Xiaomi Wireless AR Glass Discovery
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| Xiaomi Wireless AR Glass Discovery | |
|---|---|
| |
| Basic Info | |
| VR/AR | Augmented Reality, Mixed Reality |
| Type | Smart glasses |
| Subtype | Phone-Powered AR |
| Platform | Snapdragon Spaces[1] |
| Creator | Xiaomi |
| Announcement Date | February 27, 2023[1] |
| Price | Unannounced at the 2023 unveiling[2] |
| Website | https://www.mi.com |
| System | |
| CPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 (Gen 1)[3] |
| Display | |
| Display | Two Micro-OLED displays[3] |
| Peak Brightness | Up to 1200 nits to-eye (Xiaomi claim)[4] |
| Resolution | Full HD, as described in the prototype hands-on[5] |
| Image | |
| Average Pixel Density | 58 PPD (Xiaomi claim)[3] |
| Optics | |
| Optics | Free-form light-guiding prisms[4] |
| Tracking | |
| Hand Tracking | Gesture input demonstrated[3] |
| Audio | |
| Audio | Spatial audio described by Xiaomi[4] |
| Camera | Environmental mapping demonstrated[5] |
| Connectivity | |
| Connectivity | NFC pairing reported in 2023; wireless phone connection[6] |
| Power | Silicon-oxygen anode battery[4] |
| Device | |
| Weight | 126 g (announced)[3] |
| Material | Carbon fiber; magnesium-lithium alloy[3] |
| Color | Titanium-colored[4] |
| Sensors | Three forward-facing cameras observed[5] |
| Input | Gestures or phone controls[3] |
The Xiaomi Wireless AR Glass Discovery Edition is a prototype pair of wireless smart glasses for augmented reality, presented by Xiaomi at Mobile World Congress in 2023. It connects to a smartphone rather than using a cable to a host computer.[1][2]
History and Development
MWC 2023 Unveiling
Xiaomi announced the Discovery Edition in Barcelona on February 27, 2023.[1]
Prototype Status
At the exhibition, Android Authority saw working units demonstrated by Xiaomi, but did not test the glasses as a wearer. Its report described a product still some distance from commercialization.[3]
Snapdragon Spaces
Qualcomm included the glasses in its February 2023 announcement about operator initiatives around Snapdragon Spaces. It identified the processor as the Snapdragon XR2 platform and described smartphone-connected XR development.[1]
Design recognition
The design received an iF Design Award in 2024 in Product Design, Gaming/VR/AR. The award record credits Shenzhen Xiaomi Communications Co., Ltd. and designers Xu Wei, Jiasheng Huang and Yuhao Zhang of Xiaomi's Smartphone Industrial Design Department.[7]
Design and Hardware
Display System
The glasses use two Micro-OLED displays and glass prisms. Xiaomi advertised 58 pixels per degree, claiming that individual pixels would not be distinguishable.[3]
Electrochromic Lenses
Electrochromic lenses switch between transparent viewing and a darkened mode for watching content without a separate physical lens cover.[5]
Xiaomi described adaptation to different lighting conditions.[4]
Materials
Materials included magnesium-lithium alloy and carbon fiber.[4]
Form Factor
Three nosepiece sizes were offered.[4]
Android Authority reported the announced 126 g weight and noted the oversized sunglasses form.[3]
Processor
Snapdragon XR2 Gen 1
The prototype used Snapdragon XR2 Gen 1. Ben Sin's demonstration used a Xiaomi 13 as its host.[5]
Latency
Xiaomi's labs claimed minimum 3 ms phone-to-glasses and 50 ms full-link latency, varying with settings and usage.[4]
Gesture Control
Xiaomi AI Gesture
Sin reported placing and resizing virtual windows with a phone trackpad or hand gestures, including a palm pointer and a pinch to move windows. He also tried a tabletop shooting game and a virtual switch controlling a real lamp.[5]
Micro Gestures
