Samsung is stepping into the mixed reality arena with their upcoming MR headset, currently known to insiders as "Project Moohan." Scheduled for a consumer release in 2025, this device promises to blend the line between virtual and augmented reality. During a sneak peek of the early prototype, we got a sense of its potential, though specifics remain under wraps.
At this stage, Samsung and Google are keeping tight-lipped about the headset’s specs—such as resolution, weight, field-of-view, and pricing. My demo experience also came with restrictions on capturing photos and videos, leaving us with just the official image for now.
Imagine a device that seems to borrow elements from both the Quest and Vision Pro—Project Moohan does just that, adopting a design that’s clearly influenced by the latter. The sleek aesthetic, intuitive button layout, and intuitive setup process all suggest a keen awareness of competitors’ offerings.
On the software front, if you envisioned a mix of Horizon OS and VisionOS, you’d likely end up with something akin to Android XR. The resemblance to existing platforms is uncanny, yet this isn’t about accusing Samsung of copying. In the tech world, everyone adapts ideas from one another, often improving them along the way. As long as Project Moohan improves upon others’ successes and sidesteps their failures, it’s a boon for both developers and end users.
Indeed, many of the highlights seem to be present in this intriguing new headset.
Hands-on With Samsung Project Moohan Android XR Headset
Looking at the Project Moohan, it’s hard not to admire its aesthetic. It mirrors the goggles-style design of the Vision Pro, yet it opts for a rigid strap with a tightening mechanism, similar in style and comfort to the Quest Pro’s ergonomic design. This open-peripheral design is particularly useful for augmented reality applications, and like the Quest Pro, it includes optional magnetic blinds for those wanting a more immersive experience.
While many aspects, such as button positioning, resemble the Vision Pro, Project Moohan notably lacks an external display to show the wearer’s eyes—a feature I appreciate on Vision Pro. This omission makes interaction a bit awkward, as I miss the direct visual connection with the headset wearer, despite being able to see them.
Though Samsung remains reticent about the prototype’s specific technical details, I gathered that the device leverages a Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 chip, a powerhouse compared to those in the Quest 3 and Quest 3S.
During my hands-on time, I learned that Project Moohan employs pancake lenses with automatic IPD adjustment, thanks to built-in eye-tracking. Although the field-of-view seemed smaller than that of Quest 3 or Vision Pro, trying out different forehead pads could potentially position my eyes closer to the lenses, thereby enhancing the field-of-view.
Despite the seemingly smaller field-of-view—still immersive—the display’s brightness tapers off at the edges, hinting that while Meta’s Quest 3 leads in lens tech, Project Moohan trails slightly behind.
Although controllers will accompany Project Moohan, I wasn’t able to test them, and Samsung hasn’t finalized whether they’ll be bundled or sold separately.
In lieu of controllers, I navigated the headset with a mix of hand-tracking and eye-tracking inputs, akin to the amalgamation of Horizon OS and VisionOS. The Samsung device cleverly incorporates cameras facing downward to detect pinches even when hands rest in one’s lap.
What stood out was the clarity of my hands within the headset—more defined than in Quest 3 and with less motion blur than Vision Pro, albeit under ideal lighting. The focus seemed centered around arm’s length, indicating targeted passthrough functionality.
Inside Android XR
On the software side, Android XR immediately echoes the feel of both Horizon OS and VisionOS. The interface showcases a home screen filled with app icons over a see-through backdrop. Selecting an app involves a look-and-pinch gesture, resulting in floating panels à la Vision Pro. Similarly, returning to the home screen requires gazing at one’s palm and pinching.
The app windows themselves bear a stronger resemblance to those in Horizon OS, supporting opaque backgrounds and allowing movement via invisible frames surrounding the panels.
Beyond just flat apps, Android XR enables fully immersive experiences. I explored a VR rendition of Google Maps—reminiscent of Google Earth VR—browsing cities in 3D, scanning Street View imagery, and exploring volumetric captures of interior spaces.
As Google Photos received an Android XR update, I witnessed seamless conversions of 2D photos into impressive 3D renditions, paralleling quality seen in Vision Pro.
YouTube, too, has optimized for Android XR, allowing playback of its library in 180, 360, and 3D formats. Although not all content shines, the support for such media shows promise as more headsets gain compatibility.
A compelling feature was YouTube’s ability to convert 2D videos into 3D for headset viewing. While the quality mirrored the Google Photos conversions, the criteria for automatic conversion—whether creator-initiated or algorithm-assigned—wasn’t clarified.
The Stand-out Advantage (for now)
In both hardware and software, Android XR and Project Moohan resemble Google’s answer to existing innovations. Yet, where they excel is in integrating conversational AI.
Enter Gemini, a powerful AI agent, seamlessly woven into the Project Astra variant. Accessible straight from the home screen, Gemini hears and sees your reality and virtual interactions in real-time, offering a depth of integration unmatched by competitors.
While Vision Pro features Siri, it lacks the dynamic capabilities of Gemini. Quest’s experimental Meta AI agent only perceives the real world, resulting in an awkward disconnect. Unlike these, Gemini provides a continuous, low-framerate feed, eliminating awkward pausing to analyze single images.
Gemini’s short-term memory, retaining key conversational details for ten minutes, adds to its contextual understanding. During my test, this capability shone through when I asked about a previously translated sign, demonstrating its memory and language proficiency.
Its ability to guide me virtually—something as straightforward as entering “take me to the Eiffel Tower”—brings to life Google Maps’ immersive 3D view interspersed with interactive content.
Gemini’s prowess extends to managing headset functions. While it’s equipped to handle standard assistant tasks like messaging and reminders, its deeper XR-specific abilities remain a keen point of interest as we approach launch.
For now, Gemini enhances the spatial productivity of Project Moohan superbly and hints at a significant future in everyday smart wearables. As these technologies evolve, we’ll see if Google maintains its edge in integrating AI within XR environments. More on these advancements awaits in another article.
