Lenovo Explorer
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| Lenovo Explorer | |
|---|---|
 
| |
| Basic Info | |
| VR/AR | Virtual Reality |
| Type | Head-mounted display |
| Subtype | PC VR |
| Platform | Windows Mixed Reality |
| Creator | Lenovo |
| Developer | Lenovo, Microsoft |
| Manufacturer | Lenovo |
| Announcement Date | August 31, 2017[1] |
| Release Date | October 17, 2017 (Microsoft Store availability update)[2] |
| Price | US$349 (headset); from US$449 (motion-controller bundle), announced 2017 prices[1] |
| Website | https://www.lenovo.com/ |
| Versions | G0A20001WW (headset); G0A20002WW (headset with motion controllers)[3] |
| Requires | Compatible PC; software and Windows-version requirements depend on the driver path (see Software platform)[4][5] |
| System | |
| Operating System | Host PC: Windows (original WMR platform); Windows 11 or Linux/SteamOS through Oasis[3][5] |
| Display | |
| Display | LCD, 2.89-inch display specification[3] |
| Resolution | 1440 × 1440 per eye[3] |
| Refresh Rate | Up to 90 Hz; historical Microsoft PC tiers also provided 60 Hz[4] |
| Image | |
| Field of View | 105° listed in Microsoft's headset comparison; axis unspecified[6] |
| Optics | |
| Optics | Fresnel lenses[3] |
| Ocularity | Binocular[7] |
| IPD Range | Software IPD setting; mechanical adjustment not listed[6] |
| Passthrough | Software-dependent camera views: historical WMR Flashlight and Oasis camera modes (see Tracking system)[8][9] |
| Tracking | |
| Tracking | 6DoF inside-out; two headset sensors[3] |
| Base Stations | No external tracking sensors required[1] |
| Rotational Tracking | Yes[3] |
| Positional Tracking | Yes[3] |
| Tracking Volume | 3.5 × 3.5 m (11.5 × 11.5 ft) area described at launch[1] |
| Play Space | Room-scale; Windows Mixed Reality also offered desk-scale setup[6] |
| Audio | |
| Audio | External earphones/headphones via 3.5 mm connector[7] |
| Microphone | Compatible external microphone-equipped audio headset for documented voice features[10] |
| 3.5mm Audio Jack | Yes[3] |
| Camera | Two front tracking sensors[7] |
| Connectivity | |
| Connectivity | HDMI video and USB 3.0 through a 4 m Y cable; PC Bluetooth for motion controllers[7][11] |
| Ports | Y-cable HDMI/USB 3.0 plugs; headset 3.5 mm audio connector[7] |
| Wired Video | HDMI[7] |
| Bluetooth | No built-in headset radio; controllers pair with the PC[6] |
| Power | Host PC USB 3.0 port[4] |
| Device | |
| Dimensions | Main body: 185 × 95 × 102 mm (Lenovo specification)[3] |
| Weight | 380 g in Lenovo feature description; 0.55 kg in the same page's unpacked-weight table[3] |
| Headstrap | Adjustable head strap, rear knob and flip-up viewer[7] |
| Haptics | Motion-controller vibration[11] |
| Color | "Onxy grey" (as labeled in Lenovo's support record)[3] |
| Sensors | Gyroscope, accelerometer, magnetometer, two inside-out sensors and an additional sensor labeled "P sensor" by Lenovo[3] |
| Input | Motion controllers, Windows-compatible gamepad, keyboard/mouse; historical voice features with audio headset[7] |
| Compliance | FCC and CE listed by Lenovo[3] |
The Lenovo Explorer is a PC VR head-mounted display developed by Lenovo as part of Microsoft's Windows Mixed Reality platform. Announced on August 31, 2017, it used a tethered Windows PC, inside-out tracking and optional motion controllers. Microsoft reported retail availability on October 17, 2017.[1][2] Its adjustable head band carries a hinged viewer that can be lifted to see the surroundings without removing the band.[7]
Explorer is the G0A2 immersive headset. Lenovo's service record distinguishes headset-only and controller-bundle part numbers, including regional variants.[3] Microsoft's original Windows Mixed Reality software has since been removed from Windows 11 version 24H2. A separate developer's Oasis driver provides an alternative SteamVR path with its own requirements.[12][5]
History and development
Announcement and consumer launch
Lenovo introduced Explorer at IFA 2017 alongside its Mirage AR headset and new PCs. The Explorer announcement described VR games, virtual tours, video viewing and PC applications in a virtual home office. These were PC software uses, rather than standalone applications running in the headset.[13] Microsoft announced a US retail price of $349 for the headset and starting prices of $449 with motion controllers, with prices and availability varying by country.[1]
Microsoft's retail post was originally published on October 3, 2017 and updated at 6 a.m. Pacific Time on October 17 to state that the headsets were available. Explorer was specifically included in that update, alongside the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update rollout. The original post date therefore should not be read as Explorer's retail release date.[2]
| Date | Documented event |
|---|---|
| August 31, 2017 | IFA announcement and announced US headset/bundle prices.[1] |
| September 2017 | Second edition of the headset user guide, describing Windows 10 Fall Creators Update and Mixed Reality Portal setup.[7] |
