3Glasses X1
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| 3Glasses X1 | |
|---|---|
| |
| Basic Info | |
| VR/AR | Virtual Reality |
| Type | Head-mounted display |
| Subtype | Standalone VR |
| Developer | 3Glasses |
| Manufacturer | 3Glasses |
| Announcement Date | 10 April 2019[1] |
| Release Date | 2019 (shipping began 23 August 2019)[2] |
| Price | CN¥1,799 (headset only) or CN¥2,998 (X1 Suite with 3Box A2 and controller), launch prices announced April 2019, China[3] |
| Versions | X1 headset; X1 Suite (X1 headset, 3Box A2 and 3DoF controller) |
| Requires | 3Box A2, a PC or a compatible smartphone |
| Successor | 3Glasses X1S |
| System | |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon XR1 (in the 3Box A2) |
| Storage | |
| Storage | 32 GB, SD card expansion up to 128 GB (3Box A2) |
| Memory | 4 GB (3Box A2) |
| Display | |
| Display | 2 x 2.1-inch LCD (BOE), 806 PPI |
| Resolution | 1200x1200 per-eye (2400x1200 combined) |
| Refresh Rate | 90 Hz (72 Hz also listed) |
| Image | |
| Field of View | 105° binocular; 88.6° per eye[2] |
| Optics | |
| Optics | Short-focus lens module |
| Ocularity | Binocular |
| IPD Range | 59-71 mm (not adjustable) |
| Adjustable Diopter | Yes, up to 600 degrees |
| Tracking | |
| Tracking | 3DoF |
| Audio | |
| Audio | 3.5 mm audio jack; no built-in speakers |
| Connectivity | |
| Connectivity | USB Type-C cable to the 3Box A2, PC or smartphone; Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on the 3Box A2 |
| Ports | USB Type-C, 3.5 mm audio jack |
| Battery Capacity | 5,400 mAh (3Box A2) |
| Battery Life | 4-5 hours (3Box A2) |
| Device | |
| Dimensions | 165 x 61.8 x 23.5 mm |
| Weight | Less than 150 g (headset) |
| Sensors | 9-axis sensor, proximity sensor |
| Input | 3DoF controller |
3Glasses X1 is a virtual reality head-mounted display released in 2019. It was made by 3Glasses (VR Technology Holdings Ltd, Shenzhen), then a subsidiary of Digital Domain Holdings, which presented it as "the world's first ultra-thin consumer VR glasses".[1] The headset weighs less than 150 grams and is 23.5 mm thick. It holds the displays and short-focus lenses and must be connected by USB Type-C cable to a neck-worn compute unit, the 3Box A2, or to a PC or smartphone.[4][5]
The X1 Suite combined the headset with the 3Box A2, which uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon XR1 chip, and a 3DoF controller. 3Glasses aimed the product at individual and home users; its chief executive described it as mainly for watching video and live performances and for light 3DoF experiences.[6] It was sold in China, where it launched at CN¥1,799 for the headset alone and CN¥2,998 for the suite.[3] A successor, the 3Glasses X1S, went on pre-order in December 2020.[7]
History
Development
Jessie Wang (Wang Jie), 3Glasses' founder and chief executive at the time, said at the launch that the X1 had been developed over 18 months of continuous research and development, and that the product had been "positioned as the 'world's first ultra-thin VR glasses' for the consumer market" from the start of the project.[1] In an interview with VR Tuoluo, Wang said 3Glasses had shown an ultra-thin headset at CES in January 2016 but had not been able to bring it to mass production. She described the X1 as a product of a more mature supply chain: the design depended on the availability of a suitable display panel, and the team worked with that screen for the 18 months of the project.[6]
Wang told VR Tuoluo that the headset still contains its own chip, but that 3Glasses moved processing and the battery to a separate neck-worn unit so that the headset could be made smaller and lighter. She said a thinner device made heat dissipation harder, and she described 90 Hz and 6 ms latency as the basic baseline for the core experience.[6] In a later briefing, she said the company's research had found that products weighing more than 500 grams were uncomfortable for long sessions, and that she expected split designs such as the X1 and A2 to be the mainstream form for the following three years, with all-in-one headsets the long-term direction once the supply chain matured.[8]
Announcement
