What you should know
- LG, despite having left the smartphone market three years ago, is potentially planning a comeback in the tech industry with a focus on the XR (extended reality) segment.
- The company is reportedly working on a headset that will leverage VR, AR, and MR technologies, with a tentative launch target set for “early next year” or more realistically, “within two years”.
- The market for such a product is expected to flourish by late 2025 or early 2026, with other major companies like Samsung and Google also expected to release similar products.
- LG may also be supplying Meta with the necessary microdisplays for the next Quest Pro generation, indicating a potential two-front attack on Apple in the XR segment.
Full Story
Well, LG hasn’t really been on our radar much lately. It’s been almost three years since they made the shocking decision to exit the smartphone market. But, things might change soon.
The tech giant’s CEO recently hinted at a bold new plan. Unfortunately for those hoping for a mobile industry comeback, this plan isn’t about smartphones. It’s about the XR (extended reality) segment, which is still in its infancy.
So, LG is reportedly working on a headset. It’s expected to utilize VR, AR, and MR technologies. However, its release may not be as imminent as some might hope.
“Early next year” is the optimistic launch target. But a more realistic (though vague) timeline is “within two years.” So, we might see an LG alternative to the super-premium Vision Pro by late 2025 or early 2026. By then, the market will likely be ripe with top brands trying to give Apple a run for its money.
Companies like Samsung and Google are expected to release similar products within the next year. But that doesn’t mean extended reality will become mainstream anytime soon. The Vision Pro, for instance, will only be available for a limited number of users this month. And there’s no guarantee that a larger number of units will be shipped in the near future.
So, LG still has time to figure out its intentions for this promising industry. The Korea-based company might even take on Apple on two fronts. They’re working on this high-end XR headset, and they might also supply Meta with microdisplays for the next Quest Pro generation.
 headset, potentially launching by 2026, marking its entry into the burgeoning XR market, but has no plans to re-enter the smartphone industry.){kind=link}