Samsung gave up on its Gear VR project a few years ago, with the Galaxy S10 being the last mobile device to support the VR (virtual reality) head-mounted display. Nevertheless, although the Gear VR is no longer a thing, the company has refocused its efforts on AR (augmented reality). This type of technology (AR) appears to be the way of the future, thanks to its potential usefulness in day-to-day life. As for Samsung's involvement with AR, we're hearing that the company has a new pair of AR glasses in the works.
Samsung has been working on an AR prototype carrying model number SM-I110 for at least one year. However, a new report from our colleagues at GalaxyClub suggests that a new AR headset bearing model number SM-I120 has succeeded the old SM-I110.
SM-I120: A new prototype? A dev kit? Or a soon-to-be-commercial device?
Unfortunately, it's too early to tell what the SM-I120 AR headset is all about. There's little information about this device and its capabilities. It exists somewhere at Samsung's AR development labs, where it took the spot of the old SM-I110 prototype.
However, it's unclear whether the SM-I120 AR headset is a new prototype destined to remain in Samsung's labs or if it's a dev kit designed to allow third-party developers to create AR software in the future. For all we know, it could be a pre-production device that may see the light of day in 2023. But as yet, there's no way to be sure.
One thing is certain: Samsung hasn't given up on developing AR hardware. And it's a good thing, too, seeing how the Oculus / Meta platform is taking more shape with the introduction of the Quest Pro. Even Apple is working on its first AR headset behind closed doors, so, as Samsung fans, it's good to know that the company wants to become a bigger part of this emerging segment.
