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Extended reality, or XR, could just be the next big tech breakthrough. Samsung Galaxy XR is already melding Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR), and Mixed Reality (MR), to make the idea of a heads-up display that would have felt like science fiction a few years ago feel like it’s here right now. We’re unlikely to be swapping our smartphones for smart glasses instantaneously, of course, but there are a whole host of exciting developments coming that could make it more commonplace. Here are five things to be excited about for Extended Reality (XR) going forward. Gemini Live Samsung’s Galaxy XR headset is already partnered up with Google Gemini, and it does a great job of adding context to the world around you. Ask it to tell you about the type of flower you’re looking at and it’ll helpfully oblige, and you can even share your screen so a quick “Hey Google” is all you need to identify objects. It feels like a great way to integrate AI, and perhaps makes just as much sense on a high-tech headset as it does anywhere else, since it can be that little bit more personal. For example, you can ask Gemini for assistance in a game without necessarily describing the game, genre, or even your character - it’ll just work it out from the context available, such as the screen it’s looking at. Android XR As you can tell from Gemini’s involvement, Android XR is the platform of choice for XR early adopters, and it’s off to a great start. Still, XR takes a lot of resources, simultaneously showing the world around a user and piping in regular information, and that’s before touching on the intensive processes AI, such as Gemini, requires. Thankfully, the Samsung Galaxy XR has the Snapdragon XR2+ chipset under the hood for 20% faster CPU and 15% faster GPU processing than other headsets - plus a whopping 16GB of RAM. A growing ecosystem As XR grows in popularity, expect more experiences to be made for headsets and smart glasses, while the app ecosystem is also likely to grow. Android XR is a great starting point because of the huge number of apps available, and that’ll only grow in the next few years as developers go hands on. We’ll also likely see more functionality across devices. For example, being able to play your video games from your PC on your XR headset, or running an important presentation as if you’re in an auditorium, to help you prepare. And when it comes to delivering that presentation? It might not be long until we’re all holding meetings in XR, despite being in different countries and on different time zones, even if you want to take your meetings in your favorite coffee shop. Smart Glasses Not everyone wants to wear a bulky headset, and Smart Glasses will likely be a more convenient way to enjoy XR functionality. Samsung is already working on its own Project Haean, and could arrive as soon as this year. They’re more lightweight and fashionable than a dedicated headset, and wouldn’t need users to essentially block out the rest of the world while in use, meaning you could wear them while walking down the street to get directions or place your lunch order. Faster Networking We’re living in the era of 5G connectivity, which is much faster than 4G and its predecessors, but what about 6G? We could approach an era of connectivity where it’s possible to leave your phone at home and interact with the world around you solely through your smart glasses or headset through XR. It’s surely a way off, but it’s something to think about. All of this doesn’t even factor in the advancements in VR in recent years, like live broadcasts, made-for-headset entertainment content, and improved control options from finger tracking to dedicated controllers - all of which applies to XR, too. More from Tom's Guide
