XRSpace Manova
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| XRSpace Manova | |
|---|---|
| |
| Basic Info | |
| VR/AR | Virtual Reality |
| Type | Head-mounted display |
| Subtype | Standalone VR |
| Platform | Android |
| Creator | XRSpace |
| Developer | XRSpace |
| Announcement Date | 26 May 2020 (as the Mova) |
| Release Date | 15 July 2020 (Taiwan, through Chunghwa Telecom); European online sales announced 9 December 2020 |
| Price | US$599 (announced price, May 2020); from NT$1,990 with a Chunghwa Telecom 5G plan of NT$1,399 per month (Taiwan, July 2020); €499 for the Wi-Fi 64 GB consumer edition and €599 for the Wi-Fi 64 GB business edition (Europe, December 2020) |
| Website | https://www.xrspace.io |
| Versions | Wi-Fi model and 5G-capable model; consumer and business editions; model number XR00V1 |
| System | |
| Operating System | Android |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 |
| CPU | Kryo 385, 8 cores (4 up to 2.8 GHz, 4 up to 1.8 GHz) |
| GPU | Adreno 630 |
| Storage | |
| Storage | 64 GB |
| Memory | 6 GB LPDDR4x |
| Display | |
| Display | LCD |
| Resolution | 2880 x 1440 (1440 x 1440 per eye), 702 dpi |
| Refresh Rate | 90 Hz |
| Image | |
| Field of View | 100° |
| Tracking | |
| Tracking | 6DoF (inside-out) |
| Hand Tracking | Yes (optical) |
| Audio | |
| Audio | Integrated speakers |
| Connectivity | |
| Connectivity | 5G, LTE, Wi-Fi |
| Battery Capacity | 4,600 mAh |
| Battery Life | 4-5 hours (VRFocus, December 2020); about 2.5 hours (TechRadar hands-on, March 2021) |
| Device | |
| Weight | 470 g |
| Color | White, orange |
| Sensors | Dual front cameras |
| Input | Hand tracking; one included controller; optional XRSPACE Tracker wrist and ankle trackers |
The XRSpace Manova is a standalone virtual reality head-mounted display developed by XRSpace, a Taiwanese company founded by Peter Chou, co-founder and former chief executive of HTC. It was announced on 26 May 2020 under the name Mova and later renamed Manova after a dispute with another company called Mova.[1][2] XRSpace marketed it as "the first 5G mobile VR headset designed for the mass market", usable over 5G, 4G or Wi-Fi, and built it to run the company's own social VR world, also named Manova.[3][4]
The headset uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 with 6 GB of RAM, a 2880 x 1440 display at 90 Hz, and front cameras for inside-out tracking and hand tracking, which XRSpace made the main form of input.[4][5] It went on sale in Taiwan through Chunghwa Telecom on 15 July 2020, and XRSpace announced European online sales at €499 in December 2020 alongside a user trial with Deutsche Telekom in Germany.[6][3] In May 2022 MIXED described the headset as discontinued and reported that XRSpace had moved its focus to metaverse apps for third-party platforms, such as PartyOn and GOXR.[7]
History and development
Peter Chou and XRSpace
XRSpace was founded by Peter Chou, who co-founded HTC, the company behind the HTC Vive VR headset. Chou stepped down as HTC's chief executive in 2015 and later became chairman of the visual effects company Digital Domain.[1][8] Chou's vision for XRSpace focused on social VR experiences accessible anywhere through mobile connectivity. The Taipei Times reported that he had founded the company three years before the headset's unveiling.[2] In the launch press release Chou said: "The singular goal of XRSPACE, is to take XR to the masses by redefining how people connect, socialize, and collaborate by simplifying the hardware and user experience."[9]
In an interview with Digital Trends, Chou said the company had chosen bare-hand input over controllers: "We decided to just use bare hands. Something simple, really easy. No controllers."[8] He said the optical sensor module used "a special chip, deep learning, and our own algorithms" to recognize hand movements, and that overcoming this had taken three years.[8]
Announcement
Chou teased XRSpace at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in 2019, and the company had planned to launch at MWC 2020 before the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted those plans.[1] XRSpace instead revealed the headset and its virtual world at an event in Taipei on 26 May 2020 that was streamed online.[1][2] At that point the headset was called the Mova and the virtual world was called Manova.[5] VentureBeat later added an editor's note that the headset had been renamed Manova after a dispute with another company named Mova.[1]
