Galaxy XR price revealed, Samsung massively undercuts Apple

Samsung's brand-new XR (eXtended Reality) experience, enabled by artificial intelligence and the Android XR platform, is finally official after a couple of years of teasing. Not only that, but you can order the Galaxy XR headset today.

It costs $1,799, which is actually very surprising considering the competition. Pretty much everyone expected Samsung's XR headset to cost about the same as the Apple Vision Pro, but the Galaxy XR is a lot cheaper.

Besides, if you have already pre-registered for the device, you will save $100 upon ordering it today. So, technically, early Galaxy XR adopters can buy the headset for as low as $1,699. You also get access to $1000 worth of subscriptions to Google AI Pro, YouTube Premium, and Google Play Pass.

In contrast, the 256GB Apple Vision Pro launched for $3,499. Samsung's headset has the same amount of built-in storage: 256GB.

Part of why Samsung achieved this lower price for the Galaxy XR might be that, unlike the Vision Pro, Samsung's headset doesn't have a forward-facing display that renders the wearer's eyes to the outside world.

Samsung, Google, and Qualcomm appear to have focused more on the XR experience. The Galaxy XR does offer gesture controls and relies heavily on Gemini as a voice-activated control method.

The headset can also be paired with physical motion controllers, though Samsung sells them separately for $250. However, you can get them now at a 30% discount.

Advanced VR and XR headsets have always had a high barrier to entry, which is one reason why they haven't been widely adopted by consumers yet. But Samsung appears to be on the right track with the Galaxy XR.

Although it is an unfair comparison, the Galaxy XR is, essentially, a state-of-the-art device that costs less than the Galaxy Z Fold 7. It feels obtainable, even though it is still expensive.

Whether Samsung's Galaxy XR will change the market remains to be seen. It might force Apple to release a cheaper version of the Vision Pro. It might persuade more people to get into XR and VR. It could push this emerging market to the next level. Or it might not.

Time will tell, but if you are interested in buying the Galaxy XR and joining the XR party early on, you can order the headset today from the Samsung e-shop, as long as you're doing it in the USA or Korea.