Korean company launches Galaxy XR rental service for $110 a day

Claiming that Samsung's new Galaxy XR headset is hard to come by might be an understatement. SamMobile managed to acquire one unit, luckily enough, but the headset is otherwise limited to two markets: Korea and the USA.

Even in these regions, it's not a cheap device. Galaxy XR costs $1,799 without any accessories. And since this is the first Samsung device of its kind, investing in Galaxy XR without knowing precisely what it can do for you or your business takes a leap of faith. However, someone in Korea appears to have had the clever idea to open a rental service.

Samsung Korea does not officially offer the Galaxy XR rental service; instead, Metaverse distributor IP Mall does. According to the local media, the service is open exclusively to businesses. Interested parties have to submit a copy of their business registration certificate before they can rent Samsung's headset.

There is no deposit, but there is a minimum time requirement of two rental days. The Galaxy XR rental service reportedly costs 159,000 won ($110) per day.

As to why IP Mall doesn't offer the Galaxy XR for consumers, it has to do with what the company believes the headset's target audience is. IP Mall says that regular consumers expect VR and AR games.

Thus far, the Galaxy XR headset seems to prioritize experiences tailored more for developers and businesses.

Author's Note: IP Mall might have hit the nail on the head. Although Galaxy XR seems fun to use, most primary apps right now revolve around watching video content, streaming, and Google services.

For VR gaming content, headsets like the Meta Quest seemingly do a much better job, and they're significantly cheaper than the Samsung Galaxy XR.

Will this hurt Samsung's XR attempt in the long run? Maybe, or perhaps Galaxy XR will carve out its own niche. It's something to keep an eye on as the market hopefully evolves.