| October 17, 2017 | Microsoft Store availability update; initial public Windows Mixed Reality headset driver release.[2][14] |
| October 2018 | Windows 10 version 1809 added Mixed Reality Flashlight, a camera view of the surroundings.[8] |
| May 1, 2019 | Headset driver 10.0.18362.1024 included a firmware update for the 2017 Lenovo and other named Windows Mixed Reality headsets, addressing display compatibility and reliability.[14] |
| Windows 11 version 24H2 | Microsoft removed Windows Mixed Reality and its associated Portal/SteamVR components.[12] |
Packages and service parts
Lenovo listed the same headset service part, 01FJ207, in both worldwide retail configurations. The controller bundle adds left and right controllers with service part numbers 01FJ208 and 01FJ209. Its regional sales codes end in WW, JP or RU. These are package/market identifiers, rather than evidence of different display or tracking specifications.[3]
| Worldwide sales part number | Package |
|---|---|
| G0A20001WW | Explorer headset without motion controllers |
| G0A20002WW | Explorer headset with left and right motion controllers |
The package distinction is documented in Lenovo's overview and user guide.[3][7]
Physical design
Head band and flip-up viewer
The head band uses a rear adjustment knob and foam cushions. The viewer pivots upward, allowing access to the physical surroundings while the band stays on the head. Lenovo's illustrated guide sets a 90-degree pivot limit and warns against forcing the hinge past it.[7]
Lenovo's support page describes the device as weighing 380 g in its feature summary, but lists 0.55 kg as its unpacked weight in the technical table. That table does not explain the difference. The figures cannot be treated as interchangeable measurements of a specified headset-and-cable configuration.[3]
Cable and audio
The 4 m tether ends in separate USB 3.0 and HDMI plugs. The original setup guide calls for both connections to the PC, and notes that the plugs can be separated by about 38 cm. A cable clip is part of the headset assembly.[7]
Audio uses the headset's 3.5 mm connector and external headphones or an audio headset. Lenovo's audio compatibility sheet calls for microphone-equipped 3.5 mm headphones for Cortana and voice dictation. USB headphone plugs cannot connect directly to that headset socket. These documents describe historical voice software and accessories; they do not establish that Cortana remains available in present Windows releases.[10]
Display technology and optical system
Lenovo specifies LCD imagery at 1440 × 1440 pixels per eye, a 2.89-inch display specification, 90 Hz refresh and Fresnel lenses. Microsoft's comparison lists the combined resolution as 2880 × 1440 and refresh as up to 90 Hz.[3][6] The original Windows Mixed Reality PC tiers could instead run compatible headsets at 60 Hz, so a PC meeting the lower tier did not establish 90 Hz operation.[4]
Field of view and IPD
Microsoft's Explorer row gives a field of view of 105°. It does not identify the measurement axis or a testing procedure. This is a published specification, rather than a measured field of view for every wearer. The same table lists software interpupillary distance adjustment for Explorer, in contrast to the mechanical adjustment listed for some other headsets.[6]
Lenovo's FAQ describes changing the software IPD value in Windows Settings under Mixed reality > Headset display, either with a slider or by entering a known value. It gives no numeric maximum in those instructions. Its glasses guidance covers distance-viewing glasses and cautions that reading glasses may not give the same experience.[15]
Tracking system
Explorer uses inside-out tracking with two front sensors, plus the gyroscope, accelerometer, magnetometer and an additional sensor labeled "P sensor" in Lenovo's specification. Six degrees of freedom cover both rotation and translation without external tracking stations. At launch, Microsoft described an area of 3.5 × 3.5 m (about 11.5 × 11.5 ft).[3][1]
Lenovo's FAQ ties boundary and floor-setup problems to blocked sensors, insufficient ambient light and complicated boundary shapes. Microsoft's platform documentation explains that prolonged loss of visual tracking can reduce controller position accuracy, while orientation sensing continues. The launch area is consequently a documented room-scale use case, rather than a guarantee of tracking quality throughout every room.[15][6]
Camera views of the surroundings
Explorer is an opaque VR headset. Lifting its viewer exposes the surroundings directly. Later software also offered camera views: Windows 10 version 1809 introduced Mixed Reality Flashlight, invoked from the menu, by Windows + Grab on a controller, or by a voice command. That view was a feature of the later platform software, rather than optical see-through AR.[7][8]
