Samsung is engaged on some sort of XR {hardware} and, whereas it has but to element the product publicly, a newly revealed patent (noticed by 91mobiles) has given us our greatest look but at what it’s engaged on – in addition to teasing that Samsung is uncertain what kind its XR gadget ought to truly take.
That’s as a result of the patent describes “digital units” which “could also be AR glasses and/or a head-mounted machine.” This implies that at the moment Samsung is both uncertain what sort of XR machine it ought to launch, or that it’s engaged on each a Samsung XR headset in addition to AR glasses to compete with the likes of the Meta Orion AR glasses.
This vagueness continues all through the patent description, with Samsung describing the machine as probably having a processor, a show for seeing digital overlays on the true world, some communications skills – so it could possibly wirelessly talk with native units, like a controller, and the web – and motion sensors for head monitoring, amongst different ‘customary’ XR machine specs.
A battery drawback
Scanning by way of the translated doc (the patent was initially filed in Korean) one noticeable omission is the point out of any inner battery, which may recommend the machine will should be linked to a suitable Samsung telephone or battery pack to operate. A telephone connection would align with the strategy Xreal glasses have taken, and can be a extra achievable goal for Samsung’s first AR glasses outing moderately than a totally standalone product.
Batteries add a variety of bulk to a wearable, and would drive Samsung to must stability performance, battery life, and luxury – a tricky act contemplating its relative inexperience on this space of tech.
A wired connection to a telephone would additionally enhance the glasses’ reliance on a Samsung/Android machine to operate, which looks as if one thing Samsung and its associate Google would need as a strategy to persuade techies to go away the AR glasses-less Apple behind.
Connecting to a battery pack would additionally make sense because the likes of the Xreal glasses do burn by way of a telephone’s cost considerably quickly. A battery pack would additionally permit a person to depend on their telephone and glasses with out one drastically lowering the remaining battery lifetime of the opposite.
Nonetheless no point out of software program
For me, this patent additionally doesn’t go into a lot element on what’s by far a very powerful characteristic: software program. I’m pretty assured Samsung’s {hardware} will likely be no less than ‘nice’ given its experience in telephones and TVs. For me the most important query is how will it deal with software program.
I’ve examined a lot of standalone VR headsets, and a few wired AR glasses too, and my major critique is most of them don’t give you sufficient issues to do with them, save one. In my expertise Meta’s Horizon OS is forward by a mile because of its large catalog of software program, glorious unique apps, and clear format.
Samsung and Google (who seems to be growing an AR android) want to noticeably stick the touchdown. Both give us some wonderful apps out the gate, or maintain the worth low cost and reasonably priced (ideally do each). Unique AR apps would assist justify a extra premium value, whereas conversely a decrease value would assist to persuade folks the XR machine is value attempting even when it doesn’t do a lot at first.
We’ll have to attend and see what Samsung publicizes within the coming months when it comes to its software program and {hardware}. There have been rumors it’d showcase a developer equipment this yr – to tie into the promise of a reveal Samsung and Google made again in July – although because the yr involves a detailed we would must accept a 2025 showcase – although even which may require some luck based on different current leaks.
