Qualcomm wants to bring a wireless Smart Viewer for an augmented reality experience. The reference design of this wearable gadget has been reported previously when the company hinted that it would be commercialized as smart headsets.
With that being said, the chipmaker will soon release a pair of high-end smart glasses that will sport a powerful Snapdragon XRN processor.
Qualcomm AR Smart Viewer
(Photo : Qualcomm)
Qualcomm has introduced a thinner wireless smart viewer for the augmented reality experience. Take a look at it at first glance.
According to a report by XDA Developers, Qualcomm has recently launched its newest AR wearable called the Smart Viewer, along with the two latest smartphone chipsets -- Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 and Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1.
The Wireless AR Smart Viewer is powered by the Snapdragon XR2 Platform. Although it relies on an advanced Bluetooth and Wi-Fi 6/6E setup, it falls short on its battery life.
The Goertrek-developed device might soon be released in the next few months as Qualcomm plans for its access expansion.
Speaking of its previous model, which can bring a mixed reality experience to the user, this AR tool has a lot of impressive features to offer.
AR Smart Viewer Features
Per The Verge's story, the chip manufacturer has retained the original resolution of 1920x1080 for its smart viewer. On top of that, it maintained its 90Hz refresh rate.
This time, the noticeable difference is the decrease in the field of view. Originally it was placed at 45 degrees. Now, it plunged to just 40 degrees diagonal.
Compared to Magic Leap 2, the Qualcomm AR Smart Viewer is much smaller. The former features a 70-degree field of view. In return, the most interesting part here is its sleek design.
The wired model features 25mm depth in the frame, while the wireless variant sports a frame that measures 15.6mm.
When it comes to its chipset, this smart wearable boasts its Snapdragon XRN chipset. It's one level advanced from the previous XR1 processor. According to the company, the newest option is perfect for multi-tasking, mainly in computer vision processing.
Per Hugo Swart, the AR/VR head of Qualcomm, the "motion to photon" latency between the AR device and the linked device falls below 20ms. It only means that the smart viewer is suited for mixed reality usage.
Related Article: Microsoft Teams Up with Qualcomm for AR Glasses Collaboration
Smart AR Viewer Caveat
We have mentioned in the same report that this device falls short because of its short battery life. So far, it's one of the most challenging tasks that Qualcomm needs to overcome if it wants to commercialize its product.
Its power is simply commendable, but it could run out of energy easily. In just 30 minutes, its 650mAh battery could quickly get out of touch.
Per Swart, the manufacturer still has the freedom to select a long-lasting headset for this part. For the users, they could use an attachable battery accompanied by a cable to prolong the usage of the smart viewer.
As of writing, Swart has not yet revealed the manufacturers that they contacted for the production of this device. However, he hinted that "at least four" makers will help in this process.
The launch of this augmented reality device can be a hint that Qualcomm is preparing to join the metaverse trend soon.
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Written by Joseph Henry
