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ZDNET Highlights
- Samsung has confirmed that the next Unpacked will take place on October 21st.
- The event will showcase its Project Mohan XR headset and possibly other products.
- Early adopters can reserve a preorder today and receive a $100 store credit.
The time is almost here for Samsung to finally announce the long-awaited Project Mohan headset.
The company confirmed last week that it will be hosting a virtual Unpacked event on Tuesday, October 21 at 10 pm ET, during which we’ll likely learn everything about its next-generation XR headset. Codenamed Project Mohan, the headset was created in partnership with Google and Qualcomm, and is intended to be a direct competitor to the $3,499 Apple Vision Pro.
Also: I finally tried Samsung’s XR headset, and it outperforms my Apple Vision Pro in meaningful ways
But will the trio of tech giants succeed? This depends on a number of things, including pricing, comfort, and the seamlessness of the software ecosystem, given that the headset runs on Google’s latest Android XR platform.
what we know so far
I first saw Project Mohan demoed at Google I/O earlier this year, and it was a strangely familiar experience. Like the Apple Vision Pro, Samsung’s XR headset is a mixed reality system that operates through motion, finger gestures and eye tracking, and is connected to a portable power bank.
You’ve started with eye-tracking calibration, and you can fit corrective lenses if necessary. As far as the rest of the experience goes, imagine an Android user interface, with various app icons, pop-up menus, and notifications floating in the air. I think most existing Android users won’t have trouble navigating the new operating system.
Also: I wore smart glasses with xMEMS speakers and a cooling fan — and wished my Ray-Bans did too
In particular, I found the Project Mohan to be much lighter and have better weight distribution than the Vision Pro—though this comes at the cost of a cheap-feeling headband and shell. We’re talking hard plastic versus Apple’s metal and aluminum. This isn’t a bad thing, as Samsung’s choice of materials makes the headset more comfortable to wear while likely keeping the cost down.
Another selling point are the various Gemini tools baked into Android XR, which allow users to freely request AI assistance, whether they’re looking for a local recommendation on Maps or asking for gameplay advice. I’m looking forward to a more complete demo at next week’s Unpacked event.
Finally, Project Muhan reportedly runs on a Qualcomm XR2+ Gen 2 chipset, which, according to the numbers, is less performant than Apple’s new M5 processor. We’ll have to compare the two when the units arrive for review.
Preorder offer for early adopters
Samsung is offering an offer before the virtual event $100 store credit For customers who reserve their preorder for an upcoming Galaxy device. According to Tuesday’s press release, the credit can be applied to “any additional eligible products,” which I assume includes extra battery packs, travel cases, wireless earbuds, and more.
Reserving a pre-order is not a commitment to purchase, so it’s a good idea to do it now to lock in the $100 promotion if you decide to purchase next week.
How to watch the Virtual Unpacked event
Samsung will be streaming the keynote on main website And official youtube channel Tuesday, October 21st at 10PM ET. Stay tuned to ZDNET for updates and coverage of all announcements at that time.
