LG plans on taking Apple Vision Pro with its own XR headset

LG is spilling the beans that they’re taking their OLED TV know-how into the extended reality (XR) scene and they’re gearing up to drop some kind of device next year. The scoop comes from The Guru, a South Korean news outlet, where LG Electronics CEO Cho Joo-wan spilled the details at CES 2024, saying they’ll be rolling out an XR device as early as next year.

We don’t have a ton of details about the device yet. But, there were whispers floating around late last year (courtesy of ET News, translated from Korean) suggesting LG was cooking up a VR headset. Word on the street was it would run on the yet-to-be-announced Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 from Qualcomm. Interestingly, this same rumor nailed it by correctly predicting that the Samsung XR/VR headset would indeed use this new chipset. So, while we should keep a healthy dose of skepticism, there’s a fair chance this latest leak might just be on the money.

If the LG headset rocks the Snapdragon XR2+ Gen, brace yourself for a top-notch XR experience that could give the upcoming Apple Vision Pro a run for its money. But, be ready to dig deep into your pockets because a high-end gadget like that is likely to come with a hefty price tag—think around $2,000 / £2,000 / AU$3,000.

According to Upload VR’s take on LG’s XR device reveal, the Korean language doesn’t always nail down the singular or plural vibes. So, it could be on the cards that LG is planning to drop more than one XR device in 2025. If that’s the case, get ready for a fancy Apple Vision Pro contender and a more budget-friendly option going head-to-head with the likes of Meta Quest 3 or the freshly unveiled Xreal Air 2 Ultra.

In cahoots with Qualcomm, LG might be teaming up with another XR expert to make its headset a reality – none other than Meta. Although the buzz is, it’s LG stepping up to assist Meta, not the other way around. Back in February 2023, we spilled the beans that Meta was eyeing a partnership with LG to cook up OLED displays for its XR headsets. Odds are it’s for the Meta Quest Pro 2, but who knows, maybe even the Meta Quest 4 is in the cards.