Snapdragon XR2 HMD Reference Design
The Snapdragon XR2 HMD Reference Design is an extended reality (XR) reference platform developed by Qualcomm. Unveiled in February 2020, it is the world's first 5G-enabled XR reference design, combining the Snapdragon XR2 platform with the Snapdragon X55 5G modem. The reference design provides hardware manufacturers with guidelines for building high-performance XR headsets, supporting displays up to 3K x 3K per eye at 90 Hz, seven simultaneous camera feeds, and advanced tracking technologies including eye tracking, hand tracking, and electromagnetic controller tracking.[1]
| Snapdragon XR2 HMD Reference Design | |
|---|---|
| Basic Info | |
| VR/AR | Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, Mixed Reality |
| Type | Head-mounted display |
| Subtype | Reference Design |
| Platform | Android |
| Creator | Qualcomm |
| Website | https://developer.qualcomm.com |
| System | |
| CPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 |
| GPU | Adreno 650 |
| Storage | |
| Display | |
| Display | Up to 3K x 3K per eye @ 90 Hz |
| Resolution | Up to 3K x 3K per eye |
| Image | |
| Optics | |
| Tracking | |
| Tracking | 6DoF (SLAM) |
| Eye Tracking | Yes (Tobii) |
| Hand Tracking | Yes (Ultraleap) |
| Audio | |
| Connectivity | |
| Connectivity | 5G (Snapdragon X55), Wi-Fi 6 |
| Ports | USB-C |
| Device | |
| Sensors | Up to 7 cameras |
| Input | Electromagnetic controllers (NDI Atraxa) |
History and Development
February 2020 Announcement
Qualcomm unveiled the XR2 reference design to accelerate development of next-generation XR headsets with 5G connectivity.
Purpose
Reference designs serve as guidelines for hardware manufacturers, specifying compatible displays, cameras, and other components that work optimally with the Snapdragon XR2 chipset.[2]
Manufacturing Partners
The reference design is manufactured by Thundercomm, Qualcomm's joint venture partner for development kits.
Snapdragon XR2 Platform
The XR2 platform represents a significant leap over previous generations:
Performance Improvements
- 2x to 11x improvements over predecessor (Snapdragon 835)
- Enhanced processing power
- Improved AI capabilities
- Better graphics performance
Display Support
- Up to 3K x 3K resolution per eye
- Up to 90 Hz refresh rate
- Support for 8K 360-degree video at 60 fps
Camera System
The reference design supports up to 7 simultaneous cameras:
Internal Cameras (2)
Eye tracking cameras for gaze detection and foveated rendering.
External Cameras (4)
- 2 cameras for mixed reality passthrough
- 2 cameras for head/SLAM tracking
Additional Camera (1)
Optional use for facial tracking, lip tracking, or other applications.
Tracking Technologies
Eye Tracking
Tobii eye tracking integration for:
- Foveated rendering
- Gaze-based interaction
- User analytics
Hand Tracking
Ultraleap (formerly Leap Motion) hand tracking for controller-free interaction.
Controller Tracking
NDI Atraxa electromagnetic tracking for:
- Accurate 6DoF controller tracking
- Low latency
- No line-of-sight requirements
Head Tracking
6DoF SLAM tracking with inside-out cameras.
5G Connectivity
Snapdragon X55 Modem
- Native 5G support
- Sub-6 GHz band support
- mmWave band support
- Global network compatibility
Wireless XR
Enables untethered XR experiences with:
- Cloud rendering
- Low-latency streaming
- Anywhere connectivity
Additional Features
Always-On Voice
Voice activation and contextual awareness.
AI Processing
Enhanced AI capabilities for:
- Scene understanding
- Object recognition
- Interaction prediction
Products Based on XR2
Many commercial headsets are based on the Snapdragon XR2 platform:
- Meta Quest 2
- Meta Quest Pro
- Pico Neo 3
- Pico 4
- HTC Vive Focus 3
- Lynx R-1
- And many others
Specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Platform | Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 |
| Display Support | Up to 3K x 3K per eye @ 90 Hz |
| Video Support | 8K 360° @ 60 fps |
| Cameras | Up to 7 simultaneous |
| Eye Tracking | Yes (Tobii) |
| Hand Tracking | Yes (Ultraleap) |
| Controller Tracking | Electromagnetic (NDI Atraxa) |
| 5G Modem | Snapdragon X55 |
| 5G Bands | Sub-6 GHz + mmWave |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 |
See Also
References
- ↑ "Qualcomm Accelerates XR Headset Development with the new Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 5G Reference Design". Qualcomm. https://www.qualcomm.com/news/releases/2020/02/qualcomm-accelerates-xr-headset-development-new-qualcomm-snapdragon-xr2-5g.
- ↑ "Qualcomm Reveals New Reference Designs for XR2-powered VR & AR Headsets". Road to VR. https://www.roadtovr.com/qualcomm-snapdragon-xr2-reference-design-vrdk-vr-ar-headset/.