-edge technology and design. Industry experts are eager to see how Project Moohan stacks up against current competitors, such as Meta and Sony, which have established their presence in the XR market with their own devices.
The headset will also offer new features, such as Google’s “Find My Device” service, which will help users locate their XR headset if misplaced. Additionally, Google will introduce new app modes for the device, including “Home Space” and “Full Space.” The Home Space mode will allow users to multitask by running applications side-by-side, while the Full Space mode will give one app full-screen access, enabling users to focus on a single task at a time.
The growing interest in XR technology was evident at CES 2025, where companies like TCL and Xreal showcased their smart glasses products. This highlights the increasing competition and innovation in the XR space. Meta, which has previously teamed up with Ray-Ban for smart glasses, is expected to release a new product with a display later this year.
Similarly, Sony plans to unveil an industrial XR head-mounted display (HMD) on January 23, developed in partnership with Siemens. Chinese smartphone maker Vivo has also announced its intention to release its own XR device later this year, signaling the rapid growth and competition in the XR market.
The XR market is under intense scrutiny as industry players anticipate whether recent innovations can drive growth this year. DIGITIMES Research predicts that over 100 companies will launch AI smart glasses in 2025, with shipments of smart glasses expected to soar from several million units to 20 million by 2030. This growth is fueled by the increasing competition and advancements in XR technology, including virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR), all of which are expected to enhance user experiences significantly.
Samsung’s Project Moohan headsets are set to leverage these emerging technologies, offering a comprehensive, immersive experience at a competitive price point. In collaboration with Google and Qualcomm, Samsung aims to deliver a more affordable and accessible alternative to Apple’s XR devices, focusing on convenience, wearability, and high-quality content. As the market evolves, Samsung’s offering could be a game-changer in the XR space, positioning the company to capitalize on the growing demand for next-generation smart glasses and headsets.
