Samsung’s long-awaited XR device faces a delay, the Korean media reports. Originally expected to arrive later this year, its release has been postponed by 4-5 months. The revised schedule pushes it to the second quarter of 2025. A lackluster response to Apple’s Vision Pro allegedly contributed to a delayed launch of Samsung’s first XR product.
Samsung delayed its XR launch because of poor Vision Pro sales
In early 2023, Samsung, Google, and Qualcomm announced a partnership on futuristic XR experiences. The firms didn’t specify what kinds of products they would develop. However, since the Vision Pro was in the limelight around that time, they were expected to work on a similar XR headset. Qualcomm’s CEO recently revealed they have a pair of mixed reality (MR) smart glasses in the pipeline.
Rumors said Samsung plans to release a developer version of the product this year, followed by a commercial release in early 2025. Mass production of the device was supposed to begin in late 2024. However, industry sources recently told TheElec that the Korean firm has postponed the plans. It hasn’t completely canceled the MR/XR project but delayed the device’s market release.
Samsung no longer plans to begin mass production of its upcoming MR/XR glasses. It pushed back the whole schedule by 4-5 months, an industry official revealed. The device will enter production in the second quarter of 2025, followed by a market release later that quarter. “The sluggishness of the Apple Vision Pro had an impact” on Samsung’s release schedule for the product, the publication reports.
Market studies have revealed a sharp decline in XR sales over the past year. The Vision Pro garnered some interest early on but has had a poor market response overall. Samsung wouldn’t want to enter the scene when the demand is low. It’s waiting for the right opportunity when the XR industry starts blooming again, or at least recovers from the ongoing continuous decline.
