For years, Meta has been just about the only serious contender in the realm of getting consumers to wear computers on their faces. Now, Samsung is trying to succeed where even Apple has failed.
The Korean tech giant launched the Galaxy XR headset this week, which is, in some senses, a competitor for the Meta Quest 3. However, Samsung’s new XR headset and Meta’s slightly older one are very different products, in plenty of ways. That’s where we come in.
Here’s how the Samsung Galaxy XR and Meta Quest 3 specs, price, and key features compare.
Samsung Galaxy XR vs. Meta Quest 3: Price
Perhaps the most stark difference between these two devices, both of which nominally offer similar XR experiences, is the price. Let’s get right to it: The Galaxy XR costs $1,799. Meta Quest 3, on the other hand, starts at $499. That’s a huge difference, so much so that you almost have to wonder if these two devices are really competitors. To be clear, they are, but Meta’s headset is definitely going to be a more mainstream-friendly option due to how much cheaper it is.
Samsung Galaxy XR vs. Meta Quest 3: Specs
The Samsung Galaxy XR on display at an event in New York City.
Credit: Adam Doud / Mashable
The gap in price can be accounted for when you see the specs. Here are the Galaxy XR’s basic specs:
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Two micro-OLED displays with 3552×3840 resolution per eye and up to 90Hz refresh rate
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Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 chipset
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109-degree horizontal, 100-degree vertical field of view
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Eye tracking and iris recognition included
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256GB storage
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16GB RAM
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545g weight
And here are the equivalent specs on Quest 3:
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Playing with the Meta Quest 3.
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable
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Two LCD displays with 2064×2208 resolution per eye and up to 120Hz refresh rate
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Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chipset
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103.8 degree horizontal, 96.4 degree vertical field of view
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No eye tracking
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512GB storage
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8GB RAM
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515g weight
It all starts with the displays. Galaxy XR’s two displays are higher-end OLED panels with substantially higher resolutions than what you get on Quest 3. The refresh rate is lower, though the difference between 90Hz and 120Hz is not hugely noticeable for the average person. You also get a newer chip powering the Galaxy XR, as well as twice as much RAM, though how its performance differs from Quest 3 in practice remains to be seen.
Samsung’s device also comes with eye tracking, which is pretty important for a headset. On the flipside, Quest 3 is a little bit lighter and actually comes with more onboard storage. Those are the only real advantages, though. It should also be noted that Galaxy XR runs on the Android XR operating system, while Quest 3 runs on Meta’s proprietary OS. That means they won’t necessarily support the same games and apps.
Oh, and the Galaxy XR also has six motion-tracking cameras, as opposed to four on the Quest 3. Again, we can’t say for sure how much that matters in practical terms, but it is a difference worth noting.
Samsung Galaxy XR vs. Meta Quest 3: Controllers
The Galaxy XR’s left-handed controller.
Credit: Samsung
The Meta Quest 3’s right-handed controller.
Credit: Meta
Both of these devices support hand tracking, meaning you don’t necessarily need controllers, but those help a lot when it comes to playing VR games and whatnot. The good news is that Meta Quest 3 comes with two controllers, featuring a standard lineup of buttons, motion tracking, and analog sticks, right in the box.
The bad news? Galaxy XR doesn’t come with controllers. There are Galaxy XR-specific controllers available for sale, but they cost $249. It’s not certain yet just how necessary these are for full enjoyment of the Galaxy XR, but just know that if you want the full experience, you’re going to end up quadrupling the price of a Quest 3.
Samsung Galaxy XR vs. Meta Quest 3: Battery life
Samsung rates the Galaxy XR headset for up to 2 hours of general use and up to 2.5 hours of video playback. That’s obviously not great, but it’s pretty normal for an XR headset. Meta, meanwhile, rates the Quest 3 for 2.2 hours of usage, so there isn’t really a big difference here. One would hope that the nearly $2,000 device would have a meaningfully better battery than the $500 one, but that doesn’t seem to be the case here.
There will surely be more differences between these two devices that are worth highlighting once the Galaxy XR is in our hands, but for now, it seems like the Galaxy XR is much more tuned to enthusiasts and early adopters, while the Meta Quest 3 is for a more general audience.
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