Xiaomi described finger-joint and thumb gestures to select apps, scroll and return home. A low-power AON camera supported interaction.[4]
Connectivity
NFC Pairing
C. Scott Brown reported NFC smartphone pairing at the 2023 unveiling.[6] Content then used a wireless connection.[2]
Phone Compatibility
Xiaomi specified Xiaomi 13 or other Snapdragon Spaces-ready devices.[4]
Android Authority's exhibition report described compatibility as limited to Xiaomi 13-series phones at that time.[3]
Software
Development Support
Xiaomi announced Snapdragon Spaces, OpenXR and Microsoft MRTK support. Mi Share streamed YouTube and TikTok apps to resizable virtual displays.[4]
Vision Correction
Myopic Clip
An attachable myopic clip accommodated nearsighted users.[4]
Prototype Limitations
Battery Life
During Sin's roughly 30-minute demonstration, the glasses needed recharging. That observation describes one prototype session rather than a standardized battery-runtime measurement.[5]
Availability
Notebookcheck's February 2023 account described the device as a prototype without an announced price or release date. This dates the unveiling status rather than establishing present retail availability.[2]
Specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Display | Two Micro-OLED displays; Full HD described by Sin[5] |
| PPD | 58, advertised by Xiaomi[3] |
| Brightness | Up to 1200 nits to-eye, advertised[4] |
| Processor | Snapdragon XR2 Gen 1[3] |
| Wireless Latency | 3 ms link; 50 ms full link, Xiaomi lab minima[4] |
| Tracking | Environmental mapping described in the demonstration[5] |
| Gesture Control | Hand or phone input[5] |
| Lenses | Electrochromic[5] |
| Materials | Carbon fiber; magnesium-lithium alloy[3] |
| Weight | 126 g, announced[3] |
| Battery | Recharge required during one 30-minute demo[5] |
| Status | Prototype at the 2023 unveiling[2] |
See Also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Qualcomm and 7 Leading Global Operators Announce Plans to Leverage Snapdragon Spaces to Expand the Next Generation of Computing". Qualcomm. 2023-02-27. https://www.qualcomm.com/news/releases/2023/02/qualcomm-and-7-leading-global-operators-announce-plans-to-levera. Retrieved 2026-10-16.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Polly Allcock (2023-02-27). "Xiaomi Wireless AR Glass Discovery Edition revealed in surprise announcement". Notebookcheck. https://www.notebookcheck.net/Xiaomi-Wireless-AR-Glass-Discovery-Edition-revealed-in-surprise-announcement.697599.0.html. Retrieved 2026-10-16.
- ↑ 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 Bogdan Petrovan (2023-03-01). "First look: Xiaomi talks a big game for their new AR glasses". Android Authority. https://www.androidauthority.com/xiaomi-wireless-ar-glass-discovery-edition-hands-on-3291388/. Retrieved 2026-10-16.
- ↑ 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 "Xiaomi Wireless AR Glass Discovery Edition Unveils at MWC 2023". Xiaomi. 2023-02-27. https://www.mi.com/global/discover/article?id=2880. Retrieved 2026-10-16.
- ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 Ben Sin (2023-02-26). "Exclusive: These are Xiaomi's new Wireless AR Smart Glasses, and they look like they're from the future". XDA Developers. https://www.xda-developers.com/xiaomi-ar-smart-glass-hands-on/. Retrieved 2026-10-16.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 C. Scott Brown (2023-02-27). "Xiaomi launches prototype AR glasses that pair with a phone with just a tap". Android Authority. https://www.androidauthority.com/xiaomi-wireless-ar-glass-discovery-edition-3290147/. Retrieved 2026-10-16.
- ↑ "Xiaomi Wireless AR Glass Discovery Edition". iF Design. https://ifdesign.com/en/winner-ranking/project/xiaomi-wireless-ar-glass-discovery-edition/629684. Retrieved 2026-10-16.