Epson Moverio BT-45C
| Epson Moverio BT-45C | |
|---|---|
| Basic Info | |
| VR/AR | Augmented Reality |
| Type | Smart glasses |
| Subtype | Enterprise AR, Tethered AR |
| Platform | Android, Windows (USB-C host devices) |
| Creator | Epson |
| Developer | Epson America |
| Manufacturer | Epson |
| Announcement Date | October 11, 2022 |
| Release Date | November 2022 |
| Price | ~$1,299 (BT-45C), ~$1,499 (BT-45CS with controller) |
| Website | https://epson.com/moverio |
| Versions | Moverio BT-45C, Moverio BT-45CS (with controller) |
| Requires | USB-C Android or Windows host device |
| Predecessor | Epson Moverio BT-40 |
| Successor | None announced |
| System | |
| Operating System | Host device dependent (Android/Windows) |
| Chipset | Host device dependent |
| CPU | Host device dependent |
| GPU | Host device dependent |
| Storage | |
| Storage | 128GB internal (expandable to 2TB via microSD) |
| Memory | Host device dependent |
| SD Card Slot | Yes (microSD, up to 2TB) |
| Display | |
| Display | Dual Si-OLED binocular see-through |
| Subpixel Layout | RGB |
| Peak Brightness | High (Si-OLED) |
| Resolution | 1920 × 1080 (Full HD) per eye |
| Pixel Density | High |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz |
| Persistence | Low persistence (OLED) |
| Image | |
| Field of View | 34° |
| Horizontal FoV | ~34° |
| Vertical FoV | ~20° |
| Average Pixel Density | High PPD |
| Peak Pixel Density | High PPD |
| Foveated Rendering | No |
| Optics | |
| Optics | Proprietary optical engine, see-through |
| Ocularity | Binocular |
| IPD Range | Adjustable |
| Adjustable Diopter | No (prescription glasses compatible) |
| Passthrough | Yes (optical see-through) |
| Tracking | |
| Tracking | 6DoF (inside-out) |
| Tracking Frequency | High-speed |
| Base Stations | None required |
| Eye Tracking | No |
| Face Tracking | No |
| Hand Tracking | No |
| Body Tracking | No |
| Rotational Tracking | Yes |
| Positional Tracking | Yes |
| Update Rate | 60Hz |
| Tracking Volume | Room-scale |
| Play Space | Standing/Walking |
| Latency | Low latency |
| Audio | |
| Audio | Built-in speaker |
| Microphone | Yes (noise-canceling) |
| 3.5mm Audio Jack | No |
| Camera | 8MP (center-mounted), 4K/30fps video, 20MP photos |
| Connectivity | |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5 |
| Ports | USB-C, microSD |
| Wired Video | Yes (USB-C) |
| Wireless Video | No |
| WiFi | Wi-Fi (802.11ac) |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Power | USB-C powered (from host) |
| Battery Capacity | N/A (host-powered) |
| Battery Life | N/A (host-powered) |
| Charge Time | N/A |
| Device | |
| Dimensions | Glasses form factor with headband |
| Weight | ~120g (estimated) |
| Material | Rugged plastic, rubber bumpers |
| Headstrap | Adjustable padded headband |
| Haptics | No |
| Color | Gray/Black |
| Sensors | 9-axis IMU, ambient light sensor, 6DoF cameras |
| Input | Host device controls |
| Compliance | MIL-STD-810H, IP52, ANSI Z87.1 |
The Epson Moverio BT-45C is an enterprise-grade binocular augmented reality smart glasses device developed by Epson, announced on October 11, 2022, and released in November 2022 at approximately $1,299 (BT-45CS with controller at ~$1,499). Purpose-built for mission-critical tasks such as troubleshooting, maintenance, inspection, and training, the Moverio BT-45C features Epson's proprietary Si-OLED (Silicon Organic Light-Emitting Diode) technology delivering a binocular see-through Full HD display (1920 × 1080 per eye) with a 34° field of view that seamlessly integrates digital content with the real world. The headset connects via USB-C to compatible Android or Windows host devices and includes a centrally-mounted 8MP camera capable of 4K/30fps video and 20MP photos, 6DoF head tracking for responsive AR experiences, and 128GB internal storage expandable to 2TB via microSD. Built tough with MIL-STD-810H drop certification, IP52 dust/water resistance, and ANSI Z87.1 eye protection compliance, the BT-45C features flip-up displays, rubber side bumpers, helmet mounting options, and compatibility with prescription glasses. The glasses support "see-what-I-see" hands-free collaboration between on-site technicians and remote experts, with the ability to switch between see-through and opaque display modes.
