ODG R-9
| ODG R-9 | |
|---|---|
| Basic Info | |
| VR/AR | Augmented Reality, Mixed Reality |
| Type | Smart Glasses |
| Subtype | Consumer AR, Enterprise AR |
| Platform | Android 7.0 (Reticle OS) |
| Creator | Osterhout Design Group |
| Developer | Osterhout Design Group |
| Manufacturer | ODG |
| Announcement Date | January 2017 (CES) |
| Release Date | 2017 (limited) |
| Price | $1,800 |
| Website | https://www.osterhoutgroup.com/ (discontinued) |
| Versions | ODG R-9 |
| Requires | None (standalone) |
| Predecessor | ODG R-7 |
| Successor | None (company defunct) |
| System | |
| Operating System | Reticle OS (Android 7.0 based) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 |
| CPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 |
| GPU | Adreno 540 |
| Storage | |
| Storage | 128GB |
| Memory | 6GB RAM |
| SD Card Slot | No |
| Display | |
| Display | Dual stereoscopic see-through displays |
| Subpixel Layout | RGB |
| Peak Brightness | Not specified |
| Resolution | 1920 × 1080 per eye (1080p) |
| Pixel Density | N/A |
| Refresh Rate | Not specified |
| Persistence | N/A |
| Image | |
| Field of View | 50° |
| Horizontal FoV | ~50° (22:9 aspect) |
| Vertical FoV | N/A |
| Average Pixel Density | N/A |
| Peak Pixel Density | N/A |
| Foveated Rendering | No |
| Optics | |
| Optics | See-through stereoscopic |
| Ocularity | Binocular (stereoscopic) |
| IPD Range | Adjustable |
| Adjustable Diopter | Prescription compatible |
| Passthrough | Native see-through (optical AR) |
| Tracking | |
| Tracking | 6DoF (inside-out) |
| Tracking Frequency | N/A |
| Base Stations | None required |
| Eye Tracking | No |
| Face Tracking | No |
| Hand Tracking | No |
| Body Tracking | No |
| Rotational Tracking | Yes |
| Positional Tracking | Yes |
| Update Rate | N/A |
| Tracking Volume | Room-scale |
| Play Space | Mobile AR |
| Latency | N/A |
| Audio | |
| Audio | Integrated spatial audio |
| Microphone | Yes (dual) |
| 3.5mm Audio Jack | Yes |
| Camera | 13MP camera (4K @ 60fps video) |
| Connectivity | |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C |
| Ports | USB-C |
| Wired Video | No |
| Wireless Video | No |
| WiFi | Wi-Fi 802.11ac |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Power | Internal battery |
| Battery Capacity | Not specified |
| Battery Life | Not specified |
| Charge Time | Not specified |
| Device | |
| Dimensions | Sunglasses form factor |
| Weight | <184g (<6.5 oz) |
| Material | Plastic, polycarbonate |
| Headstrap | None (glasses temples) |
| Haptics | No |
| Color | Black |
| Sensors | 3-axis accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer, altitude, humidity, ambient light |
| Input | Touch controls, voice commands |
| Compliance | FCC, CE |
Property "Platform" (as page type) with input value "Android]] 7.0 (Reticle OS)" contains invalid characters or is incomplete and therefore can cause unexpected results during a query or annotation process. Property "Weight" (as page type) with input value "" contains invalid characters or is incomplete and therefore can cause unexpected results during a query or annotation process.
The ODG R-9 is a discontinued standalone augmented reality and mixed reality smart glasses device developed by Osterhout Design Group (ODG), announced at CES in January 2017 at a price of $1,800. As the flagship of ODG's consumer-targeted AR glasses lineup, the R-9 was one of the first AR devices powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor, featuring dual 1080p stereoscopic see-through displays with a 50° field of view calibrated to THX cinema standards, 6GB RAM, 128GB storage, and a 13MP camera capable of 4K video at 60fps. The R-9 represented ODG's ambitious attempt to bring high-quality AR to consumers and prosumers in a lightweight sunglasses form factor weighing under 6.5 ounces (184 grams). Despite winning three CES 2017 Innovation Awards and showcasing impressive specifications, ODG ceased operations in 2019, making the R-9 a historical artifact of early consumer AR development.
Note: ODG (Osterhout Design Group) is no longer in business. The company ceased operations in 2019. This article documents a historical product.