The Oasis developer's camera-setup page describes black-and-white camera views in SteamVR, including a controller flashlight mode and a full-screen Room View. Its FAQ lists basic monoscopic camera passthrough but describes Room View as still being worked on. These two documents differ on Room View's status, so they do not establish its availability in every driver release or configuration.[9][16]
Controllers and input
Motion controllers
Explorer's motion controllers use a ring of LEDs, called the constellation in Lenovo's guide, for position tracking. Each has a trigger, grab button, thumbstick, touch-sensitive touchpad, Menu and Windows buttons, a Bluetooth pairing button and a wrist strap. Functions depend on the application. Vibration and LED patterns also indicate power, pairing and battery status.[11]
The controllers pair with the PC through Bluetooth. Explorer has no built-in headset Bluetooth radio in Microsoft's comparison. Each controller takes two AA batteries, shown in Lenovo's installation diagram. The guide describes firmware delivery through the connected headset/PC and paired controllers, with a circular LED pattern during an update.[11][6]
Alternative inputs
Lenovo's original instructions support a Windows-compatible controller, such as Xbox One or Xbox 360, for menu control, as well as a keyboard and mouse. Head-directed targeting moves with the head; the manual specifically distinguishes that movement from moving the eyes. Historical voice input and dictation used an audio headset and supported a limited set of languages.[7] These options are application-dependent and should not be taken to mean that the Explorer headset connects to an Xbox console.[6]
Software platform
Original Windows Mixed Reality operation
The launch software required Windows 10 Fall Creators Update, version 1709, with Mixed Reality Portal. The virtual home supplied a Start menu and application launchers. Lenovo promoted gaming, video, web browsing and office applications within that environment.[3][7][13]
The original SteamVR path added Windows Mixed Reality for SteamVR as a bridge between Microsoft's runtime and SteamVR. Lenovo's FAQ describes it as Early Access software at the time and requires checking its separate PC requirements. This is historical compatibility, rather than an assurance that every SteamVR application supports every controller configuration.[15][14]
Microsoft software retirement
Microsoft removed Windows Mixed Reality in Windows 11 version 24H2, including Mixed Reality Portal and Windows Mixed Reality for SteamVR. Its retirement notice states that existing devices can continue to work with Steam through November 2026 if users remain on Windows 11 version 23H2. After November 2026, the platform will no longer receive security or nonsecurity updates, bug fixes, technical support or online technical-content updates.[12] This notice concerns Microsoft's software path and does not describe the separate Oasis driver.[5]
Oasis driver
As checked on October 14, 2026, Matthieu Bucchianeri's Oasis documentation explicitly includes Lenovo Explorer among supported Windows Mixed Reality headsets. It describes headset/controller tracking and OpenVR/OpenXR applications through SteamVR without Mixed Reality Portal. The Windows path supports NVIDIA GPUs and, on Windows 11 version 24H2 or newer, AMD RX5000 or newer GPUs; it excludes Intel GPUs and AMD 60 Hz mode. The developer also documents a Linux/SteamOS path using bundled Ignition.[5]
Oasis is separate from Microsoft and Lenovo's original support. Its known-issues page lists driver-dependent AMD compatibility, some unsupported hybrid-laptop GPU topologies, startup/display issues and room-anchor tracking issues. These are documented driver limitations, not proof that every Explorer unit experiences them.[17]
PC requirements
Lenovo's launch-period requirements sheet separated ordinary Windows Mixed Reality PCs from Windows Mixed Reality Ultra PCs. It was explicitly subject to revision around October 17, 2017 and warned that application requirements vary.[18]
| Component | Windows Mixed Reality, launch-period sheet | Windows Mixed Reality Ultra, launch-period sheet |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Core i5, seventh generation, two or more physical cores with Hyper-Threading | Intel Core i5, sixth generation, four or more physical cores; or AMD FX-4350 4.2 GHz desktop, four or more physical cores |
| GPU | Intel HD Graphics 620 or greater DX12-capable integrated GPU | NVIDIA GTX 1050/965M, AMD RX 460 or greater DX12-capable discrete GPU |
| Video output | HDMI 1.4 or DisplayPort 1.2 or better | HDMI 2.0 or DisplayPort 1.2 or better |
| RAM | 8 GB DDR3 or greater; dual-channel memory for integrated graphics | 8 GB DDR3 or greater |
| Common requirements | WDDM 2.2 or later; more than 10 GB additional free space; USB 3.0 port supplying at least 900 mA; adapter for USB Type-C; Bluetooth 4.0 for accessories; connected display for setup/use | |
These are the values in Lenovo's historical sheet.[18] They are not the same as later Microsoft requirements or the current Oasis GPU/OS restrictions.