History and Development
Epson Moverio Legacy
Product evolution:
- Moverio BT-100 (2011, first)
- Moverio BT-200 (2014)
- Moverio BT-300 (2016)
- Moverio BT-350 (enterprise)
- Moverio BT-40/40S (2021)
- Moverio BT-45C/45CS (2022)
October 2022 Announcement
Product reveal:
- Next-generation Moverio
- Si-OLED technology
- Enhanced durability
- Enterprise focus
November 2022 Release
Market launch:
- Channel partner availability
- Epson.com direct
- Enterprise sales
- ~$1,299 pricing
Versions
Product variants:
- BT-45C (glasses only)
- BT-45CS (with intelligent controller)
- Helmet mount options
- Enterprise deployment
Design Philosophy
Mission-Critical Enterprise
Professional focus:
- Frontline worker applications
- Remote assistance
- Maintenance support
- Hands-free operation
Si-OLED Innovation
Display technology:
- Silicon OLED panels
- Binocular see-through
- Full HD resolution
- Premium optical quality
Industrial Durability
Rugged design:
- MIL-STD-810H certified
- IP52 protection
- ANSI Z87.1 safety
- Drop resistant
Flexible Integration
Host device support:
- USB-C connectivity
- Android compatible
- Windows compatible
- Wide device support
Display Technology
Si-OLED Panels
Display specifications:
- Technology: Silicon OLED
- Resolution: 1920 × 1080 per eye
- Type: Binocular see-through
- Quality: Full HD stereoscopic
Field of View
Coverage:
- FOV: 34°
- See-through design
- Digital overlay
- Real-world visibility
Display Modes
Viewing options:
- See-through mode
- Opaque mode (switchable)
- User preference
- Environment appropriate
Proprietary Optics
Optical engine:
- Epson proprietary design
- AR content integration
- Real-world blending
- High image quality
Tracking
6DoF Inside-Out
Spatial tracking:
- Full 6DoF head tracking
- No external sensors
- Responsive movement
- AR positioning
Sensor Array
Motion detection:
- 9-axis IMU
- Ambient light sensor
- Position tracking
- Orientation tracking
Camera System
Center-Mounted Camera
Imaging specifications:
- Resolution: 8 megapixels
- Position: Center (line of sight)
- Video: 4K at 30fps
- Photo: 20MP stills
Remote Collaboration
Visual sharing:
- "See what I see" capability
- Real-time video sharing
- Expert guidance
- Problem resolution
Flip-Up Access
Camera positioning:
- Center mount maintained
- Flip-up glasses design
- Camera visible when raised
- Continuous capture
Physical Design
Flip-Up Display
Convenience feature:
- Displays flip up
- Quick reality access
- No removal needed
- Practical design
Rubber Bumpers
Protection:
- Side rubber bumpers
- Drop protection
- Impact absorption
- Durability
Headband System
Fit options:
- Adjustable padded headband
- Helmet mounting options
- Multiple work attire
- Secure fit
Prescription Compatible
Vision support:
- Works with prescription glasses
- No lens inserts needed
- Flexible accommodation
- Accessibility
Durability Certifications
MIL-STD-810H
Military standard:
- Drop test certified
- Shock resistance
- Temperature extremes
- Rugged environments
IP52
Environmental protection:
- Limited dust protection
- Water splash resistance
- Industrial environments
- Outdoor capable
ANSI Z87.1
Eye protection:
- Safety-rated lenses
- Impact resistant
- Eye protection standard
