Skip to main content

Oppo steps into augmented reality with its HoloLens-like AR Glass headset

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Microsoft’s HoloLens 2 may have a new challenger next year. Smartphone maker Oppo has announced a pair of augmented reality glasses, and stated they will be released during the first three months of 2020. Oppo’s AR Glass headset is part of an effort to expand beyond only making smartphones, and was revealed alongside plans for a smartwatch and an Oppo-produced mobile processor.

Recommended Videos

Oppo’s AR Glass is similar in design to HoloLens. A visor stretches across the front of the headset, attached to a band which holds it on your head, plus there is a forehead rest to keep it in position. This is not something designed for everyday wear, but more for home and industrial use. At home, Oppo says the AR Glass will be used for augmented reality content and games, while in the workplace, and somewhat less specifically, Oppo sees it being used for augmented reality services. These could include 3D modeling, planning, and design.

What about the hardware inside AR Glass? What we know so far is there are two fisheye cameras on the front of the headset, providing a wide field of view, plus a third camera, and a time-of-flight sensor to measure distance. What we don’t know is any of the firm specifications behind these, including the actual field of view measurement, or the definition of the camera, or the resolution of the display itself. On stage, Oppo showed a demonstration of the glasses being used to explore a model of the solar system, with information on each planet popping up as it was selected using gestures.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

In addition to the hand gestures, the Oppo AR Glass will respond to voice controls, and the headset is apparently slimmer and lighter than Microsoft’s HoloLens. Outside of these basic details, nothing else is known about AR Glass. The price has not been discussed, and neither has where the headset will be sold. Oppo’s main market is China, where it’s the third most popular smartphone brand, so a release there is inevitable. However, Oppo has recently stretched out into the U.K. and Europe, along with a strong presence in India and elsewhere in Asia as well.

Oppo will officially launch the AR Glass during the first three months of 2020. Microsoft’s HoloLens 2 costs $3,500 and is aimed primarily at businesses.

Andy Boxall
Andy is a Senior Writer at Digital Trends, where he concentrates on mobile technology, a subject he has written about for…
Google Glass is back? In spirit, yes
RayNeo X2 Lite AR glasses are slim and lightweight.

RayNeo X2 Lite AR glasses are slim and lightweight. RayNeo

It's been a long time since Google Glass fell on its face, but at CES 2024, some advanced AR companies are attempting a revival of sorts.

Read more
Xreal brings spatial computing to a pair of AR glasses
Xreal Air 2 Ultra AR glasses feature depth sensors.

Xreal just announced its latest pair of AR glasses ahead of CES 2024. The Xreal Air 2 Ultra are a pair of AR glasses that have spatial computing capabilities that allow you to control interfaces with hand gestures.

Based on the Xreal Air 2 smart glasses, this new product adds tracking and 3D sensing technology without the bulk and weight of earlier solutions.

Read more
Spatial computing went public this year, but the true test is ahead
Apple Vision Pro's spatial computing could make it easier to work from home.

2023 was the year the world at large was introduced to the term spatial computing. Even though Apple didn't invent the term, its use of it while announcing the Vision Pro instead of "mixed-reality" or "augmented reality" was notable.

In short, a spatial computer is a new type of device with a wearable display, the ability to sense the surrounding area, and a user interface based on the wearer's hands, eyes, and voice instead of a traditional screen. But Apple is hardly alone in its pursuit. 2023 saw some huge releases from major players in the game, pushing this technology to places it's never been before, but it will only get bigger in 2024.
Spatial computing in 2023
As we approach the end of 2023, let's review several devices that almost qualify as spatial computers but fall short of replacing your laptop or revolutionizing computing. AR and VR headsets that include hand-tracking and some form of computer vision are intriguing but ultimately aren't practical enough for most people. AR glasses and smart glasses are much more inviting due to their relatively small and light form but lack complete spatial computing features.
AR headsets
A rendering of virtual graphics seen in a Microsoft HoloLens. Microsoft / Microsoft

Read more