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Leia Inc.

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Leia Inc.
Information
Type Private company
Industry Glasses-free 3D displays, spatial AI software
Founded 2014
Founder David Fattal, Zhen Peng, Pierre-Emmanuel Evreux
Headquarters Silicon Valley, California, United States
Notable Personnel David Fattal (co-founder, CTO), Michael Campbell (interim CEO and CFO)
Products Lume Pad, Lume Pad 2, LeiaSR displays, Immersity platform
Website https://immersity.ai


Leia Inc. (often shortened to Leia) is an American company that develops glasses-free 3D display hardware and 2D-to-3D conversion software. It was spun out of HP Labs in 2014, and its technology grew out of HP research on diffractive backlights for multiview 3D screens.[1][2] Leia supplied the 3D display in the RED Hydrogen One smartphone, sold its own Lume Pad and Lume Pad 2 tablets, and worked with ZTE on the nubia Pad 3D.[3][4] In 2023 it bought the Dutch 3D display company Dimenco and a portfolio of Philips 3D display patents.[5][6]

Since August 2025 the company has marketed its technology under the name Immersity, a platform that brings together its AI software and switchable 2D/3D display hardware. Leia Inc. remains the company name.[7][8] Its products show 3D images on phones, tablets, laptops and monitors without a headset or glasses, and its Immersity AI service exports converted photos and videos to the Meta Quest 3 and the Apple Vision Pro.[9]

Reviewed 6 October 2026. Founding, founders, Nature paper metadata (Crossref), Altice release, RED Hydrogen One, Continental, Lume Pad and Lume Pad 2, nubia Pad 3D, Dimenco and Philips acquisitions, Aon financing, leadership changes, Immersity releases, Aurora 1100 line and 2026 board, CES and AWE items checked against the cited sources. About review dates.

History

HP Labs origins and founding

David Fattal and Zhen Peng were researchers at Hewlett-Packard's research laboratories (HP Labs) in Palo Alto. KrASIA reported that in 2010, during a fire drill at HP Labs, colleagues noticed unusual light patterns on the semiconductor test samples the two were carrying, and that this observation led to their light field display work.[10] Leia's own 2025 company history tells the same fire-drill story but dates it to 2014.[11] A paper by Fattal, Peng and HP colleagues, published in Nature in March 2013, described a thin, transparent LED-lit lightguide with "directional pixels": diffraction gratings etched or deposited on the backlight surface that steer guided light toward particular viewing directions. The design produced full-parallax multiview 3D images in a wide view zone without glasses.[2]

Leia was founded in 2014 as an HP Labs spin-off by Fattal, Peng and Pierre-Emmanuel Evreux. KrASIA identified Peng as chief technology officer in 2021,[10] and in 2016 Fattal was the company's founder and CEO.[12] The company says it took its name from the Princess Leia hologram in Star Wars.[11] GamesBeat reported in 2021 that the technology was based on 10 years of research at HP Labs, where a team of 14 Leia researchers had worked together before the spin-out.[13]

Phone partnerships and the RED Hydrogen One

On 23 May 2016 Altice and Leia announced a partnership to bring "holographic" handsets to the European market before the end of 2017. The plan named SFR in France, Belgium and Luxembourg, Hot and Hot Mobile in Israel, Portugal Telecom and Orange Dominicana as distributors. Altice described Leia's "Holographic Reality" platform as a mobile screen that could show dynamic 3D images and sense fingers for mid-air interaction.[12]

RED Digital Cinema used Leia's display in its Hydrogen One phone. TechSpot reported in September 2017 that, as part of an exclusive partnership, RED had agreed to make an undisclosed investment in Leia, and that the display added light-diffracting nanostructures to a standard LCD panel.[3] The Hydrogen One went on sale through Verizon and AT&T on 2 November 2018. Verizon priced it at US$53.95 a month for 24 months, about US$1,300 in total, and AT&T at US$43.17 a month for 30 months. Droid Life, which had reviewed the phone that week, wrote that its display gave its reviewers a headache in the "4V" 3D mode.[14] In October 2019 RED founder Jim Jannard retired and RED ended the Hydrogen phone program after that single device.[15]

Automotive displays

In June 2019 Continental announced that it was developing a "Natural 3D Lightfield Instrument Cluster" with Leia. Continental said passengers in the front and back seats could share the 3D effect with the driver, and that the system was to go into series production by 2022.[16] At CES 2021 Continental, HERE and Leia showed a 3D navigation demonstrator built on HERE's 3D city models. Continental said the lightfield display needed no eyewear or eye-tracking sensors and that the companies would work with vehicle makers on future cars. It did not give a launch date.[17]

