For many years, Meta has dominated the market for wearable computing devices. Now, Samsung aims to achieve what even Apple has struggled with.
This week, the Korean electronics company unveiled the Galaxy XR headset, positioning it as a competitor to the Meta Quest 3. While both headsets aim for the XR experience, they differ significantly in various aspects. Let’s compare their specifications, pricing, and features.
Samsung Galaxy XR vs. Meta Quest 3: Pricing
The primary distinction between these two devices lies in their pricing. The Galaxy XR is priced at $1,799, whereas the Meta Quest 3 starts at a much lower price of $499. This substantial price gap raises questions about their competition in the market; however, it is evident that Meta’s headset is the more affordable option for a typical consumer.
Samsung Galaxy XR vs. Meta Quest 3: Specifications
The Samsung Galaxy XR on display at an event in New York City.
The difference in price is reflected in the specifications. Here are the key specs for the Galaxy XR:
- Two micro-OLED displays at 3552×3840 resolution per eye, up to 90Hz refresh rate
- Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 chipset
- 109-degree horizontal and 100-degree vertical field of view
- Eye tracking and iris recognition features
- 256GB storage
- 16GB RAM
- Weight: 545g
Now, here are the comparable specs for the Quest 3:
- Two LCD displays at 2064×2208 resolution per eye, up to 120Hz refresh rate
- Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chipset
- 103.8-degree horizontal and 96.4-degree vertical field of view
- No eye tracking
- 512GB storage
- 8GB RAM
- Weight: 515g
Samsung Galaxy XR vs. Meta Quest 3: Controllers
The Galaxy XR’s left-handed controller.
The Meta Quest 3’s right-handed controller.
Both devices support hand tracking, minimizing the need for controllers, though controllers enhance VR gaming experiences. The Meta Quest 3 includes two controllers with various features included, while the Galaxy XR requires separate purchase of its controllers for $249, significantly increasing its overall cost.
Samsung Galaxy XR vs. Meta Quest 3: Battery Life
Samsung claims the Galaxy XR offers up to 2 hours of general use and 2.5 hours of video playback, which is typical for XR headsets. The Meta Quest 3 is rated for 2.2 hours of use, showing little difference in performance. It may seem surprising that a nearly $2,000 device does not significantly outperform its $500 counterpart in battery life.
While more differences may come to light when the Galaxy XR is actively tested, it currently appears that the Galaxy XR is tailored for enthusiasts, while the Meta Quest 3 is designed for a broader audience.