3Glasses announced the X1 on 10 April 2019 at a product launch in Beijing themed "See". At the same event, a virtual human named "Star", created by Digital Domain, was announced as the X1's spokesperson; Digital Domain called it the first virtual spokesperson in the VR industry.[1] Digital Domain said the X1 would be available at its "Digital Domain Oasis" VR theatres, operated by Digital Domain Space, of which almost 60 had opened across Greater China.[1]
VR Tuoluo reported that 3Glasses announced partnerships with Digital Domain, Shunwang and a location-based VR experience operator to sell the headset through VR theatres, location-based experience stores and internet cafés under a "try first, pay later" model. 3Glasses also announced an ODM business with BOE that opened its optical algorithm and 2.1-inch short-focus screen module to partners worldwide.[6][5]
Pricing and release
At announcement, the headset was priced at CN¥1,799, the 3DoF controller at CN¥299 and the 3Box A2 at CN¥1,599. The three items were sold separately or together as the X1 Suite for CN¥2,998.[6][9] 3Glasses initially said the product would ship at the end of May 2019.[3][9]
Shipping began on 23 August 2019.[2] In early September 2019, VR Tuoluo reported that the official 3Glasses store listed the X1 Suite at CN¥3,199 and the headset alone at CN¥1,999, that JD.com and Taobao sales were to follow, and that seven stores in Beijing were piloting in-store demonstrations. 3Glasses also said it was working with Shunwang to build a sales network through internet cafés.[8]
Design and hardware
Headset
The X1 uses two 2.1-inch BOE LCD panels with a resolution of 1200x1200 pixels per eye (2400x1200 combined) and a pixel density of 806 PPI.[5][9][8] 3Glasses' English product page describes the optics as a "short TTL lens" and lists a 90 Hz refresh rate, 806 PPI, 88.6° field of view, 6 ms latency and 23.5 mm thickness.[4] The specification list published by igao7 gives the field of view as 88.6° per eye and 105° for both eyes, a response time of 8 ms and refresh rates of 72 and 90 Hz; launch reports gave a 6 ms response time.[2][3]
The lenses cannot be adjusted for interpupillary distance, according to VR Tuoluo.[6] The igao7 specification list gives an IPD range of 59-71 mm.[2] For users with myopia, the headset has diopter adjustment of up to 600 degrees, which 3Glasses says lets near-sighted users play without wearing glasses.[4][5]
The headset measures 165 x 61.8 x 23.5 mm.[5] 3Glasses says it weighs less than 150 g, "the weight of 3 eggs".[4] It uses a 9-axis sensor and supports 3DoF head tracking.[2][3] It also has a proximity sensor and an adjustable head strap, and the removable USB Type-C (Full Function Gen2) cable is listed in 0.5 m and 3 m lengths.[2] There are no built-in speakers; audio goes through a 3.5 mm headphone jack.[5][2] 3Glasses says a high-precision gyroscope module and black frame insertion are used to avoid dizziness, vertigo and motion blur during sessions of more than 30 minutes.[4]
3Box A2 and controller
The 3Box A2 is a neck-worn compute unit with a Snapdragon XR1 processor, 4 GB of RAM, 32 GB of storage, an SD card slot for up to 128 GB and a 5,400 mAh battery. It connects over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.[5] VR Tuoluo reported a battery life of 4-5 hours.[6] 3Glasses described it as a "Wearable VR Processing Unit" that takes weight off the head.[4] A reviewer for igao7 found that the collar-style unit did not become tiring when hung around the neck and that it spread the weight away from the head.[2]
The included controller has three degrees of freedom and runs on two AA batteries.[5]
E3 base
For telecom operators and home users, 3Glasses also offered the E3 base, an accessory that works like a set-top box. It charges the headset and lets it connect to televisions, game consoles, phones and PCs.[5][8] VR Tuoluo listed an RJ45 port, three USB ports, an HDMI port and a USB Type-C port; Yesky gave the USB ports as USB 2.0 and the HDMI port as HDMI-A.[5][3]
Specifications
| Specification | 3Glasses X1 |
|---|---|
| Display | 2 x 2.1-inch BOE LCD (binocular) |
| Resolution | 1200x1200 per-eye (2400x1200 combined) |
| Pixel density | 806 PPI |
| Refresh rate | 90 Hz (72 Hz also listed) |
| Field of view | 105° binocular; 88.6° per eye |
