In May, I was surprised when I introduced a surprisingly powerful VR-like experience within Xreal and Google Project Aura glassesnow called Xreal Aura and arriving this fall.
They pack a Samsung Galaxy XR-like experience into a pair of glasses that plug into a phone-sized processor puck. But it turns out it’s actually the processor they’re packing better than the one in Samsung Galaxy XR. And the details of Qualcomm’s new chip suggest a wave of VR headsets that may aim to supercharge their built-in AI capabilities.
Qualcomm’s newly announced Snapdragon Reality Elite chip, unveiled at the Augmented World Expo conference in Long Beach, California, is a rebrand from Qualcomm’s previous line of VR/AR chips that powered the Samsung Galaxy XR, the Meta Quest and many other devices. According to Qualcomm, its GPU is 60% better than the Snapdragon XR2 Plus Gen 2 in the Galaxy XR, the CPU is 30% better and the AI-focused neural processing unit is up to 160% better in AI-related tasks. The chipset can handle up to 4.4K displays per eye on headsets and glasses.
The Snapdragon Reality Elite chip promises to boost the entire range of upcoming glasses and headsets.
Is AI improving VR and AR?
The XR2 Plus Gen 2 upgrade was announced in January 2024, so it’s been a while since Qualcomm had a major new chip focused on VR/AR. The redesigned chip comes after the new Qualcomm- and Snapdragon Wear Elite wearable watch, announced earlier this year, which also focuses on the development of AI functionality on wrists (or on pendants equipped with a camera and smart glasses).
While Qualcomm’s chips often come out before any of the products that integrate them, this time it comes to processing the upcoming Xreal Aura glasses that I’ve reviewed a few times before.
Xreal Aura is running Google’s Android XR OS, and relies heavily on Google’s Gemini for real-time AI analysis of apps and experience in Gemini Live mode. During my demos, Google showed how Aura can also be used for AI-based coding directly on the phone-shaped processor to plug in the glasses.
Most of the smart glasses coming out now rely heavily on wired AI applications to implement key features. VR headsets, on the other hand, lacked AI. That may change as VR headsets become smaller and more like glasses, and maybe even evolve into something like AR glasses. The Xreal Aura already feels like an evolutionary precursor to that, and a sign of where Meta plans to go next.
Better battery life
The new chip also promises 20% better battery life using the same workloads as the previous Snapdragon chip, and cool performance to do it. That’s not a huge advantage, but with VR headsets now often averaging two hours on a charge at best, anything helps.
The cool active part is important, though. As these earphones become smaller and mirror-like, fitting closer to our faces, they won’t be expected to release heat through holes like current VR headsets do.
According to Qualcomm’s specs for the chip, it can use 12 cameras or sensors at the same time, similar to what the Galaxy XR chip does. A dozen may sound like a lot, but with eye tracking, room tracking, hand tracking, face tracking and still and video cameras, the processing demands can add up quickly. The chip also supports Bluetooth 6 and Wi-Fi 7.
Where will it appear next?
The Xreal Aura, arriving this fall, is now available for pre-order on the Xreal site for a $99 deposit that Xreal says will also get an additional $100 off the introductory price and secure delivery, though the company still hasn’t announced a final price for the hardware. It will be the first device equipped with Snapdragon Reality Elite on board.
But there is something else I want to know about. Bytedance’s highly anticipated Pico Project Swan headset may be packing it. Meta’s long-awaited Quest 4, which may launch in the next year or two, may have it.
Whether you get the Xreal Aura or not, the new chip should make you think twice about buying a new VR headset until more details come out about when this upgrade will arrive elsewhere. Based on the specs alone, it seems worth the wait.
Editors note: Scott Stein’s travel expenses for the AWE conference were covered by Snap. CNET’s judgments and opinions are our own.