A prototype of Samsung’s anticipated AR headset was recently tested using the Exynos 2200, though this does not guarantee the final product will feature Samsung’s own chipset. According to the latest benchmark leak, Samsung is expected to utilize Qualcomm’s Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 in the device.
The Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 comes with a 6-core CPU cluster, which is proven to be less powerful than Apple’s M2. However, this chipset is a logical choice for Samsung as it does not yet produce a chipset specifically designed for this product category. Despite somewhat disappointing Geekbench 6 scores, the Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 provides support for several technologies that can enrich the mixed-reality experience. Benchmark results for a Samsung AR headset with the model number SM-I130 indicated scores of 1,076 for single-core and 2,078 for multi-core, revealing it was tested with 16GB of RAM. This is pivotal, given the memory-intensive nature of virtual and augmented reality content.
Designed in collaboration with Google and Samsung, the Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 can support a 4.3K resolution per display at 90FPS. The integrated Adreno 740 GPU is capable of decoding 8K video at 60FPS and encoding 8K at 30FPS or 4K at 60FPS. Additionally, the chipset can handle over 12 cameras for live feeds with a minimal 12ms delay, according to Qualcomm. Connectivity features such as Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.3 further reduce latency.
Currently, Samsung has yet to develop a chipset equivalent to the Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 to equip its first AR headset. Since the market is still in its nascent stages, it could take a few years for Samsung to develop its custom solutions for future iterations of augmented reality devices.
