Qualcomm officially introduced the new Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chip for mixed reality and virtual reality headsets. The processor will be introduced in Meta Quest 3. Here are all the important details.
The virtual reality genre shows no signs of disappearing, as Apple finally jumped on the bandwagon with the introduction of the Vision Pro earlier this year.
Meta also quickly introduced its latest and greatest headset. The Quest 3 is set to be powered by the Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chip, which Qualcomm says was created in close collaboration with Meta. The same goes for the new Snapdragon AR Gen 1 chip for smart glasses. Let’s take a closer look at the new Quest 3 chip.
What is Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2?
Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 is Qualcomm’s latest virtual reality (VR) and mixed reality (MR) chip. It will power the new Meta Quest 3.
It is set to deliver 2.5x higher GPU performance, up to 50% improved power efficiency, and 8x improved AI features compared to the Snapdragon XR2 Gen 1. Qualcomm worked with Meta to create the new chip, but more devices will arrive from other manufacturers in 2024.
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The new mixed reality chip aims to deliver “breathtaking visuals” and “exceptional power efficiency”; The added graphics power aims to provide improved clarity, texture and color at a higher frame rate. With this chip, the focus is on optimizing performance for 3K resolution per eye. Qualcomm also claims that, unlike the Apple Vision Pro, there is no need for an external battery pack.
With support for up to ten simultaneous cameras, higher accuracy spatial tracking is built in, powered by new AI features. Both MR and VR experiences will be available, with full-color video pass-through available with only 12ms latency.
The chip includes Qualcomm FastConnect Wi-Fi 6E/7 and Qualcomm FastConnect Software Suite for XR to ensure fast connectivity. There’s also the Snapdragon Audio Technology Suite, which provides spatial audio on the headphones as well as low-latency audio for wireless headphones.