The announced price was US$599.[4][8] VentureBeat reported that an early-access developer kit, consisting of the headset and SDKs, was open for registration at US$799 for a Wi-Fi version and US$899 for a 5G version, with the consumer version expected in the third quarter of 2020.[1] XRSpace said developer kits, SDKs and developer support would be available from the day of the announcement, and that the global launch would start with Qualcomm, Deutsche Telekom and Chunghwa Telecom, followed by Europe, the United States and China.[9] Digital Trends reported that the 4G LTE and Wi-Fi models were expected between July and September 2020, starting in Taiwan, with the 5G version to follow later with a network partner.[8]
5G vision
XRSpace described the Manova as the first 5G consumer mobile VR headset, usable anywhere with a 5G, LTE or Wi-Fi connection.[9] Engadget updated its launch report to say that the headset has a modem slot that takes a 4G or 5G data card, which explained how a Snapdragon 845 device could support 5G.[4] Digital Trends reported that XRSpace expected network operators to sell the headset at a subsidized price with a 4G or 5G contract.[8]
Taiwan launch
On 1 July 2020 XRSpace announced that the Manova would go on sale exclusively in Chunghwa Telecom stores in July, priced at NT$1,990 with a Chunghwa Telecom 5G plan.[10] Sales began on 15 July 2020 at Chunghwa Telecom's service locations across Taiwan and its online store. The bundle price started at NT$1,990 with a 5G plan costing NT$1,399 per month, and included one year of free access to Chunghwa Telecom's 5G virtual dome and its Hami VR service; first buyers also received two months of exclusive Manova content.[6] Inside the Manova world, the virtual Chunghwa Telecom venue integrated the operator's Hami Video and Hami VR services for shared viewing.[6]
China
At an event in Shenzhen on 5 November 2020, XRSpace presented the Manova headset and virtual world for mainland China and formed an "XR Future City Alliance" whose first members included Baidu VR, China Telecom's Tianyi Cloud VR, China Mobile, Qualcomm, Tencent Interactive Entertainment, Unity and Insta360. The headset was expected to go on sale in China in mid-December 2020.[11][12] XRSpace's December 2020 press release referred to "an ongoing rollout program through search engine Baidu and China Telecom in China".[3]
European launch
The Manova began European rollout before Christmas 2020.[13] In a press release dated 9 December 2020, XRSpace announced that its partnership with Deutsche Telekom would start with a user trial from 14 December for 400 Deutsche Telekom customers, who would test the headset, the platform software, avatar movements and interactions.[3][14] The same release launched a European sales website, with the Wi-Fi 64 GB consumer edition at €499 and the Wi-Fi 64 GB business edition at €599, available in Germany and the rest of the EU before Christmas, and promised a cross-platform experience for smartphone and PC users in January 2021.[3] VRFocus noted that the editions on sale were Wi-Fi models and that the 5G version appeared to be a separate model.[15] According to MIXED, Deutsche Telekom had helped develop the device and had planned a German launch in the fourth quarter of 2020.[7]
Design and hardware
Processor
The Manova is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 Mobile XR Platform:[9]
- CPU: Octa-core Kryo 385 (four cores up to 2.8 GHz and four up to 1.8 GHz)[16][17]
- GPU: Adreno 630[16]
- RAM: 6 GB LPDDR4x; Engadget noted that 4 GB was the usual amount in standalone headsets at the time[4][15]
- Storage: 64 GB[3]
TechInsights, which published a teardown of the "XRSPACE Manova XR00V1" in September 2021, reported that Qualcomm supplied seven major chips in the headset: the SDA845 application processor, three power management chips, a WCD9341 audio codec, a WSA8810 audio amplifier and a WCN3990 Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip.[18]
Display system
- Resolution: 2880 x 1440 total (1440 x 1440 per eye)[4][11]
- Refresh rate: 90 Hz[5]
- Pixel density: 702 DPI[4]
XRSpace did not disclose the panel type or the field of view when it announced the headset.[4]