- Workplace safety
Storage
Internal Storage
Built-in capacity:
- Capacity: 128GB
- Local content storage
- Application data
- Media capture
Expandable Storage
microSD support:
- Maximum: 2TB
- Massive expansion
- Media storage
- Enterprise content
Connectivity
USB-C Tethering
Primary connection:
- Single USB-C cable
- Video + data + power
- Host device powered
- Universal connector
Host Compatibility
Supported devices:
- Android devices (USB-C)
- Windows devices (USB-C)
- Tablets
- Mobile workstations
Wireless
Additional connectivity:
- Wi-Fi (802.11ac)
- Bluetooth 5.0
- Data transfer
- Accessories
Audio
Built-In Speaker
Audio output:
- Integrated speaker
- AR audio overlay
- Instruction delivery
- Alert sounds
Noise-Canceling Microphone
Voice input:
- Built-in microphone
- Noise cancellation
- Remote communication
- Voice commands
Versions
BT-45C
Standard model:
- Smart glasses only
- USB-C tethering
- Host device control
- ~$1,299
BT-45CS
Controller bundle:
- Includes intelligent controller
- Standalone capability
- Android-based controller
- ~$1,499
Enterprise Applications
Remote Assistance
Expert support:
- Live video sharing
- AR annotations
- Expert guidance
- Real-time collaboration
Maintenance
Service applications:
- Guided procedures
- Visual instructions
- Hands-free operation
- Documentation
Inspection
Quality applications:
- Visual checks
- Recording capability
- Compliance verification
- Documentation
Training
Learning applications:
- On-the-job training
- Visual guidance
- Skill development
- Knowledge transfer
Comparison with Enterprise AR
| Feature | Moverio BT-45C | RealWear Navigator | Vuzix M400 | HoloLens 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Binocular see-through | Monocular | Monocular | Binocular MR |
| Display | Si-OLED 1080p×2 | 1080p | 854×480 | 2K waveguide |
| FOV | 34° | ~20° | ~28° | 52° |
| 6DoF | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Host Required | Yes | No | No | No |
| Camera | 8MP (4K video) | 16MP | 13MP | Multiple sensors |
| Durability | MIL-STD-810H, IP52 | IP66 | IP67 | IP50 |
| Price | ~$1,299 | ~$2,500 | ~$1,800 | ~$3,500 |
Strengths and Limitations
Strengths
- Binocular Full HD Si-OLED displays
- 6DoF inside-out tracking
- MIL-STD-810H drop certified
- IP52 dust/water resistance
- ANSI Z87.1 eye protection
- 8MP camera (4K video, 20MP photos)
- 128GB storage (2TB expandable)
- Flip-up display design
- Prescription glasses compatible
- Helmet mounting options
Limitations
- Requires USB-C host device
- 34° narrow field of view
- Tethered operation
- ~$1,299 enterprise pricing
- No standalone operation
- Limited consumer appeal
- Host device dependent performance
- Specialized enterprise focus
Technical Specifications Summary
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Display | Dual Si-OLED binocular see-through |
| Resolution | 1920 × 1080 per eye (Full HD) |
| FOV | 34° |
| Tracking | 6DoF inside-out |
| Camera | 8MP (4K/30fps video, 20MP photo) |
| Storage | 128GB (2TB microSD expandable) |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5 |
| Durability | MIL-STD-810H, IP52, ANSI Z87.1 |
| Host | USB-C Android/Windows devices |
| Price | ~$1,299 (BT-45C), ~$1,499 (BT-45CS) |