It an open secret that Samsung is not done with the XR industry yet. Some say they may even release a new XR device as soon as 2023.
Based on statements they have made, industry rumors, and patent filings, this is what we know.
Samsung was active early on in the VR hardware industry, producing both the GearVR headset (2015) that worked in conjunction with Samsung Galaxy's line of phone, and their Samsung Odyssey WMR PCVR headset (2017).
A protoype refresh of the Samsung Odyssey was teased in Samsung patent applications in 2020, showing that while Samsung didn't release an updated headset, their research continued internally.
In 2021, Twitter user WalkingCat (@_h0x0d_) posted apparent leaked internal concept videos from Samsung that appear to show a compelling vision for their idealized AR device. The videos show the device being used as a screen for gaming/ media consumption, a virtual desktop, and as a roomscale AR device.
R&D Vision Concept ? https://t.co/JYQmy850K9
— WalkingCat (@_h0x0d_) February 21, 2021
Naver, a major South Korean news outlet, has reported on Samsung's plans to release an XR device as part of their plan to maintain competition with Apple in the nascent Metaverse industry.
Samsung patents over the past few years also show a company hard at work on the cutting edge of VR/AR.
One of these patents involves technologies to reduce stuttering and distortion while turning the head in an HMD, thus increasing user comfort.
Other patents involve precisely modulating brightness to best reduce strain on the user's eyes.
And just a lot of newer patents involving AR and MR technologies and virtual objects.