Field of view
The Manova offers a 100-degree field of view, according to VRFocus.[15]
Weight
At 470 grams, the Manova is about 20% lighter than the original Oculus Quest, according to XRSpace's launch claims.[5] Engadget compared it with 571 g for the Oculus Quest and 695 g for the HTC Vive Focus, and described it as about half the size of the Vive Focus when the two were placed side by side.[4] A built-in fan cools the headset during use.[19] XRSpace offered it in white and orange.[20]
Battery
Connectivity
5G/LTE
XRSpace promoted cellular connectivity as the headset's main feature, saying it was portable anywhere with a 5G, LTE or Wi-Fi connection.[9] According to Engadget, the cellular connection uses a modem slot that takes a 4G or 5G data card.[4] In Taiwan, Chunghwa Telecom sold the headset bundled with a 5G plan.[6]
Wi-Fi
The headset also connects over Wi-Fi. The European editions sold from December 2020 were Wi-Fi models.[3]
Tracking and input
Inside-out tracking
Dual front-facing cameras provide 6DoF inside-out tracking for head and hand movements.[7][11] Engadget described protruding stereo cameras on the front of the headset and said its space-scanning feature used the front optical sensors, and Chinese launch coverage said a depth camera handled 6DoF positioning and gesture recognition.[4][11] Road to VR reported that the headset supported room-scale tracking.[5]
Hand tracking
Optical hand tracking allows controller-free interaction in VR experiences.[5] XRSpace's launch material described gestures such as handshakes, high fives and claps, and said the headset could be used without additional controllers.[20][9]
Controller
A simple 3DoF controller is included for applications requiring traditional input.[7] Engadget said the single controller was meant for gaming, and Road to VR described it as a remote with what appeared to be a touchpad and buttons, similar to those of the Samsung Gear VR and Oculus Go.[4][5] Accounts of the controller differ: VRFocus described the European package as including a 6DoF controller, and Chinese launch reports said optional 6DoF controllers could be used.[15][11] The box contents listed on XRSpace's site were the headset, a controller, a USB cable, an adapter, a lanyard, AA batteries and a carry bag.[20]
Body trackers
XRSpace also sold the XRSPACE Tracker, a light tracker worn on the wrists and ankles for activities such as dancing, yoga and tai chi in the Manova world.[20] Engadget reported that the body trackers were sold separately.[4]
Social VR platform
Manova platform
XRSpace developed the Manova social VR platform (later also called Manova World), emphasizing:[9]
- Social interaction in VR
- Virtual spaces and gatherings
- Metaverse-like experiences
Users appear as full-body avatars created from a selfie with a companion mobile app; XRSpace said the avatars carried facial expressions.[5][21] The world had a central City Center hub, private homes and cinemas, meeting rooms and classrooms, and MagicLOHAS, an area for wellness activities such as walking, biking, dancing, yoga and tai chi.[9][8] XRSpace also promoted space scanning, in which the headset's sensors recreate a real location in VR; its launch partners included the Taiwanese real estate company YC House for virtual house viewings.[9] Content partners named at launch included Angry Birds, AirPano, Resolution Games, Magic Horizons, Digital Domain, Iconic Engine, iStaging and Futuretown.[9]
The Manova world could only be entered with XRSpace's own headset. MIXED described it as a walled garden mixing elements of Second Life and Meta's Horizon.[7] In TechRadar's March 2021 demo, XRSpace said it expected to bring Manova World to other VR platforms later that year and was aiming for 50,000 users within 12 months.[21]
Reception
Coverage of the May 2020 announcement was cautious. Road to VR's Scott Hayden wrote that Manova "feels more like a conceptual wishlist" than a working social VR platform.[5] TechRadar noted that no live demonstration of the headset was shown at the announcement, only videos that looked like concept trailers.[22]
