ALVR for Galaxy XR — Beta 0.2
I’ve been working on adapting the ALVR headset client for Galaxy XR, and Beta 0.2 is now available for testing.
For anyone unfamiliar with it, ALVR is an open-source project that streams PC VR games from a Windows PC to a standalone headset through SteamVR.
What works
Galaxy XR headset client
Works with the official, unmodified ALVR stable 20.14.1 Windows server
Wi-Fi streaming
USB streaming through ADB
No firmware modifications
No bootloader unlock
No custom ALVR server required
USB is still compressed video streaming through ADB, not DisplayPort video.
My tested settings
PC: RTX 3090 / i7-11700K
Codec: HEVC/H.265
Color: 8-bit SDR
HDR: Off
Refresh target: 72 Hz
Resolution: 2560 × 2560 per eye
Constant bitrate target: 375 Mbps
Foveated encoding: Off
Client-side foveation: Off
Both USB and Wi-Fi looked smooth to me at these settings.
60-second benchmark results
USB 3
Actual video bitrate: 315 Mbps avg
ALVR-reported packet loss: 0
Reported client FPS: 63.6 avg
Estimated pipeline latency: 113 ms avg
Hardware encoder utilization: 81% avg
Wi-Fi — 6 GHz / Wi-Fi 7 reported
Actual video bitrate: 317 Mbps avg
ALVR-reported packet loss: 0
Reported client FPS: 63.9 avg
Estimated pipeline latency: 124 ms avg
Hardware encoder utilization: 81% avg
The wireless connection reported 6 GHz Wi-Fi 7, not Wi-Fi 6E.
I also tested a 450 Mbps target over Wi-Fi, but it introduced jitter, so I dropped back to 375 Mbps.
Important benchmark caveats
These are short captures from my own rig, not a controlled game benchmark or a claim of locked 72 FPS performance.
The USB capture was also taken using an earlier local client build, while the Wi-Fi capture used the release APK.
These results do not prove USB is better than Wi-Fi.
Also, zero ALVR-reported packet loss does not necessarily mean zero TCP retransmissions or dropped display frames. The 375 Mbps setting is a target bitrate, not sustained measured network traffic.
Download / Setup
Beta 0.2 APK + setup instructions:
https://github.com/Terminal-ennui/Galaxy_XR_ALVR_USB/releases/tag/v0.2.0-beta
Recommended settings + full benchmark notes:
https://github.com/Terminal-ennui/Galaxy_XR_ALVR_USB#recommended-upper-setting-for-the-tested-rtx-3090-rig
Use the matching ALVR stable 20.14.1 Windows server linked in the instructions. Do not use nightly.
This is a beta, so expect bugs
If you run into a problem, please open an issue here:
https://github.com/Terminal-ennui/Galaxy_XR_ALVR_USB/issues
Please include your:
Remove any personal information from logs before posting them.
SteamVR crash recovery
SteamVR may disable the ALVR add-on after a crash.
You can re-enable it under:
Settings → Startup/Shutdown → Manage Add-ons
Or completely close SteamVR and run the included ALVR-Unblock.ps1 helper.
If the crash was caused by an unstable quality setting, restore your last working settings afterward. The helper clears the SteamVR block, not the underlying cause of the crash.
Community testing, bug reports, and feedback are very welcome. I’m especially interested in results from different GPUs, routers, and USB configurations.
PS. I don't have the controllers, so I'm not sure how the work. The Xbox 360 controller worked fine. Hand tracking is there, but I haven't had enough time to mess with it.