Lume Pad tablets

Leia's company timeline puts its first own tablet, the Lume Pad, in 2020.[8] A Creator's Edition came first. The consumer version went on sale on 5 August 2021 for US$649. It is a 10.8-inch Android tablet with a 2,560 by 1,600 screen that switches into a 3D "Lightfield" mode. That mode uses Leia's second-generation 3D Lightfield display, based on Diffractive Lightfield Backlighting (DLB), a thin nanotechnology layer beneath the screen. In 2021 Leia had raised US$160 million and had about 220 employees, including a hardware team in Shanghai.[13] KrASIA reported in April 2021 that the company had a production center in Suzhou and was a Verified Solutions Partner of Unity.[10]

In November 2022 Leia announced US$125 million in growth credit financing from a fund managed by Aon Advantage Funds. Cecilia Qvist was chief executive at the time.[18] Reservations for the Lume Pad 2 opened in February 2023 at US$1,099, and Leia planned to ship it worldwide that April. Its features included 3D video calls through Leia's LeiaChat app and Zoom's Video SDK.[19] At MWC 2023, ZTE and Leia jointly announced the nubia Pad 3D. ZTE's announcement said the tablet used Leia's 3D lightfield technology and relied on Leia's content ecosystem, including the Leia App Store.[20][4]

Dimenco and Philips patents

On 7 August 2023 Leia announced that it had acquired Dimenco, a company in Veldhoven, Netherlands, that began in 2010 as a spin-off of Royal Philips. Terms were not disclosed.[5] Leia had concentrated on Android devices for mobile and automotive use, while Dimenco made Windows-based "Simulated Reality" (SR) laptops and monitors for professionals. Dimenco CEO Maarten Tobias became Leia's chief commercial officer.[21] Dimenco's SR technology was already in Acer's SpatialLabs products: Bits&Chips described Acer's ConceptD laptop with SR as "the first glasses-free product for AR and VR".[22] In October 2023 Leia bought more than 500 3D display patents from Philips, which took its holdings past 1,500. Display Daily named ZTE, Acer and Asus as its partners.[6]

Immersity and leadership changes

On 17 January 2024 Leia appointed Fabio Esposito, formerly CEO of Luxexcel (acquired by Meta Platforms), as chief executive. Fattal became chief technology officer, responsible for the switchable display products, the SDK and AI cloud services. The announcement named Menlo Park, California, as the headquarters.[23] In May 2024 Leia launched Immersity AI, a web service that turns 2D images and videos into 3D and that was previously known as LeiaPix. Leia said the service had been incubating for over a year and that its initial image toolset had gained 3 million users. Immersity AI runs on Leia's "Neural Depth Engine", which estimates depth maps, and exports to Meta Quest 3 and Apple Vision Pro.[9] In November 2024 the service added animated album art exports for Apple Music.[24] Immersity 4.0 followed in March 2025, and Leia then reported more than five million users.[25] A free Immersity for Mobile app for iOS and Android was released on 8 July 2025.[26]

On 13 August 2025 Leia brought its AI software and switchable display hardware together under the Immersity name.[7] In December 2025 Leia and Morphotonics finished installing an Aurora 1100 nanoimprint lithography line at Leia China. It makes "Immersity Cells", the switchable liquid-crystal layer used in Leia's displays; Leia China's chief operating officer said Leia China was the only manufacturer of these cells. Leia says yields were above 90% and that the line can make up to ten million mobile-size cells a year.[27]

By July 2026 Michael Campbell was interim CEO and CFO. Andrew Cole and Hatem Dowidar joined the board effective 15 July 2026. The announcement was datelined Nashua, New Hampshire, and described Leia as a Silicon Valley company. The company then said it held about 2,000 patents and employed close to 150 people, with offices in California, the Netherlands, China and New Hampshire.[1]

Products

Product Year Type Notes
Holographic developer kit 2014-2015 Developer kit Leia's two timelines give different years (2014 and 2015)[11][8]
RED Hydrogen One 2018 Smartphone (RED) Leia display with a diffractive nanostructure layer on an LCD; sold through Verizon and AT&T from 2 November 2018[3][14]
Natural 3D Lightfield Instrument Cluster 2019 (announced) Automotive display (Continental) Leia lightfield technology; series production planned by 2022[16]
Lume Pad 2020 (per Leia's timeline), 2021 (consumer launch) 3D tablet 10.8-inch, 2,560 x 1,600, Diffractive Lightfield Backlighting; US$649 at consumer launch[13]
Lume Pad 2 2023 3D tablet 12.4-inch 2560 x 1600 120 Hz IPS LCD, Snapdragon 888, 8 GB RAM, 128 GB storage, stereo cameras front and rear; US$1,099[19][28]
nubia Pad 3D 2023 3D tablet (ZTE) Built with Leia; 12.4-inch 2560 x 1600 120 Hz LCD with Leia's DLB layer; pre-sales from March 2023[4][20]
Immersity AI (formerly LeiaPix) 2024 Web 2D-to-3D conversion service Image and video conversion; exports for Meta Quest 3 and Apple Vision Pro[9]
Immersity for Mobile 2025 iOS and Android app Free app that turns photos into depth-and-motion clips[26]

