This hidden port on the Galaxy XR might be the key to a virtual Chromebook display

As the dust settles from the exciting launch of the Samsung Galaxy XR headset, my mind keeps circling back to one big question: Is it possible to make this headset work with my Chromebook? While Samsung and Google showcased a lot of impressive features powered by the new Android XR platform, a direct, official link for Chromebook users was absent. But that doesn’t mean all hope is lost, and I’ve gone down a bit of a rabbit hole exploring the possibilities.

Now, Samsung did announce a feature called “PC Link” that allows you to view and control your PC in a virtual environment, but it only works with Galaxy Books. That’s a major bummer for those of us deeply invested in the ChromeOS world. Of course, you could pair a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse directly with the Galaxy XR and use the built-in Chrome browser for productivity, but that requires purchasing extra peripherals and doesn’t give you access to your full ChromeOS desktop, apps, and files.

Can USB-C save the day?

So, this is where the speculation begins. Let me first start by saying that we don’t have a Galaxy XR headset in the office yet, and I haven’t seen anyone online test this specific scenario. But theoretically, could you connect your Chromebook to the Galaxy XR via USB-C and have it recognized as an external display?

Most modern Chromebooks support display over USB-C, meaning they can output video directly through that port. And as discovered by the team at UploadVR, the Galaxy XR headset does indeed have a USB-C port, so the big question is whether that port can also accept a standard video input signal.

If it can, you might be able to simply run a video-capable USB-C cable directly from your Chromebook to the headset. Alternatively, if your Chromebook has HDMI out, you could potentially use an HDMI-to-USB-C adapter or hub (one specifically designed to handle display signals, ideally at a decent refresh rate) to make the connection.

Again, this is purely theoretical. It depends entirely on whether the Galaxy XR supports standard video input functionality via that hidden USB-C port. But the underlying technology is there, and I think there’s a good chance it will work!

The Real Dream: Seamless integration

While a wired workaround would be fantastic, the real dream is the kind of seamless, wireless integration Robby wrote about recently. Imagine putting on a headset and instantly having a multi-monitor ChromeOS desktop environment floating in space around you.

And this dream feels more possible than ever thanks to the impending Android and ChromeOS merger. As Google works to re-baseline the ChromeOS experience on top of an Android foundation, the potential for deep, native integration between Android XR and the “new ChromeOS” (or whatever they call it) becomes immense. If the core operating systems are essentially the same, enabling this kind of cross-device experience should be far simpler.

For now, we’ll have to wait until we get our hands on a Galaxy XR to test the USB-C workaround theory. But looking ahead, I think the potential for a truly integrated spatial computing experience between our favorite laptops and the exciting new world of Android XR is incredibly exciting!