During the Augmented World Expo in Santa Clara this week, Qualcomm announced a new, dedicated platform for future XR (extended reality) devices, the Snapdragon XR1. Targeting future standalone AR and VR headset and glasses designs, the XR1 marks the beginning of the company’s dedicated platforms aimed squarely at the segment.
The Snapdragon XR1 will be the first of a family of XR dedicated chips and platforms to enable a wide range of performance and pricing classes across an array of partner devices. Qualcomm is only releasing information on the XR1 today, but we can assume that future iterations will be incoming to create a tiered collection of processors to target mainstream to flagship level hardware.
Though Qualcomm today uses the existing Snapdragon mobile platforms to build its AR/VR reference designs, the expected growth of this field into a 186-million-unit base by 2023 is pushing the company to be more direct and more specialized in its product development.
The Snapdragon XR1 will address what Qualcomm calls the “high quality” implementations of VR. Placed well above the cheap or free “cardboard” integrations of smartphone-enabled designs, the XR1 exists to create solutions that are at or above the current level of standalone VR hardware powered by current Qualcomm chips. Today’s landscape of devices features products like the Oculus Go powered by the Snapdragon 821 mobile platform and the Lenovo Mirage Solo using the Snapdragon 835. Both are excellent examples of VR implementations, but the company sees a long-term benefit from removing the association of “mobile processor” from its flagship offerings for XR.
Instead, the value of creating a customized, high-value brand for Qualcomm to target dedicated VR headsets gives the company flexibility in pricing and feature set, without pigeon-holing the product team into predefined directions.
The specifics on the new Snapdragon XR1 are a bit of a mystery, but it includes most of the components we are used to seeing in mobile designs. That means a Kryo CPU, an Adreno GPU, a Hexagon DSP, audio processing, security features, image signal processor, and Wi-Fi. Missing from the mix is an LTE-capable modem, something that seems at least slightly counter to the company’s overall message of always connected devices.
Detailed performance metrics are missing for now, as Qualcomm allows its partners to design products around the XR1. With varying thermal constraints and battery life requirements, I think we’ll see some design-to-design differences between hardware. At that point we will need Qualcomm to divulge more information about the inner workings of the Snapdragon XR1.
I expect we’ll find the XR1 to perform around the level of the Snapdragon 835 SoC. This is interesting as the company has already announced the Snapdragon 845 as part of its latest AR/VR standalone reference headset design. The XR1 is targeting mainstream pricing in the world of VR, think the $200-$400 range, leaving the Snapdragon 845 as the current leader. If and when we see an XR2 model announced, I expect it will exceed the performance of the SD 845 and the family of XR chips will expand accordingly.
The Qualcomm Snapdragon XR1 does have some impressive capabilities of its own, though keep in mind that all of this is encompassed in the 845 designs as well. Features like 4K HDR display output, 3D spatial audio with aptX and Aqstic capability, voice UI and noise filtering, and even AI processing courtesy of the CPU/GPU/DSP combo, all feature prominently in the XR1. The chip will support both 3DoF (degree of freedom) movement and controllers as well as 6DoF, though the wider range of available movement will be associated with higher tier, higher priced devices.
The first crop of announced customers includes HTC Vive and several others. Oculus isn’t on the list, but I think that’s because the Oculus Go was just released and utilizes a lower level of processor technology than XR1 will provide. Qualcomm has solidified its leadership position in the world of standalone AR/VR headsets, with almost no direct competition on the horizon. As the market opportunity expands, so will the potential for Qualcomm’s growth in it, but also the likelihood we will see other companies dip their toes into the mix.
Very well presented. Every quote was awesome and thanks for sharing the content. Keep sharing and keep motivating others.
Nice post. I learn something new and challenging on blogs I stumbleupon on a daily basis.
Thank you for great content. I look forward to the continuation.
We always follow your beautiful content I look forward to the continuation.
I truly love your site.. Very nice colors & theme.
Did you develop this site yourself? Please reply back as I’m
wanting to create my own site and would love to learn where you
got this from or exactly what the theme is called. Thank you!
Keep this going please, great job!
Ahaa, its nice discussion concerning this piece of writing at this place at this weblog, I have read all
that, so now me also commenting here.
This website truly has all of the information I wanted concerning this subject and didn’t
know who to ask.
Great info. Lucky me I found your site by chance (stumbleupon).
I’ve saved it for later!
Why users still make use of to read news papers when in this technological globe the whole thing is
accessible on net?
Hurrah! Finally I got a blog from where I be able to really take valuable information regarding my study and knowledge.
Hi there just wanted to give you a quick heads
up. The words in your content seem to be running off the screen in Ie.
I’m not sure if this is a format issue or something
to do with internet browser compatibility but I figured I’d post to
let you know. The layout look great though! Hope you get the issue resolved
soon. Kudos
If some one wants to be updated with hottest technologies afterward he must be pay a visit this
web site and be up to date every day.
I do not know if it’s just me or if everybody
else experiencing issues with your blog. It appears as if some
of the written text within your content are running off the screen.
Can somebody else please provide feedback and let me know if this is happening to them as well?
This may be a problem with my browser because
I’ve had this happen before. Cheers
Admiring the hard work you put into your blog and detailed information you present.
It’s good to come across a blog every once in a while that
isn’t the same old rehashed information. Great read! I’ve
saved your site and I’m adding your RSS feeds to my Google account.
Good day! I simply wish to offer you a big thumbs up
for the excellent information you’ve got right here on this post.
I’ll be coming back to your web site for more soon.
Hi, i think that i saw you visited my weblog thus i
came to “return the favor”.I am trying to find things to improve my web
site!I suppose its ok to use a few of your ideas!!
Hi there, I enjoy reading through your article. I like to write a little comment to support you.
Can you tell us more about this? I’d want to find
out more details.
This post will assist the internet visitors for creating new weblog
or even a weblog from start to end.
Thank you a lot for sharing this with all people you actually realize what
you’re talking approximately! Bookmarked. Please additionally talk
over with my web site =). We can have a link alternate contract between us
Incredible points. Sound arguments. Keep up the good spirit.
Somebody essentially help to make significantly posts
I might state. That is the very first time I frequented your web page and up
to now? I amazed with the analysis you made to make this particular put up amazing.
Great job!
Hello There. I found your blog using msn. This is an extremely well written article.
I will be sure to bookmark it and come back to read more of your useful info.
Thanks for the post. I will certainly return.
Hi there! This is my first visit to your blog! We are a collection of volunteers and starting a new
initiative in a community in the same niche.
Your blog provided us valuable information to work on. You have done a outstanding job!