Qualcomm has released two new spatial computing platforms: Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 and Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1.
The company promises these platforms will power the next evolution of mixed reality (MR), virtual reality (VR) devices, and smart glasses.
Indeed, they already may be doing so, with Meta unveiling its Meta Quest 3 VR headset and Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses earlier this week.
Both of these innovations leverage Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon platforms – which Meta will continue to commercialize.
As it does so, new iterations of spatial computing glasses will hit the market, paving the way for more pervasive metaverse experiences that integrate with the physical world.
Excited by this possibility, Hugo Swart, VP & GM of XR, Qualcomm Technologies, stated:
The commercial debut of these two platforms with Meta is a further step forward in realizing our joint vision – unlocking premium, all-in-one XR devices and smart glasses that are affordable to users around the globe.
Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 does so by pulling premium MR and VR tech into a single-chip architecture.
Such a feature will enable thinner, more comfortable headsets. Meanwhile, it also removes the necessity of an external battery pack.
In addition, Qualcomm notes that it engineered the platform to deliver a lag-free experience, 2.5x higher GPU performance, and 8x “better” AI.
Finally, the business highlights how the platform can blend virtual content with physical surroundings so users can shift smoothly between MR and VR experiences.
That brings many new use cases for organizations in industries such as tourism – which may anchor digital information and content to various people, places, and attractions.
For instance, a museum could augment physical objects and environments with additional information so guests can dive deeper into the exhibits that most interest them.
Meanwhile, the Snapdragon AR1 Gen 1 Platform may also make waves as the first dedicated processor for “sleek” smart glasses.
That processor allows users to capture, share, and even live-stream directly from their glasses.
Another eye-catching feature is its on-device AI, which enables personal assistant experiences, including visual search, audio quality enhancement, and even real-time translation.
The latter feature wowed during the launch of the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses.
Finally, the platform can enable digital content consumption – including video – to overlay the user’s view and possibly supplement the aforementioned business use cases.
Giving his take on the potential of the two new spatial computing platforms, Andrew “Boz” Bosworth, CTO at Meta and Head of Reality Labs, said:
At Meta, we’re focused on developing the technologies of the future in mixed reality and smart glasses, as well as the foundational innovations that will one day power our vision for AR glasses.
“Building this future computing platform requires an industry-leading partner, and this is where our long-standing collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies is critical.
“Together, we are defining next-generation technologies that deliver massive breakthroughs in power, performance, and AI.”
Moreover, the merger of physical and digital spaces presents a considerable opportunity for Qualcomm – which it’s executing with the support of Meta and other leading XR Players.
Now, with its latest innovations, Qualcomm believes that it will attract more business as it establishes Snapdragon as “the preferred platform.”
Indeed, it’s already a platform provider for the likes of Samsung, OPPO, and Niantic – alongside Meta.