Pocket-lint, writing in February 2021, called the design "cleverly thought out" but said the Manova "may be a hard sell for a mass market".[19] In a hands-on published in March 2021, TechRadar's Gerald Lynch described a "plasticky construction". He wrote that Manova World never looked as sharp as the screen specification suggested, that the cooling fans "whirred loudly and persistently", and that the hand tracking "regularly lost track" of his hands, with the pinch-to-select gesture often choosing the wrong menu item.[21] MIXED reported that its tester in the late-2020 beta could create an avatar and look around a virtual apartment but found little else to do, and it judged the hardware "not particularly well done, neither technically nor in terms of comfort".[7]
Current status
XRSpace's focus has shifted toward software platforms:
In May 2022 MIXED, citing Protocol, described the Manova hardware as discontinued and reported that XRSpace had given up competing with Meta and was developing metaverse apps for third-party platforms, calling it "an inglorious end to Project Manova".[7] A 2023 XRSpace press release about a GOXR venue built with T-Mobile listed smartphones, tablets and Oculus Quest headsets as the ways to access it, without mentioning the Manova headset.[23]
Specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 845[9] |
| RAM | 6 GB LPDDR4x[15] |
| Storage | 64 GB[3] |
| Display | 2880 x 1440 (1440 x 1440 per eye)[11] |
| Refresh Rate | 90 Hz[5] |
| Pixel Density | 702 DPI[5] |
| Field of View | 100°[15] |
| Tracking | 6DoF inside-out[11] |
| Hand Tracking | Yes (optical)[5] |
| Connectivity | 5G, LTE, Wi-Fi[9] |
| Battery | 4,600 mAh (4-5 hours according to VRFocus; about 2.5 hours in TechRadar's hands-on)[4][15][21] |
| Weight | 470g[5] |
| Colors | White, orange[20] |
| Price | US$599 announced (May 2020); NT$1,990 with a 5G plan (Taiwan); €499 Consumer / €599 Business (Europe, Wi-Fi 64 GB)[8][6][3] |
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Paul Sawers (2020-05-26). "HTC cofounder Peter Chou launches XRSpace to bring social VR to the masses". VentureBeat. https://venturebeat.com/business/htc-cofounder-peter-chou-launches-xrspace-to-bring-social-vr-to-the-masses/. Retrieved 2026-10-13.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Lisa Wang (2020-05-27). "XRSpace unveils first VR headset after three years". Taipei Times. https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2020/05/27/2003737088. Retrieved 2026-10-13.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 "XRSPACE MANOVA lands in Europe before Christmas". XRSPACE. XRSPACE Co., Ltd.. 2020-12-09. https://web.archive.org/web/2021/https://www.xrspace.io/us/press/press_release/xrspace-manova-lands-in-europe-before-christmas. Retrieved 2026-10-13.
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 4.15 Richard Lai (2020-05-26). "Former HTC CEO Peter Chou reveals his next project: a social 5G VR headset". Engadget. https://www.engadget.com/xrspace-mova-5g-vr-headset-hand-tracking-space-scanning-083936618.html. Retrieved 2026-10-13.
- ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 5.12 Scott Hayden (2020-05-26). "Former HTC CEO Unveils 5G-enabled VR Headset & Social VR Platform". Road to VR. https://roadtovr.com/former-htc-ceo-xrspace-5g-headset-social-vr-platform/. Retrieved 2026-10-13.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 "中華電信攜手 XRSPACE 開賣 5G XR 虛擬實境魔幻機器". XRSPACE. XRSPACE Co., Ltd.. 2020-07-15. https://web.archive.org/web/2023/https://www.xrspace.io/tw/press/press_release/xrspace-manova-on-shelf. Retrieved 2026-10-13.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 Tomislav Bezmalinovic (2022-05-30). "Manova: What happened to the standalone VR headset?". MIXED. https://mixed-news.com/en/manova-what-happened-to-the-standalone-vr-headset/. Retrieved 2026-10-13.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 8.7 Andy Boxall (2020-05-26). "Ex-HTC boss Peter Chou is building the most ambitious virtual world yet". Digital Trends. https://web.archive.org/web/2020/https://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/peter-chou-xrspace-mova-manova-interview/. Retrieved 2026-10-13.
- ↑ 9.00 9.01 9.02 9.03 9.04 9.05 9.06 9.07 9.08 9.09 9.10 9.11 "Peter Chou's XRSPACE offers the world's first social reality platform in 5G XR". XRSPACE. XRSPACE Co., Ltd.. 2020-05-26. https://web.archive.org/web/2021/https://www.xrspace.io/us/press/press_release/global_announcement_5g_xr_peter_sting. Retrieved 2026-10-13.
