NReal Mixed Reality Glasses are one of the first devices to be compatible with 5G phones.
Sarah Tew / CNET
The next wave of 5G phones processor powered Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 They have an interesting trick inside: They can power virtual and augmented reality glasses through the USB-C connection. This means that we could see more lightweight VR and AR glasses connected to one cable, but they could also be cheaper.
At the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, ​​Qualcomm announced a new initiative to connect 5G phones with a new wave of phones, and is planning a certification program and a brand sticker to stimulate interest in VR / AR glasses that can be connect to the phone.
Be this what they will become the HTC Vive Cosmos? We don't know yet. But a new Acer virtual reality glasses called nReal Light, a compact pair of mixed reality glasses, are the first compatible products in addition to a pair of Pico glasses that have not been announced.
Qualcomm also announced that the first compatible phones will be made by Xiaomi, HTC, OnePlus, Oppo, Asus and Vivo. Cellular carriers supporting the Qualcomm initiative so far include Sprint, LG U +, YIM, KDDI, SK Telecom, Swisscom and KT.
MWC 2019: All the phones and gadgets presented at the great fair (photos)
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XR = AR, VR
Qualcomm is planning to create its own "XR Optimized" badge to indicate which phones and glasses will work together. The company also insists on referring to the world of virtual and augmented reality glasses as XR. Although it is an accepted term for what is known as mixed reality, it is confusing for anyone who does not belong to this industry.
NReal Mixed Reality Glasses debuted at CES 2019 and more closely resembles a regular pair of glasses than rival products like Magic Leap One. The nReal glasses were plugged into a Snapdragon 845-powered box at CES, but Qualcomm argues that the 855 processor has enough graphics power to meet the needs of the glasses, without any latency. This may mean that the glasses of the future will get smaller and cheaper. Rokia Aurora glasses, which connect via USB-C, may be a clue to what's to come.
Snapdragon 855 phones will not work with these new glasses as soon as they come out of the box. They require USB-C to deal with the video output (DisplayPort), something not all phones have. They will also require special Qualcomm software, which must pre-certify the phones to ensure compatibility.
Acer and nReal glasses will be demonstrated during MWC in Barcelona.
Nreal Light glasses look like ordinary sunglasses (photos)
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HoloLens 2: We put the new reality glasses to the test …
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CNET and CNET in Spanish are in Barcelona to bring you all the details of the Mobile World Congress in that city.
