View source for Snapdragon 835 VR Development Kit

{{Device Infobox
|image =
|VR/AR = [[Virtual Reality]]
|Type = [[Head-mounted display]]
|Subtype = Standalone VR (Reference Design)
|Platform = [[Android]]
|Creator = [[Qualcomm]]
|Announced = 2017
|Release = 2017
|Price = Developer kit pricing
|Website = https://developer.qualcomm.com
|OS = Android 7.1
|CPU = [[Qualcomm Snapdragon 835]]
|GPU = Adreno 540
|Storage = 64 GB
|RAM = 4 GB
|Display = WQHD AMOLED
|Resolution = 2560 x 1440 (1280 x 1440 per eye)
|Refresh =
|Brightness =
|Aspect = 16:9
|FOV = 90° diagonal
|PPD =
|Lenses =
|IPD =
|Eye Tracking = Foveated rendering support
|Hand Tracking =
|Tracking = 6DoF (dual cameras, sensor fusion)
|Spatial Mapping =
|Speakers =
|Microphone =
|Audio Jack =
|Connectivity =
|Ports =
|Battery = Integrated
|Weight =
|Materials =
|Colors =
|Sensors = Gyroscope, accelerometer, dual cameras
|Input =
}}

The '''Snapdragon 835 VR Development Kit''' (also known as Snapdragon 835 VRDK) is a standalone [[virtual reality]] [[head-mounted display]] reference design developed by [[Qualcomm]]. Released in 2017, the VRDK serves as a development platform for hardware manufacturers creating VR headsets based on the [[Qualcomm Snapdragon 835]] processor. The design is part of Qualcomm's Head Mounted Display (HMD) Accelerator Program.<ref name="prnewswire">{{cite web|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/qualcomm-introduces-snapdragon-835-virtual-reality-development-kit-300412283.html|title=Qualcomm Introduces Snapdragon 835 Virtual Reality Development Kit|publisher=PR Newswire}}</ref>

== History and Development ==

=== HMD Accelerator Program ===
The Snapdragon 835 VRDK was developed as part of Qualcomm's Head Mounted Display Accelerator Program, which provides hardware manufacturers with reference designs and development tools to accelerate the creation of VR headsets using Qualcomm processors.

=== Reference Design Purpose ===
While not intended for direct consumer sales, the VRDK serves as a complete reference implementation that manufacturers can use as a starting point for their own VR headset products.<ref name="techradar">{{cite web|url=https://www.techradar.com/news/first-look-qualcomm-snapdragon-835-vr-developer-kit-headset|title=First look: Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 VR Developer Kit headset|publisher=TechRadar}}</ref>

== Design and Hardware ==

=== Processor ===
The VRDK is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835, a flagship mobile processor optimized for VR applications:
* '''CPU:''' Octa-core Kryo 280
* '''GPU:''' Adreno 540
* '''DSP:''' Hexagon 682

=== Display System ===
* '''Panel:''' Single WQHD AMOLED
* '''Resolution:''' 2560 x 1440 (four megapixels total, two megapixels per eye)
* '''Per Eye:''' 1280 x 1440
* '''Aspect Ratio:''' 16:9

=== Field of View ===
The reference design offers a 90-degree diagonal field of view.

=== Memory and Storage ===
* '''RAM:''' 4 GB
* '''Storage:''' 64 GB internal

== Tracking System ==

=== 6DoF Tracking ===
The VRDK includes full six degrees of freedom (6DoF) tracking through:
* '''Cameras:''' Dual front-facing monochromatic stereo cameras (1 megapixel each)
* '''IMU:''' Gyroscopes and accelerometers
* '''Processing:''' DSP sensor fusion

=== DSP Sensor Fusion ===
The Qualcomm Hexagon DSP enables advanced sensor fusion, combining:
* Camera positional data
* High-frequency inertial data from gyroscopes and accelerometers
* Predictive head position processing

== Snapdragon VR SDK ==

The VRDK utilizes the Snapdragon VR SDK, which provides developers access to features and optimizations including:

=== Core Technologies ===
* '''DSP Sensor Fusion:''' Low-latency 6DoF tracking
* '''Foveated Rendering:''' Eye-tracking-based rendering optimization
* '''Low Latency Rendering:''' Optimized VR rendering pipeline

=== Engine Support ===
The SDK includes Snapdragon plugin support for:
* [[Unity]]
* [[Unreal Engine]] (Epic Games)

=== Foveated Rendering ===
Foveated rendering senses the user's gaze direction and focuses maximum visual detail only in the region of interest, reducing GPU workload while maintaining perceived visual quality.

== Form Factor ==

=== All-in-One Design ===
The VRDK is a fully standalone VR headset requiring no:
* External PC connection
* Smartphone insertion
* External sensors

== Specifications ==

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Specification !! Details
|-
| Processor || Qualcomm Snapdragon 835
|-
| GPU || Adreno 540
|-
| RAM || 4 GB
|-
| Storage || 64 GB
|-
| Display || WQHD AMOLED
|-
| Resolution || 2560 x 1440 (1280 x 1440 per eye)
|-
| Field of View || 90°
|-
| Tracking || 6DoF (dual cameras + IMU)
|-
| OS || Android 7.1
|-
| SDK || Snapdragon VR SDK
|-
| Type || Reference Design
|}

== Derivative Products ==

The Snapdragon 835 VRDK influenced the development of commercial VR headsets from various manufacturers participating in Qualcomm's HMD Accelerator Program.

== See Also ==
* [[Qualcomm Snapdragon 835]]
* [[Snapdragon 845 VR Development Kit]]
* [[Snapdragon XR1 HMD Reference Design]]
* [[Snapdragon XR2 HMD Reference Design]]
* [[Qualcomm]]
* [[Virtual Reality]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Devices]]
[[Category:VR Headsets]]
[[Category:Head-mounted displays]]
[[Category:Standalone VR]]
[[Category:Reference designs]]
[[Category:Qualcomm]]
[[Category:Development kits]]
[[Category:2010s VR]]