- ↑ "XRSPACE 帶領 5G XR 革命先鋒 就在七月讓你用 1,990 元將虛擬實境體驗全部帶回家". XRSPACE. XRSPACE Co., Ltd.. 2020-07-01. https://web.archive.org/web/2023/https://www.xrspace.io/tw/press/press_release/0701. Retrieved 2026-10-13.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 11.6 张昊 (Zhang Hao) (2020-11-05). "XRSPACE发布MANOVA VR一体机及虚拟世界 成立XR未来城市联盟". iFeng Tech. https://tech.ifeng.com/c/819lLPclOJt. Retrieved 2026-10-13.
- ↑ 张昊 (Zhang Hao) (2020-11-05). "XRSPACE发布MANOVA VR一体机及虚拟世界，并成立XR未来城市联盟". IT Home. https://www.ithome.com/0/517/882.htm. Retrieved 2026-10-13.
- ↑ "XRSpace Manova to Begin European Rollout Before Christmas". Immersive Learning News. 2020-12-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20251009083221/https://www.immersivelearning.news/2020/12/16/xrspace-manova-to-begin-european-rollout-before-christmas/. Retrieved 2026-10-13.
- ↑ "Deutsche Telekom starts beta test of social VR platform Manova World". Telecompaper. 2020-12-09. https://www.telecompaper.com/news/deutsche-telekom-starts-beta-test-of-social-vr-platform-manova-world--1365102. Retrieved 2026-10-13.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 15.5 15.6 15.7 Peter Graham (2020-12-11). "XRSpace Manova to Begin European Rollout Before Christmas". VRFocus. https://web.archive.org/web/2021/https://www.vrfocus.com/2020/12/xrspace-manova-to-begin-european-rollout-before-christmas/. Retrieved 2026-10-13.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 "Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 Mobile Platform Introduces New, Innovative Architectures for Artificial Intelligence and Immersion". PR Newswire. Qualcomm Technologies. 2017-12-06. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/qualcomm-snapdragon-845-mobile-platform-introduces-new-innovative-architectures-for-artificial-intelligence-and-immersion-300567599.html. Retrieved 2026-10-13.
- ↑ Yordan (2017-12-07). "Qualcomm reveals full specs of Snapdragon 845, comes with AI Platform". GSMArena. https://www.gsmarena.com/qualcomm_full_specs_snapdragon_845-news-28620.php. Retrieved 2026-10-13.
- ↑ "Deep Dive Teardown of the XRSPACE Manova XR00V1 VR Headset". TechInsights. 2021-09-21. https://www.techinsights.com/products/ddt-2105-803. Retrieved 2026-10-13.
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 Adrian Willings (2021-02-23). "Is this the future of VR? Social interaction in a virtual socially distanced world". Pocket-lint. https://www.pocket-lint.com/ar-vr/news/155824-is-this-the-future-of-virtual-reality. Retrieved 2026-10-13.
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 20.4 "XRSPACE MANOVA HMD". XRSPACE. XRSPACE Co., Ltd.. https://web.archive.org/web/20201210163557/https://www.xrspace.io/us/headset. Retrieved 2026-10-13.
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 21.4 Gerald Lynch (2021-03-24). "Manova World aims to be Second Life VR, but its hand-tracking has a life of its own". TechRadar. https://www.techradar.com/news/manova-world-aims-to-be-second-life-vr-but-its-hand-tracking-has-a-life-of-its-own. Retrieved 2026-10-13.
- ↑ Adam Vjestica (2020-05-26). "XRSpace VR headset wants to make Ready Player One's virtual world a reality". TechRadar. https://www.techradar.com/news/xrspace-vr-headset-wants-to-make-ready-player-ones-virtual-world-a-reality. Retrieved 2026-10-13.
- ↑ "XRSPACE 與美國電信龍頭 T-Mobile 合作 打造 Tech Experience 5G Hub 元宇宙應用基地". XRSPACE. XRSPACE Co., Ltd.. 2023-05-16. https://web.archive.org/web/2023/https://www.xrspace.io/tw/press/press_release/xrspace-tmobile-tech-experience-5g-hub. Retrieved 2026-10-13.