Vivo has unveiled its first mixed reality headset, the Vivo Vision. This positions the Chinese brand as a direct competitor to Apple’s Vision Pro in both design and interaction.
This is the latest in a series of initiatives meant to help popularize the mixed reality market which is far from mature. Apple has so far struggled to move beyond a niche audience with its device, which starts at $3,500.
According to the market research firm International Data Corp, global sales of Apple’s Vision Pro remained under one million units in 2023 with the entire global mixed reality market only expected to surpass 10 million units this year.
Mixed Reality
Mixed reality (MR) is a technology that blends the physical and digital worlds, allowing virtual objects to interact with the real environment in real time.
Unlike virtual reality, which immerses users entirely in a digital space, or augmented reality, which overlays digital elements onto the real world without interaction, Mixed reality creates a more integrated experience where digital content responds to and coexists with the physical world.
Mixed Rality devices use advanced sensors, cameras, and holographic displays to map surroundings and project 3D digital objects into them. These devices enable users to see, touch, and manipulate holograms as if they were real, making mixed reality valuable for fields like education, healthcare, engineering, gaming, and design.
Speaking on Vivo’s entry into the sector, Hu Baishan, executive vice-president of Vivo, said “Mixed reality could become an ideal interactive device in future robotic scenarios.
“We’ve already spent five years developing this technology,” Hu concluded
In March of this year, Vivo publicly shared progress in robotics R&D and announced the establishment of the Vivo Robotics Lab. The lab focuses on developing intelligent decision-making systems (the “brain”) and spatial perception systems (the “eyes”) for robots.
