Magic Leap 2
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| Magic Leap 2 | |
|---|---|
| Basic Info | |
| VR/AR | Augmented Reality |
| Type | Head-mounted display |
| Subtype | Standalone AR |
| Platform | Magic Leap OS |
| Creator | Magic Leap |
| Developer | Magic Leap |
| Manufacturer | Magic Leap |
| Announcement Date | June 2022 |
| Release Date | September 30, 2022 |
| Price | $3,299 (device), $4,999 (Developer Pro) |
| Website | https://www.magicleap.com/magic-leap-2 |
| Versions | Magic Leap 2, Magic Leap 2 Developer Pro |
| Requires | Magic Leap account |
| Predecessor | Magic Leap 1 |
| System | |
| Operating System | Magic Leap OS (Android-based) |
| Chipset | AMD custom x86 quad-core |
| CPU | AMD Zen 2 quad-core |
| GPU | AMD RDNA 2 integrated graphics |
| Storage | |
| Storage | 256GB |
| Memory | 16GB |
| SD Card Slot | No |
| Display | |
| Display | LCoS (Liquid Crystal on Silicon) waveguide |
| Subpixel Layout | N/A (waveguide projection) |
| Peak Brightness | 2000 nits (perceived) |
| Resolution | 1440 × 1760 per eye |
| Pixel Density | ~37 PPD |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz |
| Persistence | Low persistence |
| Image | |
| Field of View | 70° diagonal |
| Horizontal FoV | ~45° |
| Vertical FoV | ~55° |
| Average Pixel Density | 37 PPD |
| Peak Pixel Density | 37 PPD |
| Foveated Rendering | No |
| Optics | |
| Optics | Diffractive waveguide |
| Ocularity | Binocular |
| IPD Range | 51-74mm |
| Adjustable Diopter | Via prescription lens inserts |
| Passthrough | Native see-through (optical AR) |
| Tracking | |
| Tracking | 6DoF inside-out (SLAM) |
| Tracking Frequency | 1kHz IMU |
| Base Stations | None required |
| Eye Tracking | Yes |
| Face Tracking | No |
| Hand Tracking | Yes (gesture recognition) |
| Body Tracking | No |
| Rotational Tracking | Yes |
| Positional Tracking | Yes |
| Update Rate | 120Hz (display) |
| Tracking Volume | Room-scale |
| Play Space | Unlimited (optical see-through) |
| Latency | <5ms (display latency) |
| Audio | |
| Audio | Integrated spatial audio speakers |
| Microphone | Yes (4 microphones) |
| 3.5mm Audio Jack | No |
| Camera | 4× world cameras, 1× RGB camera (12MP) |
| Connectivity | |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Ports | USB-C |
| Wired Video | No |
| Wireless Video | No (native AR device) |
| WiFi | Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Power | External compute pack (battery integrated) |
| Battery Capacity | ~35Wh (compute pack) |
| Battery Life | 3.5 hours |
| Charge Time | ~2 hours |
| Device | |
| Dimensions | Glasses: 159mm × 173mm × 55mm |
| Weight | 260g (glasses), 235g (compute pack) |
| Material | Aluminum, plastic, rubber |
| Headstrap | Integrated temples and head strap |
| Haptics | Controller haptics |
| Color | Black/Gray |
| Sensors | 4× world cameras, 12MP RGB camera, eye tracking cameras, IMU, ambient light sensor |
| Input | Controller, hand gestures, voice, eye tracking |
| Compliance | FDA (Class 1 medical device), CE, FCC |
The Magic Leap 2 is an enterprise-focused augmented reality head-mounted display developed by Magic Leap, announced in June 2022 and released on September 30, 2022 at a starting price of $3,299. Representing a complete pivot from Magic Leap's original consumer-focused vision, the Magic Leap 2 targets healthcare, manufacturing, and defense sectors with industry-leading specifications for transparent AR glasses. The device features a nearly doubled field of view compared to its predecessor (70° diagonal vs. 50°), world-first global and segmented dynamic dimming capabilities that can block up to 99.7% of ambient light, and exceptional optical clarity at 1440 × 1760 resolution per eye. Powered by a custom AMD x86 processor rather than mobile ARM chips, the Magic Leap 2 delivers desktop-class computing performance while weighing just 260 grams—the lightest enterprise AR headset in its class.