XR work

Leia makes screen-based 3D rather than head-mounted displays. Its displays are a form of autostereoscopic light field display: they show different images toward different viewing directions, so the viewer sees depth without glasses.[2] In its 2022 financing announcement Leia described its product as screen-based 3D that needs no AR or VR eyewear.[18] In a 2021 interview Fattal compared the nanotechnology in Leia's screens to the diffractive optics used in HoloLens and Magic Leap headsets.[13]

Leia's software also produces content for headsets. Immersity AI exports converted photos and videos for Meta Quest 3 and Apple Vision Pro.[9] At CES 2026 Leia ran demos with Greg Fodor and Portal VR in which SteamVR experiences were played on an Immersity display with standard VR controllers and no headset.[29] At Augmented World Expo 2026, chief marketing officer Jochem Taminiau gave a talk titled "Beyond XR: The Shift Toward Spatial, Immersive Digital Experiences", which argued for depth on existing phones, tablets, laptops and monitors instead of dedicated XR hardware.[30]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Leia Inc. Strengthens Board with Global Technology Leaders to Help Scale the Next Era of Spatial AI". Immersity (Leia Inc.). 2026-07-29. https://immersity.ai/news-articles/leia-inc-strengthens-board-with-global-technology-leaders-to-help-scale-the-next-era-of-spatial-ai. Retrieved 2026-10-06.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 David Fattal, Zhen Peng, Tho Tran, Sonny Vo, Marco Fiorentino, Jim Brug, Raymond G. Beausoleil (2013-03-20). "A multi-directional backlight for a wide-angle, glasses-free three-dimensional display". Nature, vol. 495, no. 7441, pp. 348-351. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature11972. Retrieved 2026-10-06.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Greg Synek (2017-09-08). "RED's Hydrogen One smartphone holographic display revealed". TechSpot. https://www.techspot.com/news/70911-red-hydrogen-one-smartphone-holographic-display-revealed.html. Retrieved 2026-10-06.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "ZTE announces nubia Pad 3D with glasses-free 3D viewing". GSMArena. 2023-02-27. https://www.gsmarena.com/zte_announces_nubia_pad_3d_with_glassesfree_3d_viewing-news-57731.php. Retrieved 2026-10-06.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Dutch-based Philips spin-off Dimenco acquired by US-based Leia to advance 3D display tech globally". Silicon Canals. 2023-08-07. https://siliconcanals.com/dimenco-acquired-by-leia/. Retrieved 2026-10-06.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Shawnee Blackwood (2023-10-12). "Leia Bolsters 3D Display IP with Strategic Philips Patent Acquisition". Display Daily. https://displaydaily.com/leia-bolsters-3d-display-ip-with-strategic-philips-patent-acquisition/. Retrieved 2026-10-06.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Leia Inc. Unveils Immersity: A New Chapter in Digital Consumer Experiences". Immersity (Leia Inc.). 2025-08-13. https://immersity.ai/news-articles/leia-inc-unveils-immersity-a-new-chapter-in-digital-consumer-experiences. Retrieved 2026-10-06.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 "Leia - The Company Behind Immersity and Spatial AI Innovation". Immersity (Leia Inc.). https://immersity.ai/company. Retrieved 2026-10-06.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 "Leia Inc. Launches Immersity AI Platform, Adds New 2D-to-3D Video Conversion Tool". CMSWire. 2024-05-22. https://www.cmswire.com/the-wire/leia-inc-launches-immersity-ai-platform-adds-new-2d-to-3d-video-conversion-tool/. Retrieved 2026-10-06.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Yaling Jiang (2021-04-16). "Leia brings 3D holograms to life". KrASIA. https://kr-asia.com/leia-brings-3d-holograms-to-life-inside-chinas-startups. Retrieved 2026-10-06.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 "From Leia Inc. to Immersity: Our Journey of Immersive Innovation". Immersity (Leia Inc.). 2025-09-26. https://immersity.ai/news-articles/from-leia-inc-to-immersity-our-journey-of-immersive-innovation. Retrieved 2026-10-06.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Altice group and LEIA Inc announce strategic partnership to bring 3D Holographic smartphone to consumer". Altice. 2016-05-23. https://altice.net/sites/default/files/pdf/746887.pdf. Retrieved 2026-10-06.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 Dean Takahashi (2021-08-05). "Leia launches its 3D Lume Pad Android tablet". GamesBeat. https://gamesbeat.com/leia-launches-its-3d-lume-pad-android-tablet/. Retrieved 2026-10-06.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Kellen (2018-11-02). "RED's Hydrogen One Phone Now Available for Purchase at Verizon and AT&T". Droid Life. https://www.droid-life.com/2018/11/02/reds-hydrogen-one-phone-now-available-for-purchase-at-verizon-and-att/. Retrieved 2026-10-06.
