Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 5G Review - XR Today

Qualcomm is among the best-known companies in the world for disruptive technology innovation. With the Snapdragon ecosystem, the company continues to build new environments where developers and designers can set the foundations for a future of AR, VR, and mixed reality experiences.

In 2018, Qualcomm introduced a dedicated chipset for the mixed reality space called the Snapdragon XR1. The solution was pitched towards OEMs in search of creative opportunities in mixed reality worlds. In 2019, Qualcomm followed their XR1 release with the introduction of the Snapdragon XR2 platform – a sequel solution for XR development designed to power some of the world’s first mixed reality headsets with 5G.

Today, we’re going to be exploring some of the features of the Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 5G platform, and what makes this solution so compelling to today’s creators.

Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 5G Review: Features

The previous XR platform introduced by Qualcomm was intended to help companies build more affordable XR headsets for a wider range of consumers. In the last couple of years, the solution has actually appeared as the foundation of enterprise AR glasses like the Vuzix M400 and the Google Glass Enterprise Edition (2). The XR2 platform was pitched by Qualcomm as a more powerful than both the XR1 and the Snapdragon 835.

Notably, among Qualcomm’s chipset solutions, the Snapdragon 835 is regarded the flagship premium model, currently powering products like the Oculus Quest headset. According to Qualcomm, however, the XR2 offers double the GPU and CPU performance of their previous flagship, 6 times better video resolution support, 11 times faster AI processing, and four times faster video bandwidth.

Some of the features creators can expect from the Snapdragon XR2 platform include:

• Support for a new generation of 5G headsets
• 7 concurrent camera support for better 360-degree image tracking
• True mixed reality with 3D video passthrough
• Support for multiple layers of situational awareness
• Artificial Intelligence with machine learning to improve functionality over time
• AI efficiency decisions to improve bandwidth use and power savings
• Superior speed for standalone XR headsets with 5G
• Amazing image quality with support for 8K 360-degree video
• Voice UI and context awareness
• 60 frames per second for high-definition rendering of video scenes
• Support for Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Reference designs

Qualcomm defines its new 5G XR offering as a state-as-the-art foundation for extended reality with 8K video processing, sensational FPS performance, and support for features like enhanced variable rate shading and foveated rendering. The powerful performance of the platform means companies can begin to discover the “best of both worlds” with Virtual Reality, and physical spaces. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon XR2 5G processor could be the future of mixed reality.

Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 5G Review: Benefits

Just as the previous high-end XR platform from Qualcomm powered the first Oculus Quest, the Snapdragon XR2 is the solution behind the Oculus Quest 2. In fact, the Oculus Quest 2 was the first official VR headset to launch with the second Snapdragon XR platform. The chipset contributes to the Quest 2’s exceptional freedom of movement, and an amazing high-resolution display.

The Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 5G platform is the first XR environment capable of uniting two disruptive tools for the extended reality ecosystem: AI and 5G. The platform is designed by Qualcomm to enable an unrivalled quality of extended reality experiences, allowing users to explore every angle of their virtual environments with unforgettable detail, rich 3D audio, and integrated contextual awareness. Benefits of the Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 5G platform include:

• Sensational video quality: An amazing XR platform needs to support an unforgettable quality of video. With the XR2 5G platform, companies get access to support for 7 concurrent cameras working in unison. This allows XR developers to build precise motion tracking opportunities and gesture recognition into their devices. Combined with support for 360-degree 8K video, the Snapdragon XR2 landscape create a new benchmark for fully immersive and interactive video content. A rate of 60 FPS also allows for high-definition rendering of all kinds of visual scenes.
• Truly blended mixed reality: Users can go above and beyond the benefits of augmented and virtual reality with the XR2 platform. The chipset supports true mixed reality experiences, blending physical and virtual environments so users can explore VR content while remaining aware of the world around them. 3D video passthrough allows realities to converge so AR and VR can coexist in a single device, and users can control their immersion level.
• AI combined with VR: Artificial intelligence and extended reality are a match made in heaven. The AI support in the Snapdragon XR2 platform allows companies to embed machine learning and AI algorithms into their XR experiences, for more engaging, and customized interactions. AI efficiency also supports optimised performance and massive power savings within your hardware too.
• Support for 5G connectivity: There’s no doubt that 5G will be responsible for a new generation of standalone headsets in the XR environment. With support for 5G connections, the XR2 platform ensures companies can build immersive experiences where content loads instantly, and visual streaming is better than ever. Lag-free interactions will make it much easier to forget where the real-world ends, and virtual reality begins.
• Voice UI: Companies looking to add virtual assistants into their XR environment will appreciate access to Voice UI and context awareness in the XR2 platform, the contextual awareness layer means the device can seamlessly monitor the environment for sound, distinguishing human requests from other noise. The system can even alert the user when a baby cries or a doorbell rings, so they don’t lose track of things that need their attention.

Snapdragon XR2 5G Review: Verdict

The XR2 solution from Qualcomm is a clear step up from the already impressive XR1 environment, and even the Snapdragon 835. With enhanced 5G support, AI innovation, and sensational video quality, the XR2 has the power to really change the way we use extended reality in tomorrow’s headsets. We can already see the impact in the Oculus Quest 2.

Who knows what companies will create on this platform next?