Snapdragon XR2 HMD Reference Design
| 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) |
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]
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
- Qualcomm
- Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2
- Snapdragon 835 VR Development Kit
- Snapdragon XR1
- 5G VR
- Reference design
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/.