Chip developer Qualcomm has unveiled a new chip generation for standalone VR and AR headsets. The first model in the series is called Snapdragon Reality Elite and replaces the previous Snapdragon XR series. The chip is optimized not only for virtual reality headsets but also for glasses with transparent optics and wired pocket computers.
According to Qualcomm, the Snapdragon Reality Elite offers up to 30 percent more CPU performance at the same power consumption, or up to 45 percent less energy consumption at the same performance. The Adreno GPU is said to deliver up to 60 percent more graphics performance or consume up to 64 percent less power. This should increase battery life by up to 20 percent, while the chip runs up to 12 degrees Celsius cooler under load than its predecessor.
The chip supports resolutions of up to 4.4K per eye at 90 frames per second. Qualcomm has also improved the latency and image quality of video passthrough, the digital reproduction of the outside world on the displays. The Snapdragon Reality Elite is based on Kryo CPUs, not Qualcomm’s own Oryon cores – the “Elite” suffix merely marks the premium segment of the platform.
With the new platform, Qualcomm aims to make it easier for developers to enter VR and AR development and is providing starter kits. The chip is expected to appear in devices from 2025 and will compete with, among others, the Samsung Galaxy XR, which is still based on the previous chip.
Source: www.heise.de
