Samsung is planning to launch a wireless AR/VR headset as soon as this summer, according to reports from the firm’s Korean homeland.
The Korea Times says Samsung has paired with Microsoft on the project, which will support both virtual and augmented reality experiences.
This suggests any release will be part of Microsoft’s mixed reality platform, which already has a number of headsets available from the like likes of HP, Dell, Acer and ASUS.
A “Samsung official” – which appears to means an unnamed inside source rather than a spokesperson giving confirmations – says that high-priced and cordless solutions are on the way.
“Samsung plans to use in-house application processors, OLED displays and sensors,” the official said.
“But more importantly, Microsoft has lowered its demand for royalties as it is taking a multi-pronged approach to delivering a rich ecosystem of games and applications that will entice users.”
Related: Apple AR/VR headset latest
The new headsets would probably sit alongside the existing Gear VR headsets Samsung has released in cahoots with Oculus. They require the insertion of a smartphone, whereas the mixed reality headsets would not.
If the report is to be believed, the headsets would arrive at the IFA tech show in Berlin in late August, alongside the Galaxy Note 9.
Critically, this would be at least a year before Apple’s much-vaunted entry into the market.
Also, Apple is working on a mixed reality headset that can switch between AR and VR with a launch pencilled in for 2020.
Related: Best VR headset 2018
The company has gone on record in recent months, saying it is waiting for the technology to catch up to its ambitions.
Samsung, it seems, has no intention of waiting.
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
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