On January 12, 2023, Samsung quietly slipped a game-changing feature into its flagship foldables: 360 Audio Recording, a spatial audio video capture tool that turns your Galaxy Z Flip 4 or Galaxy Z Fold 4 into a 3D sound recorder — but only if you’re wearing Galaxy Buds Pro 2. It’s not just a gimmick. This is the first real step in Samsung’s plan to own the future of immersive media — and it’s being built for Project Moohan, its upcoming extended reality headset designed to take on Apple’s Vision Pro.

How It Works — And Why It Needs Specific Earbuds

Unlike simple stereo recording, 360 Audio Recording captures sound from every direction — like your ears do. The Galaxy Buds Pro 2 act as tiny microphones, picking up ambient noise in real time while you film. That audio is then synced to your video, so when you watch a clip of your kid laughing in the backyard, you don’t just see it — you hear the wind rustle behind you, the neighbor’s dog bark to the left, and the ice cream truck jingle drifting in from the street.

But here’s the catch: it only works with the Buds Pro 2. Why? Because the feature relies on LE Audio, a newer Bluetooth standard that’s more efficient and supports higher fidelity than older codecs. Apple’s AirPods Pro 2, despite having Bluetooth 5.2, don’t support LE Audio at launch — a deliberate design choice that left them behind. Samsung, on the other hand, made the hardware and software work together from day one. The company’s official support page, ANS10003232, clarifies this isn’t about playback enhancement — it’s about recording. The "360 audio" setting in Bluetooth menus? That’s Dolby Atmos playback. The one in the Camera app? That’s spatial audio capture.

Expansion to S-Series and the S25 Push

By February 1, 2023, Samsung had already unveiled the Galaxy S23 series — and while it didn’t launch with the feature, its Bluetooth 5.2 hardware made it a natural fit. TechRadar predicted it then. And by February 21, 2025, PhoneArena confirmed what everyone suspected: the Galaxy S25 would get 360 Audio Recording via a Camera Assistant app update.

That update doesn’t just add a button — it transforms the camera app into a control hub. You can now adjust mic sensitivity, lock audio direction, and even mute background noise mid-recording. The feature is rolling out to older devices too — including the Galaxy S22 and Galaxy Z Fold 3 — as long as they have the right earbuds and updated firmware. It’s a classic Samsung play: extend functionality across its ecosystem without forcing users to buy new phones.

Project Moohan: The Real Reason Behind the Audio Push

Apple didn’t introduce spatial video recording on the iPhone 15 Pro just to make better YouTube clips. It was preparing for the Vision Pro. Samsung is doing the same — but smarter.

According to PhoneArena’s February 2025 report, Project Moohan is Samsung’s answer to Apple’s $3,500 headset. While Vision Pro sales disappointed, Samsung is betting on affordability — rumored to retail for under $1,000 — and deeper integration with its existing devices. Imagine watching a 360 Audio video on your Galaxy S25, then sliding it into your Moohan headset and feeling like you’re back in the room where it was filmed. That’s the vision.

And here’s the twist: Samsung isn’t waiting for consumers to adopt VR. It’s training them now — with every video you record on your phone.

Eclipsa Audio: Samsung’s Open-Source Counterattack

But Samsung isn’t just building hardware. It’s rewriting the rules of audio itself.

On January 7, 2025, Samsung and Google announced Eclipsa Audio, a free, open-source alternative to Dolby Atmos. Developed with THX and backed by the Alliance for Open Media, Eclipsa lets creators upload 3D audio to YouTube starting in 2025 — but only Samsung TVs and soundbars can play it back for now. It’s a bold move. Dolby Atmos requires licensing fees. Eclipsa doesn’t. Samsung’s previous push for HDR10+ over Dolby Vision paid off — now it’s doing the same with audio.

YouTube creators will soon have a new tool. And Samsung’s 2025 TVs? They’ll be the only ones that can truly experience it. That’s not just innovation — it’s ecosystem lock-in, done right.

What’s Next? The Immersive Media Race Is Just Starting

Apple’s Vision Pro flopped in part because it felt like a solution without a problem. Samsung’s approach is the opposite: it’s building the problem — and then the solution — together.

By making spatial audio recording available on nearly every Galaxy phone, training users to expect immersive sound, and then tying it to a low-cost XR headset, Samsung is creating a behavioral habit. You’ll record your vacation in 360 audio because it’s easy. You’ll watch it on your new TV because it sounds incredible. And when you finally get Moohan, you’ll feel like you’ve been preparing for this moment.

Meanwhile, Apple is scrambling to find apps that make Vision Pro useful. Samsung? It already has a library of millions of spatial videos — and it’s growing every day.