History and Development
ODG Background
Company history:
- Founded by Ralph Osterhout
- Military/defense origins
- AR technology pioneer
- Consumer pivot (2017)
Project Horizon
Technology foundation:
- Award-winning platform
- 50° FOV achievement
- 1080p displays
- Stereoscopic design
CES 2017 Announcement
R-9 reveal:
- First Snapdragon 835 AR glasses
- Consumer/prosumer target
- THX certification
- Three Innovation Awards
Company Closure
End of ODG:
- 2019 business closure
- Magic Leap IP acquisition
- Market challenges
- Industry consolidation
Design Philosophy
Consumer AR
Mass market ambition:
- $1,800 target price
- Sunglasses form factor
- Standalone operation
- Lifestyle device
Cinematic Quality
THX certification:
- Cinema-quality display
- 22:9 aspect ratio
- "Middle seat" viewing
- Professional calibration
Snapdragon 835 First
Processor debut:
- First AR device with SD835
- Mobile VR/AR optimized
- High performance
- Power efficiency
Display Technology
Dual 1080p Stereoscopic
High-resolution AR:
- Resolution: 1920 × 1080 per eye
- Type: See-through stereoscopic
- Aspect: 22:9
- 3D: Stereoscopic depth
50° Field of View
Wide AR display:
- FOV: 50° diagonal
- Wider than many competitors
- Immersive content
- Cinematic experience
THX Certification
Quality standard:
- Calibrated color
- Professional reference
- Cinema standards
- Quality assurance
Processing Power
Snapdragon 835
First-in-class:
- SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 835
- GPU: Adreno 540
- RAM: 6GB
- Storage: 128GB
Performance
Flagship mobile:
- VR/AR optimized
- 4K video processing
- Advanced graphics
- Efficient power
Camera System
13MP Camera
High-quality capture:
- Resolution: 13 megapixels
- Video: 4K @ 60fps
- Tracking capability
- Documentation
Video Recording
Professional quality:
- 4K resolution
- 60fps smooth capture
- POV recording
- Content creation
Tracking System
6DoF Inside-Out
Spatial tracking:
- Position tracking
- Rotation tracking
- No external sensors
- Self-contained
Sensor Suite
Comprehensive sensing:
- 3-axis accelerometer
- 3-axis gyroscope
- 3-axis magnetometer
- Altitude sensor
- Humidity sensor
- Ambient light sensor
Physical Design
Lightweight Form
Wearable design:
- Weight: <184g (<6.5 oz)
- Sunglasses style
- All-day capable
- Fashionable
Standalone
Self-contained:
- No tethering
- No external compute
- Mobile operation
- True portability
Software Platform
Reticle OS
ODG software:
- Based on Android 7.0
- Custom AR interface
- App ecosystem
- Developer tools
Android Foundation
Developer friendly:
- Android 7.0 base
- Standard development
- App compatibility
- SDK availability
Use Cases
Entertainment
Consumer applications:
- Cinematic viewing
- Gaming
- Media consumption
- Social experiences
Enterprise
Professional use:
- Field service
- Remote expert
- Training
- Documentation
Content Creation
Creative tools:
- 4K video capture
- POV recording
- AR content
- Media production
CES Innovation Awards
Award Recognition
2017 CES categories:
- Multiple innovation awards
- Three categories won
- Industry recognition
- Technology validation
Historical Significance
First Snapdragon 835 AR
Processor milestone:
- First AR glasses with SD835
- Mobile VR/AR chip debut
- Performance benchmark
- Industry direction
Consumer AR Attempt
Market exploration:
- Sub-$2,000 pricing
- Consumer targeting
- Form factor focus
- Market timing challenges
Technology Legacy
Industry influence:
- Standalone AR validation
- Mobile chip capability
- Form factor exploration
- Consumer AR learnings
Comparison with Contemporaries
| Feature | ODG R-9 | Microsoft HoloLens 1 | Meta 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,800 | $3,000 | $1,495 |
| FOV | 50° | 34° | 90° |
| Resolution | 1080p/eye | 720p equivalent | 2560×1440 |
| Form Factor | Sunglasses | Visor | Tethered visor |
| Weight | <184g | 579g | 500g |
| Processor | Snapdragon 835 | HPU + Intel | External PC |
| Standalone | Yes | Yes | No |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued | Discontinued |
Strengths and Limitations
Strengths
- First Snapdragon 835 AR glasses
- Dual 1080p stereoscopic displays
- 50° FOV (wide for era)
- THX certified quality
- Lightweight (<184g)
- Standalone operation
- 4K @ 60fps video capture
Limitations
- Company discontinued
- Limited market availability
- Early AR ecosystem
- Competition from HoloLens
- Consumer AR market immaturity
- Short product lifespan
Technical Specifications Summary
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Display | Dual 1080p stereoscopic see-through |
| FOV | 50° (22:9 aspect) |
| Processor | Snapdragon 835 |
| Memory | 6GB RAM, 128GB storage |
| Camera | 13MP (4K @ 60fps video) |
| Tracking | 6DoF inside-out |
| Audio | Integrated spatial audio |
| Weight | <184g (<6.5 oz) |
| Price | $1,800 |
| Status | Discontinued (2019) |