Microsoft's later legacy guidelines distinguish 60 Hz and 90 Hz PC tiers. The 90 Hz tier lists GTX 1060 or RX 470/570 or greater, with Intel Core i5-4590 or AMD Ryzen 5 1400 or better and 8 GB RAM. The 60 Hz tier includes integrated HD Graphics 620 and a seventh-generation mobile Core i5-7200U or better. Both list USB 3.0 and Bluetooth 4.0 for motion controllers.[4]
Documented research uses
Augmented virtuality for sensory testing
A 2024 Foods study used Explorer headsets with an external Genius wide-angle webcam, Leap Motion controller, headphones and a booth lined with chroma-key fabric. Participants could see physical food samples and hands within virtual living-room or food-court environments captured as 360° video. The trial recruited 102 consumers and analyzed 99 who completed all three sessions, including a conventional laboratory condition.[19]
Overall liking of the five peach nectars did not differ significantly by environment; significant discrimination between samples occurred only in the laboratory condition. Presence scores were higher for the virtual food court than the virtual living room. The authors limited recruitment to consumers under 50 and did not externally validate the virtual settings against their real counterparts. These results concern the custom testing system and sample, rather than the unmodified headset's hand tracking or effectiveness for all sensory research.[19]
Video presentation and physiological recording
A 2022 Behavioural Neurology experiment used Explorer with Windows Mixed Reality and a Dell G5 5500 laptop, comparing a 130-second horror-video fragment in the headset and on a 15-inch screen. Eighteen men aged 19-23 viewed both conditions in randomized order while seated, with a 180-second interval. External equipment recorded EEG, skin conductance, respiratory, muscle and cardiovascular signals.[20]
The researchers reported differences in several physiological indicators, including skin conductance and theta EEG activity. They discussed possible muscle and headset artifacts in EEG signals, and acknowledged the male-only sample. The short, single-content experiment does not establish a general health effect, comfort advantage or clinical capability for Explorer.[20]
Comparison with first-generation WMR headsets
Microsoft's legacy comparison places Explorer alongside the Acer AH101 and HP VR1000. The table below retains that historical specification comparison; its field-of-view figures are the values listed by Microsoft, with no measurement axis supplied.[6]
| Feature | Lenovo Explorer | Acer AH101 | HP VR1000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Combined resolution | 2880 × 1440 | 2880 × 1440 | 2880 × 1440 |
| Display | LCD | LCD | LCD |
| Listed refresh rate | Up to 90 Hz | Up to 90 Hz | Up to 90 Hz |
| Listed field of view | 105° | 100° | 105° |
| IPD adjustment | Software | Software | Software |
| Audio | 3.5 mm jack | 3.5 mm jack | 3.5 mm jack |
| Built-in headset Bluetooth | None | None | None |
Technical specifications summary
| Specification | Documented value and scope |
|---|---|
| Image resolution | 1440 × 1440 per eye; 2880 × 1440 combined.[3][6] |
| Optics | Fresnel lenses; software IPD adjustment.[3][6] |
| Tracking | Inside-out, six degrees of freedom; two headset sensors.[3] |
| Tether | 4 m Y cable with HDMI and USB 3.0 PC plugs.[7] |
| Audio | 3.5 mm connector for external audio equipment.[10] |
| Headset weight | Lenovo's feature summary says 380 g; its unpacked-weight table says 0.55 kg without explaining the difference.[3] |
| Announced US prices | $349 headset, from $449 with motion controllers, August 2017.[1] |
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Mollie Ruiz-Hopper (2017-08-31). "IFA 2017: Lenovo announces Windows Mixed Reality headset and new 2-in-1 laptops". Windows Experience Blog. https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2017/08/31/ifa-2017-lenovo-announces-windows-mixed-reality-headset-new-2-1-laptops/. Retrieved 2026-10-14.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Elana Pidgeon (2017-10-03). "Windows Mixed Reality headsets available today". Windows Experience Blog. https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2017/10/03/how-to-pre-order-your-windows-mixed-reality-headset/. Retrieved 2026-10-14.
