Snapdragon XR2 HMD Reference Design

Snapdragon XR2 HMD Reference Design
Basic Info
VR/AR	Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, Mixed Reality
Type	Head-mounted display
Subtype	Reference Design
Platform	Android
Creator	Qualcomm
Website	https://developer.qualcomm.com
System
CPU	Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2
GPU	Adreno 650
Storage
Display
Display	Up to 3K x 3K per eye @ 90 Hz
Resolution	Up to 3K x 3K per eye
Image
Optics
Tracking
Tracking	6DoF (SLAM)
Eye Tracking	Yes (Tobii)
Hand Tracking	Yes (Ultraleap)
Audio
Connectivity
Connectivity	5G (Snapdragon X55), Wi-Fi 6
Ports	USB-C
Device
Sensors	Up to 7 cameras
Input	Electromagnetic controllers (NDI Atraxa)

The Snapdragon XR2 HMD Reference Design is an extended reality (XR) reference platform developed by Qualcomm. Unveiled in February 2020, it is the world's first 5G-enabled XR reference design, combining the Snapdragon XR2 platform with the Snapdragon X55 5G modem. The reference design provides hardware manufacturers with guidelines for building high-performance XR headsets, supporting displays up to 3K x 3K per eye at 90 Hz, seven simultaneous camera feeds, and advanced tracking technologies including eye tracking, hand tracking, and electromagnetic controller tracking.

History and Development

February 2020 Announcement

Qualcomm unveiled the XR2 reference design to accelerate development of next-generation XR headsets with 5G connectivity.

Purpose

Reference designs serve as guidelines for hardware manufacturers, specifying compatible displays, cameras, and other components that work optimally with the Snapdragon XR2 chipset.

Manufacturing Partners

The reference design is manufactured by Thundercomm, Qualcomm's joint venture partner for development kits.

Snapdragon XR2 Platform

The XR2 platform represents a significant leap over previous generations:

Performance Improvements

• 2x to 11x improvements over predecessor (Snapdragon 835)
• Enhanced processing power
• Improved AI capabilities
• Better graphics performance

Display Support

• Up to 3K x 3K resolution per eye
• Up to 90 Hz refresh rate
• Support for 8K 360-degree video at 60 fps

Camera System

The reference design supports up to 7 simultaneous cameras:

Internal Cameras (2)

Eye tracking cameras for gaze detection and foveated rendering.

External Cameras (4)

• 2 cameras for mixed reality passthrough
• 2 cameras for head/SLAM tracking

Additional Camera (1)

Optional use for facial tracking, lip tracking, or other applications.

Tracking Technologies

Eye Tracking

Tobii eye tracking integration for:

• Foveated rendering
• Gaze-based interaction
• User analytics

Hand Tracking

Ultraleap (formerly Leap Motion) hand tracking for controller-free interaction.

Controller Tracking

NDI Atraxa electromagnetic tracking for:

• Accurate 6DoF controller tracking
• Low latency
• No line-of-sight requirements

Head Tracking

6DoF SLAM tracking with inside-out cameras.

5G Connectivity

Snapdragon X55 Modem

• Native 5G support
• Sub-6 GHz band support
• mmWave band support
• Global network compatibility

Wireless XR

Enables untethered XR experiences with:

• Cloud rendering
• Low-latency streaming
• Anywhere connectivity

Additional Features

Always-On Voice

Voice activation and contextual awareness.

AI Processing

Enhanced AI capabilities for:

• Scene understanding
• Object recognition
• Interaction prediction

Products Based on XR2

Many commercial headsets are based on the Snapdragon XR2 platform:

• Meta Quest 2
• Meta Quest Pro
• Pico Neo 3
• Pico 4
• HTC Vive Focus 3
• Lynx R-1
• And many others

Specifications

Specification	Details
Platform	Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2
Display Support	Up to 3K x 3K per eye @ 90 Hz
Video Support	8K 360° @ 60 fps
Cameras	Up to 7 simultaneous
Eye Tracking	Yes (Tobii)
Hand Tracking	Yes (Ultraleap)
Controller Tracking	Electromagnetic (NDI Atraxa)
5G Modem	Snapdragon X55
5G Bands	Sub-6 GHz + mmWave
Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi 6

See Also

• Qualcomm
• Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2
• Snapdragon 835 VR Development Kit
• Snapdragon XR1
• 5G VR
• Reference design