  15. ↑ Richard Lawler (2019-10-25). "RED founder retires, and the Hydrogen phone project is over". Engadget. https://www.engadget.com/2019-10-25-jim-jannard-red-hydrogen.html. Retrieved 2026-10-06.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 "Continental and Leia's new 3D Lightfield display bring the third dimension into automotive vehicles". Automotive World. Continental. 2019-06-11. https://www.automotiveworld.com/news-releases/continental-and-leias-new-3d-lightfield-display-bring-the-third-dimension-into-automotive-vehicles/. Retrieved 2026-10-06.
  17. ↑ "Continental, HERE and Leia Inc Jointly Create Natural 3D Automotive Navigation". Continental. 2021-01-12. https://continental.com/en/press/press-releases/2021-01-12-ces-2021-245620. Retrieved 2026-10-06.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 "Leia Inc. announces $125M debt financing from Aon to strengthen its IP portfolio". Auganix. 2022-11-08. https://www.auganix.org/leia-inc-announces-125m-debt-financing-from-aon-to-strengthen-its-ip-portfolio/. Retrieved 2026-10-06.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 "Lume Pad 2 3D tablet powered by AI". Geeky Gadgets. 2023-02-28. https://www.geeky-gadgets.com/3d-tablet-28-02-2023/. Retrieved 2026-10-06.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 "ZTE Nubia's first 3D•AI tablet: offers eyewear-free immersive 3D experiences & content creation". ZTE. 2023-03-01. https://www.zte.com.cn/global/about/news/zte-nubia-first-3d-ai-tablet-offers-eyewear-free-immersive-3d-experiences-content-creation.html. Retrieved 2026-10-06.
  21. ↑ "Leia Inc. announces acquisition of Dimenco". Auganix. 2023-08-14. https://www.auganix.org/xr-news-leia-inc-announces-acquisition-of-dimenco/. Retrieved 2026-10-06.
  22. ↑ Nieke Roos (2021-06-21). "Dimenco's simulated reality reels in €2.5M and Acer". Bits&Chips. https://bits-chips.com/article/dimencos-simulated-reality-reels-in-e2-5m-and-acer/. Retrieved 2026-10-06.
  23. ↑ "Leia Inc. Announces Fabio Esposito as Chief Executive Officer". EIN Presswire. 2024-01-17. https://www.einpresswire.com/article/681659650/. Retrieved 2026-10-06.
  24. ↑ "Bands Can Now Add 3D Motion to Album Art on Apple Music with Immersity". Immersity (Leia Inc.). 2024-11-07. https://immersity.ai/news-articles/album-art-on-apple-music-with-immersity-ai. Retrieved 2026-10-06.
  25. ↑ "Immersity Now Reveals Hidden Details in Any Digital Image". Immersity (Leia Inc.). 2025-03-26. https://immersity.ai/news-articles/immersity-4-0. Retrieved 2026-10-06.
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 "New Immersity for Mobile App Turns Photos into Immersive Experiences". Immersity (Leia Inc.). 2025-07-08. https://immersity.ai/news-articles/new-immersity-app-turns-photos-into-immersive-experiences. Retrieved 2026-10-06.
  27. ↑ "Leia and Morphotonics Complete Aurora 1100 Installation to Scale Immersity Cell Production". Immersity (Leia Inc.). 2025-12-10. https://immersity.ai/news-articles/leia-and-morphotonics-complete-aurora-1100-installation-to-scale-immersity-cell-production. Retrieved 2026-10-06.
  28. ↑ Jason R. Wilson (2023-07-05). "Leia Lume Pad 2 Review: 3D Technology Without Any Extra Devices". Wccftech. https://wccftech.com/review/leia-lume-pad-2-review-3d-technology-without-any-extra-devices/. Retrieved 2026-10-06.
  29. ↑ "CES 2026: What We Saw, What's Shifting, and Where Immersive Experiences Are Headed". Immersity (Leia Inc.). 2026-01-23. https://immersity.ai/news-articles/ces-2026-what-we-saw-whats-shifting-and-where-immersive-experiences-are-headed. Retrieved 2026-10-06.
  30. ↑ "AWE 2026: The Expanding Reach of Immersive Experiences". Immersity (Leia Inc.). 2026-06-25. https://immersity.ai/news-articles/awe-2026-the-expanding-reach-of-immersive-experiences. Retrieved 2026-10-06.
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