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.16 3.17 3.18 3.19 3.20 3.21 3.22 3.23 3.24 "Overview for Lenovo Explorer". Lenovo Support. 2022-08-17. https://smartsupport.lenovo.com/us/en/products/smart/arvr/lenovo-explorer/solutions/pd500067-overview-for-lenovo-explorer. Retrieved 2026-10-14.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 "Minimum PC hardware guidelines". Microsoft Learn. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/mixed-reality/enthusiast-guide/windows-mixed-reality-minimum-pc-hardware-compatibility-guidelines. Retrieved 2026-10-14.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Matthieu Bucchianeri. "Oasis Driver for Windows Mixed Reality documentation". GitHub. https://github.com/mbucchia/Oasis-Driver-for-Windows-Mixed-Reality/wiki. Retrieved 2026-10-14.
- ↑ 6.00 6.01 6.02 6.03 6.04 6.05 6.06 6.07 6.08 6.09 6.10 6.11 "Before you buy frequently asked questions". Microsoft Learn. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/mixed-reality/enthusiast-guide/before-you-buy-faqs. Retrieved 2026-10-14.
- ↑ 7.00 7.01 7.02 7.03 7.04 7.05 7.06 7.07 7.08 7.09 7.10 7.11 7.12 7.13 7.14 7.15 7.16 "Lenovo Explorer User Guide, second edition". Lenovo. 2017-09. pp. 3-10. https://download.lenovo.com/consumer/desktop_pub/lenovo_explorer_ug_v2.0_201709.pdf. Retrieved 2026-10-14.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 "Release notes - October 2018". Microsoft Learn. 2018-10-02. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/mixed-reality/enthusiast-guide/release-notes-october-2018. Retrieved 2026-10-14.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Matthieu Bucchianeri (2026-05-31). "Setting up camera passthrough". GitHub. https://github.com/mbucchia/Oasis-Driver-for-Windows-Mixed-Reality/wiki/Setting-up-camera-passthrough. Retrieved 2026-10-14.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 "Cortana certified headphone list". Lenovo. https://download.lenovo.com/consumer/desktop_pub/lenovo_explorer_cortana_certified_headphone_list_0828.pdf. Retrieved 2026-10-14.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 "Motion controllers for Lenovo Explorer User Guide". Lenovo. 2017-10. pp. 1-4. https://download.lenovo.com/consumer/desktop_pub/motion_controllers_ug_v1.0_201711.pdf. Retrieved 2026-10-14.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 "Features and functionality removed in Windows client". Microsoft Learn. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/whats-new/removed-features. Retrieved 2026-10-14.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 "Lenovo Connects Consumers with Powerful Reality of Today's New Smart Devices". Lenovo StoryHub. 2017-08-31. https://news.lenovo.com/pressroom/press-releases/lenovo-connects-consumers-with-powerful-reality-of-todays-new-smart-devices/. Retrieved 2026-10-14.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 "Mixed Reality software overview and release history". Microsoft Learn. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/mixed-reality/enthusiast-guide/mixed-reality-software. Retrieved 2026-10-14.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 "Lenovo Explorer FAQs". Lenovo. https://download.lenovo.com/consumer/desktop_pub/lenovo_explorer_faq.docx. Retrieved 2026-10-14.
- ↑ Matthieu Bucchianeri. "Frequently Asked Questions: Oasis Driver for Windows Mixed Reality". GitHub. https://github.com/mbucchia/Oasis-Driver-for-Windows-Mixed-Reality/wiki/Frequently-Asked-Questions. Retrieved 2026-10-14.
- ↑ Matthieu Bucchianeri. "Known Issues". GitHub. https://github.com/mbucchia/Oasis-Driver-for-Windows-Mixed-Reality/wiki/Known-Issues. Retrieved 2026-10-14.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 "Lenovo Explorer system requirements". Lenovo. 2017-09. https://download.lenovo.com/consumer/desktop_pub/lenovo_explorer_system_requirements_201709.pdf. Retrieved 2026-10-14.
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 José Carlos Ribeiro; Célia Rocha; Bruna Barbosa; Rui Costa Lima; Luís Miguel Cunha (2024). "Sensory Analysis Performed within Augmented Virtuality System: Impact on Hedonic Scores, Engagement, and Presence Level". Foods 13 (15): Article 2456. doi:10.3390/foods13152456. Retrieved 2026-10-14.
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 Elena Kriklenko; Anastasia Kovaleva; Aleksei Klimenko; Usman Dukuev; Sergey Pertsov (2022). "Multimodal Assessment of Changes in Physiological Indicators when Presenting a Video Fragment on Screen (2D) versus a VR (3D) Environment". Behavioural Neurology: Article 5346128. doi:10.1155/2022/5346128. Retrieved 2026-10-14.