Qualcomm Unveils its First Wireless XR2-Powered AR Headset

With the launch of its XR1 platform for AR and VR headsets in 2018, Qualcomm entered the extended reality (XR) segment of the market. We saw the startup team up with Microsoft earlier this year to design a unique microprocessor for future AR eyewear. Qualcomm has announced a new “Wireless AR Smart Viewer” reference design driven by its XR2 platform at its recent Snapdragon launch event in China. For further information, see the details below.

OEMs can use Qualcomm’s Wireless AR Smart Viewer

Qualcomm introduced its new Wireless AR Smart Viewer reference design for its OEM partners during its much-anticipated launch event, where the firm announced the new Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 and Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 SoCs. The new Wireless AR Smart Viewer has a 40% smaller design and is powered by Qualcomm’s XR2 platform, which supports 5G.

Qualcomm said in an official press release that their new AR reference hardware was developed by Goertek of China and features a better ergonomically balanced weight distribution for greater comfort.

It has dual micro-OLED binocular displays, each with a 90Hz refresh rate and displaying UHD-quality video. Dual monochrome cameras and an RGB sensor are also included in the wireless AR helmet, allowing for six degrees of freedom (6DoF) head and hand tracking to provide users with an accurate but immersive AR experience.

The new Wireless AR Smart Viewer’s USP is its wireless functionality and low latency of less than 3ms. Qualcomm used its strong XR2 platform in conjunction with its FastConnect 6900 technology to achieve these goals. As a result, the new AR hardware reference device supports Wi-Fi 6/ 6E and the most recent Bluetooth technologies, allowing users to take advantage of the fastest commercially available speeds and extended range.

Qualcomm has also updated the device with new FastConnect XR Software Suite system integrators and application drivers to enhance M2R2P (motion-to-render-to-photon) latency, eliminate undesired interferences, and reduce jitter when viewing AR content. It also has low-power modes that provide low-latency performance for low-power operations and long-term XR experiences.

Qualcomm hopes to use this to lay the groundwork for premium wireless AR headsets based on its XR2 technology. The new reference design will allow “OEMs to construct the next generation of untethered augmented reality (AR) to enable immersive experiences that unlock the metaverse” and help expand AR to the people, according to the company.

Qualcomm also mentions that their Wireless AR Smart Viewer reference design is presently accessible to a limited number of partners. However, the company has stated that it will be available to additional OEMs in the future months.