Will Android-powered XR headset steal the show at Galaxy S25 launch?

The UAE may be one of the few markets to get the rumoured Galaxy S25 Slim

Samsung's extended reality headset, which is codenamed Project Moohan, runs on Google's Android XR. Photo: Samsung/Google

Samsung teased its latest virtual world offering last month and the product may be available soon.

The world's biggest mobile phone manufacturer is preparing for its first Unpacked event this year. The first major smartphone launch of 2025 could set the tone for the wider industry.

Samsung will unveil its latest flagship device, expected to be the Galaxy S25 series, in San Jose, California. However, that could be upstaged by what has been called Project Moohan and another possible surprise that may beat Apple in one aspect.

What is Project Moohan?

The Galaxy S24 focused on artificial intelligence. Arguably the defining moment of the last Unpacked was the surprise, albeit very brief, unveiling of the Galaxy Ring.

This time, Project Moohan – first teased by Samsung on December 13 – could be the major talking point. It's the company's move into the virtual world offering a combination of virtual, augmented and mixed realities.

Samsung isn't a newcomer to the area, as it already has its Gear VR headsets. But Project Moohan is special because it's the first hardware to be developed for Google's Android XR operating system, which is being positioned to rival Apple's Vision Pro and its visionOS.

Details on Project Moohan have been minimal. However, The Verge was able to demo the headset last month, describing it as “a mix between a Meta Quest 3 and Vision Pro”.

It is unclear when Samsung began developing the hardware. It may, however, formally introduce the device – or at least tease it further – at Unpacked.

That would make sense to build interest and hype for the product. However, that doesn't mean it will be available soon. There could be more testing and any initial release would only be for testers who can give feedback. It took Apple seven months from formally introducing the Vision Pro to selling them.

Aside from operating with Vision Pro, Project Moohan could also be an opportunity for Google to make up for the failure of Google Glass and compete with Meta Platforms' Ray-Ban smart glasses.

What to expect for the Galaxy S25

Despite the interest in Project Moohan, Samsung's latest Galaxy S line-up will still be the headliner of Unpacked.

The Northern Lights are displayed in a hologram show over Shoreditch, London, before Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked launch in San Jose, California. PA

Three new smartphones are expected to be released – the Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25+ and the Galaxy S25 Ultra.

However, there are no expected major upgrades. Design-wise, leaks have suggested that the S25 phones will adopt rounder corners, with everything else remaining similar to the S24 model.

Samsung will probably focus on improvements on its Galaxy AI platform, which made its debut a year ago with the S24, which we described as the dawn of the AI smartphone at the time.

The revamped One UI 7 platform is also expected to feature the Now Bar, which lets you access crucial information and actions, such as translations, in a similar way to the iPhone's Dynamic iIsland. However, it'll only be on the lock screen and is located below, unlike Dynamic Island which animates the front camera area on top.

There's also speculation that Samsung may increase the prices of the S25 devices, though such rumours have always been reported before each Unpacked.

Slimming down?

Talk of a slimmer version of the Galaxy S25 first emerged in October. The latest rumours suggest it may not even be available when Samsung announces it.

The purported Galaxy S25 Slim – also being tagged as SE, or Special Edition – is said to have a 170 170-millimetre screen and a thickness of only 6.4 millimetres; for comparison, the upcoming S25 Ultra is expected to be 8.2 millimetres thick.

Noted tech tipster Evan Blass has said that the slim version “will almost certainly not be offered through US carriers”. Phone Arena, citing a “historically trusted source”, said it'll only be available in 39 markets, including Egypt, India, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the UAE.

The move would see Samsung beating Apple in releasing a slimmer smartphone amid rumours that Apple chief executive Tim Cook will introduce what's being called the iPhone 17 Air this year.

Samsung and Apple potentially launching slimmer versions of its devices could lead to another battle between smartphone providers, particularly if other companies follow suit.

Samsung has its work cut out: Apple ended last year with the most global smartphone market share, data from Canalys showed last week.