Samsung and Google recently confirmed plans to introduce their collaborative “XR platform” in 2024, with the exact release date pending further clarification.
In February 2023, a groundbreaking partnership was unveiled between industry giants Samsung, Google, and Qualcomm, as they jointly launched the XR platform – built firmly on the foundation of Android. The timing of the announcement suggests we can expect to learn more about that platform, potentially powering other devices, in late 2023 or early 2024.
Although the news was highly anticipated just a few months prior, Apple officially revealed its Intelligent Professional headset, announcing that it would hit the market in early 2024.
Since the XR initiative was announced, there has been a noticeable silence from Samsung, Google, and Qualcomm, aside from whispers suggesting they may be re-evaluating their strategies following Apple’s unveiling of Pro Display XDR.
By the end of 2024, possibly as early as its official reveal, the companies have now confirmed that they will unveil their new product.
In the course of the Samsung Unpacked occasion this week, Google’s SVP of Platform & Gadgets, Rick Osterloh, took to the stage and spoke briefly about the way forward for the corporate’s collaboration with Samsung:
As we look to the future, we’re committed to delivering cutting-edge experiences across our entire Galaxy product lineup. Here is the rewritten text:
“Our focus spans from cutting-edge smartphones and wearables to pioneering future technologies, including our collaborative effort with Samsung and Qualcomm on the development of an innovative XR platform for next-generation devices,” Osterloh noted. You won’t want to miss that; stay tuned. As we enter a groundbreaking era of mobile innovation, we’re delighted to elevate our collaboration with Samsung to new heights.
Following the announcement, Samsung’s TM Roh, Head of Cell, echoed the statement on stage, specifying that the XR platform in question is expected to be available by the end of 2024.
“I commend Osterloh and the Google team for fostering a collaborative spirit that drives innovation, as evident in our upcoming XR platform launch.”
While the concept of an “XR platform” has been touted, its exact form remains unclear. While initial expectations suggested that companies would focus on competing with Meta’s game-centric Quest platform, the shift in emphasis towards general productivity and spatial computing may have altered their priorities. Despite this, Samsung, Google, and Qualcomm are unlikely to want to create an entry-level market. As a stopgap solution, Apple could pioneer its territory with mobile-centric, transparent AR glasses by starting with the foundation of smartglass functionality.
For now, we’re aware that additional learning will be introduced later this year; however, it’s still uncertain whether we’ll receive a formal announcement or actual product rollout by the end of 2024.
Assumptions about revelations are inherently ambiguous; however, I suppose one might anticipate the emergence of profound insights, unforeseen connections, or concealed truths. Ideally, I would hope to witness a gradual unfolding of the unknown, with each successive revelation building upon the previous one, much like the layers of an onion being peeled away to reveal its core. Tell us within the feedback beneath!