History and Development
Magic Leap's Journey
Magic Leap was founded in 2010 by Rony Abovitz with ambitious claims about "spatial computing" and revolutionary AR technology. The company raised over $2.6 billion before launching its first product, generating enormous hype in the technology industry.
Magic Leap 1
The original Magic Leap One (Creator Edition) launched in 2018 at $2,295, targeting creators and developers. While technically innovative, the device received mixed reviews for its limited field of view (50°) and fell short of the company's marketed expectations.
Strategic Pivot
Following disappointing Magic Leap 1 sales and the impact of COVID-19, Magic Leap underwent significant changes:
- CEO Rony Abovitz departed in 2020
- Peggy Johnson (former Microsoft) became CEO
- Complete pivot from consumer to enterprise market
- Restructuring and workforce reductions
- Focus on healthcare, defense, and industrial applications
Magic Leap 2 Development
ML2 was developed specifically for enterprise needs:
- Smaller, lighter form factor
- Industrial-grade reliability
- Improved optical performance
- Dynamic dimming for varied environments
- Medical device certification pathway
Design Philosophy
Enterprise-First
Every design decision prioritized professional use:
- All-day wearability
- Compatibility with safety equipment
- Cleanroom and medical environment suitability
- Integration with enterprise workflows
Lightweight Construction
At 260 grams (glasses only), Magic Leap 2 achieves:
- Comfortable extended wear
- Reduced neck strain
- Professional appearance
- Prescription insert compatibility
Compute Pack Separation
Processing housed in belt-worn pack:
- Reduces head weight
- Better thermal management
- Desktop-class performance possible
- 235g additional weight on belt
Display Technology
LCoS Waveguide
Proprietary optical system:
- Resolution: 1440 × 1760 per eye
- Technology: Liquid Crystal on Silicon projection
- Waveguide: Diffractive optical elements
- Brightness: Up to 2000 nits perceived
Field of View
Significant improvement over ML1:
- Diagonal FOV: 70°
- Horizontal: ~45°
- Vertical: ~55°
- Nearly double the ML1's 50° diagonal
High Refresh Rate
Industry-leading for AR glasses:
- 120Hz refresh rate
- Smooth hologram motion
- Reduced flicker
- Better motion handling
Color and Clarity
Outstanding visual quality:
- Wide color gamut
- Sharp text rendering
- Suitable for medical imaging
- Professional visualization quality
Dynamic Dimming System
World-First Technology
Magic Leap 2's most distinctive feature:
- Global Dimming: Darkens entire view uniformly
- Segmented Dimming: Selective area darkening
- Range: Up to 99.7% light blocking (0.3% transmission)
- Control: Automatic or manual adjustment
Global Dimming
Uniform light reduction:
- Converts see-through to near-VR experience
- Dramatically improves hologram visibility
- Works in bright environments
- Button-activated
Segmented Dimming
Selective area control:
- Darken only behind specific holograms
- Focus attention on content
- Create mixed transparency
- Per-segment dynamic adjustment
Benefits
Dynamic dimming enables:
- Use in bright outdoor environments
- High-contrast hologram viewing
- Better color perception
- Flexible AR/VR hybrid operation
Processing Architecture
AMD Custom Processor
Unusual choice of x86 architecture:
- CPU: AMD Zen 2 quad-core
- GPU: AMD RDNA 2 integrated
- RAM: 16GB
- Storage: 256GB
x86 Advantages
Desktop architecture provides:
- Higher single-thread performance than ARM
- Better compatibility with enterprise software
- More powerful GPU capabilities
- Desktop application potential
Compute Pack
Belt-worn processing unit:
- Contains CPU, GPU, battery
- Connected via proprietary cable
- Enables powerful performance
- 235g additional weight
Thermal Management
Separation enables:
- Heat dissipation away from face
- Sustained performance
- No throttling during extended use
Tracking System
SLAM Tracking
Simultaneous Localization and Mapping:
- Four world-facing cameras
- 6DoF positional tracking
- Environment understanding
- Persistent spatial anchors
Eye Tracking
Integrated eye sensing:
- Gaze-based interaction
- Attention analytics
- UI optimization
- Research applications
Hand Tracking
Gesture recognition system:
- Key pose recognition
- Point and pinch gestures
- Controller-free interaction
- Supplemented by physical controller
Controller
Magic Leap Controller
Purpose-built input device:
- 6DoF tracking
- Touchpad input
- Buttons and triggers
- Haptic feedback
- Rechargeable battery
Multi-Modal Input
Combined input options:
- Controller for precision
- Hand gestures for natural interaction
- Voice commands
- Eye gaze selection
Audio System
Integrated Speakers
Spatial audio system:
- Positioned near ears
- Open design for awareness
- 3D positioned audio
- Adequate for professional use
Microphone Array
Four microphones enable:
- Voice commands
- Communication
- Voice notes
- Spatial audio capture
Enterprise Applications
Healthcare
Magic Leap 2 has found strong adoption in healthcare:
- Surgical Visualization: 3D patient anatomy overlays
- Medical Training: Anatomical education
- Telemedicine: Remote expert consultation
- FDA Class 1: Medical device clearance pathway
Manufacturing
Industrial applications:
- Assembly guidance
- Quality inspection
- Maintenance instructions
- Training procedures
Defense
Military and government use:
- Training simulations
- Mission planning
- Maintenance support
- Situational awareness
Architecture and Design
Professional visualization:
- BIM model overlay
- Full-scale design review
- Client presentations
- Construction verification
Regulatory Certification
FDA Status
Medical device recognition:
- Class 1 medical device certification
- Enables healthcare deployment
- Regulatory compliance for clinical use
- Patient data security features
Enterprise Compliance
Business-ready certifications:
- HIPAA compliance capable
- Enterprise security features
- IT management integration
Battery and Power
Compute Pack Battery
Integrated in belt unit:
- Capacity: ~35Wh
- Runtime: 3.5 hours typical use
- Hot-swap capable with additional packs
- USB-C charging
Connectivity
Wi-Fi 6E
Latest wireless standard:
- High-bandwidth data transfer
- Low-latency connectivity
- Cloud application support
Bluetooth 5.0
For accessories and peripherals.
USB-C
- Charging
- Data transfer
- Wired connectivity
Pricing and Editions
| Edition | Price | Contents |
|---|---|---|
| Magic Leap 2 | $3,299 | Device, controller, compute pack |
| Developer Pro | $4,999 | Device + developer tools + support |
Enterprise pricing often includes:
- Volume discounts
- Support packages
- Software licensing
- Deployment services
Comparison with Magic Leap 1
| Feature | Magic Leap 2 | Magic Leap 1 |
|---|---|---|
| FOV | 70° diagonal | 50° diagonal |
| Weight | 260g (glasses) | 316g (glasses) |
| Dimming | Yes (global + segmented) | No |
| Processor | AMD x86 | NVIDIA Tegra |
| Resolution | 1440×1760/eye | 1280×960/eye |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 60Hz |
| Target Market | Enterprise | Consumer/Creator |
| Price | $3,299 | $2,295 |
Technical Specifications Summary
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Display | LCoS waveguide, 1440 × 1760 per eye |
| Field of View | 70° diagonal |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz |
| Dynamic Dimming | Yes (global + segmented) |
| Processor | AMD Zen 2 quad-core + RDNA 2 GPU |
| Memory | 16GB RAM, 256GB storage |
| Eye Tracking | Yes |
| Hand Tracking | Yes |
| Weight | 260g (glasses), 235g (compute pack) |
| Battery Life | 3.5 hours |
| Price | $3,299 |