| IPD range | 59-71 mm (not adjustable) |
| Diopter adjustment | Up to 600 degrees |
| Tracking | 3DoF, 9-axis sensor |
| Audio | 3.5 mm audio jack |
| Dimensions | 165 x 61.8 x 23.5 mm |
| Weight | Less than 150 g |
| Price | CN¥1,799 (headset); CN¥2,998 (X1 Suite), launch prices in China |
The table follows the launch reports, the 3Glasses product page and the specification list published by igao7.[5][4][2][3]
Software and content
3Glasses said the X1 supports the VRShow, SteamVR, iQiyi VR and VeeR content platforms. It offered two companion apps: 3Glasses Companion for managing the headset on a PC, and 3Box Companion for iOS and Android phones, used for setup, content management and the controller.[4] VR Tuoluo also listed DD VR among the supported platforms.[6] At launch, 3Glasses said the X1 supported several hundred games and more than 2,000 videos.[9]
GamerSky reported that the X1 can connect to smartphones and to a gaming PC over Wi-Fi, using Qualcomm's split rendering approach.[9] According to VR Tuoluo, the headset can also be connected by Type-C to phones in Qualcomm's HMD Accelerator Program that use a Snapdragon 855 platform or newer.[6][8]
Reception
VR Tuoluo's hands-on at the launch found the headset light enough to place no burden on the head or pressure on the face. It wrote that the resolution was not outstanding but that screen sharpness and color saturation were very good.[6]
igao7 tried the X1 at a 3Glasses event for Shenzhen technology media on 2 September 2019. Its reviewer called the split design original and the overall experience good, but described the image quality as only adequate, with visible pixels on close inspection. 3Glasses told the reviewer that a higher-resolution version would follow.[2]
Successor
The 3Glasses X1S went on pre-order in December 2020 as the upgraded version of the X series. It was sold as a suite with the A2 neck-worn unit and a 3DoF controller. The X1S has a 3200x1600 combined resolution at 1058 PPI, a 92° field of view, a 90 Hz refresh rate, diopter adjustment from 0 to 800 degrees and built-in speakers in the temples. Its official retail price was CN¥4,599, with a pre-order price of CN¥4,299 and first deliveries scheduled for 31 December 2020.[7]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "3Glasses Debuts the World's First Ultra-Thin Consumer VR Glasses "X1" And Announces Virtual Human "Star" As the Product Spokesperson". Digital Domain. Digital Domain Holdings. 2019-04-10. https://digitaldomain.com/news/3glasses-debuts-the-worlds-first-ultra-thin-consumer-vr-glasses-x1-and-announces-virtual-human-star-as-the-product-spokesperson/. Retrieved 2026-09-27.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 Regan (2019-09-09). "3Glasses 2019新品 - 超薄VR眼镜X1品鉴" (in Chinese). igao7 (爱搞机). https://m.igao7.com/news/201909/osWFNOWmFK1Fd7H1.html. Retrieved 2026-09-27.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 "售价2998元 超薄眼镜3Glasses X1发布" (in Chinese). Yesky (天极网). 2019-04-14. https://vr.yesky.com/435/1966240935.shtml. Retrieved 2026-09-27.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 "3Glasses X1 Suite". 3Glasses. VR Technology Holdings Limited. 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191205192704/https://www.3glasses.com/en/product/x1.html. Retrieved 2026-09-27.
- ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 "3Glasses发布分体式VR设备3Glasses X1，售价1799元起" (in Chinese). VR Tuoluo (VR陀螺). 2019-04-10. https://www.vrtuoluo.cn/513375.html. Retrieved 2026-09-27.
- ↑ 6.00 6.01 6.02 6.03 6.04 6.05 6.06 6.07 6.08 6.09 "重量仅150g，3Glasses X1凭什么切入消费市场？" (in Chinese). VR Tuoluo (VR陀螺). 2019-04-15. https://www.vrtuoluo.cn/513421.html. Retrieved 2026-09-27.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "全新升级3Glasses X1S智慧眼镜套装开启预售" (in Chinese). VR Tuoluo (VR陀螺). 2020-12-15. https://www.vrtuoluo.cn/522050.html. Retrieved 2026-09-27.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 "3Glasses布局X1头显线下销售网点，北京落地7家试点" (in Chinese). VR Tuoluo (VR陀螺). 2019-09-03. https://www.vrtuoluo.cn/514855.html. Retrieved 2026-09-27.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 Catcher_L (2019-04-10). "3Glasses推全球首款消费级超薄VR眼镜 售价1799元" (in Chinese). GamerSky (游民星空). https://www.gamersky.com/tech/201904/1171813.shtml. Retrieved 2026-09-27.