Underwater ROV operations in mixed reality with Samsung Galaxy XR

From Apple Vision Pro to Android XR

In our previous article about the Apple Vision Pro, we demonstrated how spatial computing headsets could serve as compact, portable virtual control centers for underwater drone operations. The concept was simple but powerful: instead of carrying large monitors and setting up elaborate control stations, an operator could wear a mixed reality headset and create a configurable workspace with virtual screens for video, sonar, maps, and telemetry — all anchored in the physical world around them.

The Apple Vision Pro proved the concept, but it exists exclusively within the Apple ecosystem. Many of our enterprise customers operate within Android-centric environments, using Samsung devices and Google services. With the arrival of Android XR and the Samsung Galaxy XR, these customers now have access to the same spatial computing capabilities.

The Samsung Galaxy XR

The Samsung Galaxy XR is a mixed reality headset developed in collaboration between Samsung, Google, and Qualcomm. Launched in October 2025, it is the first device to run Android XR — Google's purpose-built operating system for mixed reality.

The Galaxy XR features dual 4K Micro-OLED displays delivering approximately 27 million pixels across both eyes, with a 109-degree horizontal field of view. Like the Vision Pro, the Galaxy XR uses high-resolution passthrough cameras to blend digital content with the physical world, letting you maintain awareness of your surroundings while interacting with virtual screens and objects.

Key specifications relevant for professional use:

• Display: Dual 4K Micro-OLED, 3,552 x 3,840 pixels per eye, HDR
• Field of View: 109 degrees horizontal, 100 degrees vertical
• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2
• Weight: 545g (headset) + 302g (external battery)
• Battery Life: Approximately 2–2.5 hours
• Input: Hand tracking, eye tracking, voice commands, compatible game controllers
• Price: $1,799 USD

The headset uses six world-facing cameras and a depth sensor for spatial mapping, along with two 6.5-megapixel passthrough cameras that render your surroundings in real time. Four dedicated cameras handle eye tracking, allowing you to navigate the interface simply by looking at elements and using hand gestures — an interaction model that will feel familiar to anyone who has used the Apple Vision Pro.

Operating the Blueye X3 with Samsung Galaxy XR

Android XR is built on Android, which means it can run existing Android apps from Google Play in virtual windows. The Blueye App is available on Android, and runs on the Galaxy XR, providing the same core experience as on a tablet — but with the screen as large as you want it to be, floating in space before you.

Just as with the Apple Vision Pro, you can set up a virtual control center with multiple windows: the Blueye App showing the live video feed from the drone, a sonar display, maps, and any other tools you need for your operation. These windows are anchored in 3D space, so you can move around and they stay in place. You connect a game controller to the Galaxy XR via Bluetooth to operate the drone.

The experience is remarkably similar to what we demonstrated with the Apple Vision Pro. The 4K per-eye resolution provides a sharp, detailed view of the underwater video feed, and the wide field of view allows you to keep multiple information sources visible at once. The passthrough cameras let you stay aware of your surroundings — essential when operating near water.

Why Android XR matters for underwater operations

Beyond providing an alternative platform choice, the Galaxy XR and Android XR bring several distinct advantages for professional underwater operations:

Lower price point

At $1,799, the Galaxy XR is roughly half the price of the Apple Vision Pro. This makes it significantly more practical to equip inspection teams with multiple headsets, or to justify the investment for operations where mixed reality adds value but cost is a concern.

Enterprise management with Samsung Knox

For organizations deploying multiple headsets, the Galaxy XR supports Samsung Knox and Android Enterprise. IT administrators can remotely manage devices, enforce security policies, and handle bulk deployment through Knox Mobile Enrollment — capabilities that are critical for enterprise fleet management.

Android ecosystem integration

The Galaxy XR integrates seamlessly with existing Samsung Galaxy devices. You can mirror your Galaxy phone or Galaxy Book screen to the headset, take calls, and access content across devices. For teams already using Samsung and Android devices in the field, the Galaxy XR fits naturally into existing workflows.

Google Gemini AI integration

Android XR features deep integration with Google Gemini at the operating system level. While we are still exploring the full potential of this for underwater operations, the ability to use an AI assistant that can process visual information opens interesting possibilities for future inspection workflows.

XR across ecosystems

With support for both Apple Vision Pro and Samsung Galaxy XR, Blueye customers can now choose the mixed reality platform that best fits their organization:

Both headsets deliver on the core promise: a compact, portable virtual control center for underwater drone operations. The choice between them comes down to ecosystem preference, budget, and organizational infrastructure.

Whether your team runs on Apple or Android, Blueye now supports mixed reality underwater operations on both platforms — giving you the flexibility to choose the hardware that fits your organization.

As with the Apple Vision Pro, everything demonstrated in this article uses commercially available hardware and software. No prototypes or beta software were used.

If you are curious to learn more about using mixed reality for underwater drone operations, or want to try the Samsung Galaxy XR with a Blueye drone, please contact us to book a demo.

Learn more

• Samsung Newsroom: Introducing Galaxy XR: Opening New Worlds
• Google Blog: Introducing Galaxy XR
• Blueye: Underwater ROV operations in mixed reality with Apple Vision Pro