Skip to main content

The Qualcomm XR2 augmented reality chipset will power next-gen headsets with 5G

There’s a new AR in town: Qualcomm unveiled the Snapdragon XR2 chipset for a new generation of augmented reality devices at its annual Snapdragon Summit — promising to marry the power of AR with the promise of 5G. The  XR2 is a follow-up to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon XR1 and brings a range of new features to next-gen AR headsets. The announcement came alongside news of the new Snapdragon 865 platform, which is set to power the majority of flagship Android phones in 2020.

Perhaps the most notable new feature on offer by the XR2 platform is the fact that it’s the first AR chipset to support 5G connectivity. That means it will be perfect for things like streaming video or accessing large amounts of data on the go.

The platform offers other features too. Notably, it supports up to a hefty seven cameras, which will come in handy for HoloLens-style mixed reality applications. In particular, support for that range of cameras will help for hand-tracking, object detection, and so on. In fact, Qualcomm specifically noted this support — mentioning that the platform supports 26-point skeletal hand-tracking and accurate environmental mapping.

The XR2 will help make for a more immersive experience too. It supports a display panel of up to a massive 3K per eye at up to 90 frames per second. Not only that, but it also supports up to 8K video in 360-degrees at 60 frames per second, which is pretty impressive. Generally speaking, Qualcomm says that the XR2 offers two times the CPU and GPU performance of the Snapdragon 835.

According to Qualcomm, specific manufacturers have already started developing headsets that will make use of the new XR2. It is important to note that Qualcomm is still offering the XR1 chipset to manufacturers too. According to Qualcomm, the XR1 is the chipset for most consumer applications, while the XR2 is more for the next generation of headsets.

One headset may already be on the way. Qualcomm brought Niantic, the company behind Pokemon Go, on stage to announce that it was working on a new reference headset. Details are still scarce on the new headset, but it’s possible that it will incorporate the much-loved Pokemon Go or Harry Potter: Wizards Unite, two games that have helped pioneer phone-based augmented reality.

Editors' Recommendations

Christian de Looper
Christian’s interest in technology began as a child in Australia, when he stumbled upon a computer at a garage sale that he…
Qualcomm’s latest 5G modem brings standalone mmWave, improved Sub-6 speeds to phones
Conceptual image of Qualcomm Snapdragon X70 chip witih additonal mmWave, AI, and RF modules.

Qualcomm's Snapdragon X70 5G modem, announced earlier this year, is already picking up new features before it's even available in phones. In addition to the latest advancements in spectrum utilization and AI processing, Qualcomm is now adding what it calls "Smart Transmit 3.0" as well as standalone mmWave 5G capability and new Sub-6 5G carrier aggregation.
Smart Transmit 3.0

Qualcomm's Smart Transmit is a base-level set of features available in Qualcomm's chipsets that smartly manages the radios, power, network choices, and more to provide the best overall network experience. Version 3.0 is a simple evolution. For version 3.0, Smart Transmit now integrates Wi-Fi and Bluetooth into the architecture. Why? Well, it's basically the last area Smart Transmit hasn't touched.

Read more
Samsung’s Exynos 1280 chipset details promise ‘5G for all’
A graphic of the Samsung Exynos 1280 processor flying through the air with some emojis and square phone apps.

Samsung revealed the Exynos 1280 a while back, but has been stingy on details ever since despite launching the Galaxy A53 5G and A33 5G with the chipset. Now, the company is finally ready to share what's going on underneath the hood of its shiny new mobile processor. In short, the Exynos 1280 aims to bring solid 5G connection to devices in Samsung's budget to midrange lines.

The Exynos 1280 brings a lot to the table for the devices in which it will be used. Two Cortex A78 CPUs and six A55 cores give the chipset a good deal of processing power while not being overkill for the rest of the hardware. In terms of graphics, the 1280 features a Valhall-based ARM Mali-G68 GPU and can display 120Hz at 1080p.

Read more
The most exciting 5G technology to come out of MWC 2022
People sitting in auditorium at Mobile World Congress 2022 in Barcelona with Connectivity Unleashed sign showing on stage.

This year’s Mobile World Congress (MWC) has once again come to a close, and we can already tell that it’s going to be another exciting year for new mobile technology.

Not surprisingly, 5G technology took center stage at the event, running the gamut from new 5G consumer products like smartphones and internet-of-things (IoT) devices to groundbreaking new commercial solutions that will help to drive the adoption of 5G to new heights.

Read more