Virtual reality (VR) and mixed reality (MR) headsets had a stellar 2023, and their trajectory looks even brighter to start the new year.
Part of the reason is that Qualcomm just unveiled a new Snapdragon the year. Think Meta Quest, HTC Vive, etc.
Succeeding last year’s XR2 Gen 2, the “plus” variant brings an improvement in GPU and CPU frequency – by 15% and 20% respectively -, support for 4.3K resolution eye at 90 frames per second, and the ability for headsets to integrate 12 or more cameras with on-device AI capabilities. These allow equipped models to better track user movements and surrounding objects for more immersive (and seamless) VR and MR experiences.
Intended for headsets that can do it all
When it comes to efficiency gains, you’ll still get the same 50% improvement as the previous XR2 Gen 2 compared to the XR2 Gen 1 platform. In fact, there’s no change on that front.
“(Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2) will take XR productivity and entertainment to the next level by bringing spectacularly clear images to use cases such as room-scale displays, “full-size overlays and virtual desktops,” said Hugo Swart, vice president and general manager of XR, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc, in a press release issued Thursday.
It’s clear that the new silicon is aimed at headsets that can do it all, with features on par with the $3,500-a-piece monster, Apple’s upcoming Vision Pro headset, although Qualcomm says its pricing will be accessible to manufacturers so that they build their hardware accordingly.
What will the price of these competing products be?
What will the price of these competing products be? Your opinion is as valid as mine. But considering we already have products like the Meta Quest 3 ($500) that use the slightly less capable XR2 Gen 2 chip, the future of the XR may not be as expensive as it does not appear to be there.
The new Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 chipset is manufactured in collaboration with Google and Samsung, two companies that bring expertise in the Android ecosystem and the development of mobile VR devices. The trio announced plans to develop an XR platform in February 2023, likely in response to Apple’s headset rumor.
By the end of the year, reports suggested that all three companies had gone back to the drawing board, with plans to redesign their first XR project into something more premium; 4K resolution screens per eye, a more refined user experience, and much more to match Apple’s Vision Pro.
So how does the new Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 stack up against Apple’s M2-R1 duo? We’ll see this for ourselves when OEMs start producing hardware to leverage Qualcomm’s chip technology and Apple finally releases the Vision Pro (as early as the end of January), confirming the final details of its specifications . Stay tuned.
Source: “ZDNet.com”