In an age of immersive content, extended reality platforms represent the crucial foundation of future AR, VR, and Mixed Reality apps. With the right platform, developers and designers can work together to build immersive spaces capable of going beyond the boundaries of our physical world.
Qualcomm, one of the market leaders in disruptive technology solutions like AI, 5G, and XR, offers a dedicated platform just for XR creation. The Snapdragon XR1 platform is the first dedicated solution from Qualcomm, built to accelerate high-quality audio, video, and interactive experiences in extended reality environments.
Today, we’re going to take a look at some of the features the Snapdragon XR1 platform can offer, and why it’s such a fantastic solution.
Snapdragon XR1 Platform Review: Features
Part of the well-known Snapdragon ecosystem, the Snapdragon XR1 platform is an ultra-HD Extended reality platform providing access to a range of content building tools. Notably, this solution as introduced in 2018, as a full system chip-set for extended reality experiences. Within this ecosystem, businesses can build immersive virtual environments, with dedicated hardware and software algorithms for sensational visuals and vision processing.
The Snapdragon XR1 platform features both three and six degrees of freedom control capabilities and head tracking for XR devices. This ensures users have more freedom to move around and interact with their creative world. There’s also support for various other tech solutions within the Qualcomm ecosystem, like the 3D Audio suite for immersive, high-fidelity audio experiences.
Some of the features you can unlock with the Snapdragon XR1 platform include:
- Support for 4K UltraHD content at 60 frames per second
- Qualcomm Spectra ISP to eliminate unwanted noise for a superior picture
- Integrated display processor with 3D overlays and hardware accelerated composition
- Support for leading graphics APIs like OpenCL, OpenGL, and Vulcan
- Advanced vision processing with visual inertial odometry in AR
- 3D Audio Suite and Qualcomm Aqstic Audio technologies
- Qualcomm AptX audio
- Always-on, wake-word activated voice assistance
- Bluetooth playback
- Head-related transfer functionality for binaural sound
- Three and six degrees of freedom
The Snapdragon XR1 extended reality platform was built specifically to enhance high-quality audio, video, and interactive experiences in the XR landscape. Currently, the platform is already making waves in the XR space, powering virtual reality headsets with up to 4k60 dual displays, dual camera inputs and more.
Snapdragon XR1 Platform Review: Benefits
The Snapdragon XR1 platform aims to be the go-to foundation of choice for today’s innovators working in the XR space. With tools like artificial intelligence and high-performance visual noise cancellation built-in, Snapdragon gives creators a powerful environment to work with.
According to Qualcomm, the Snapdragon XR1 platform responds to a growing need for XR devices as standalone solutions in the lives of consumers and business professionals. The comprehensive chipset combines visuals, rich interactive experiences and high-fidelity audio to help companies build a new generation of mainstream devices for the future of XR.
Benefits of the Qualcomm Snapdragon XR1 platform include:
- Exceptional visual performance: The XR1 platform can support ultra-high-definition 4K video resolution, at a rate of up to 60 frames per second for VR headsets. The addition of the Qualcomm Spectra ISP means companies can access dedicated algorithms for reducing unwanted noise in any visual stream or picture. The result is a superior, cleaner image, perfect for immersing users in the realism of an app.
- Multiple display processor options: Capable of more than just 4K image management, the Qualcomm Snapdragon XR1 platform also offers an integrated display processor, with a range of options enhanced by hardware accelerated composition, leading graphics APIs like Vulkan and OpenGL, and 3D overlays. There are even advanced vision processing capabilities, which are essential in accessing technologies like Visual Inertial Odometry for stronger AR experiences when interacting with virtual objects.
- Incredible audio technology: From an audio standpoint, Qualcomm ensures companies can build fully spatial experiences for their users. The Snapdragon XR1 platform leverages a range of audio technologies from the Qualcomm suite, including the Qualcomm AptX audio and Qualcomm 3D audio suite. Access to these state-of-the-art solutions means companies can leverage high-fidelity audio, as well as features like wake-word activated voice assistants, head-related transfer functions and binaural sounds.
- Extensive interactivity: Qualcomm wants to use chip sets like the Snapdragon XR1 to empower a new age of XR headsets and technology. This includes ensuring today’s developers and designers can take advantage of multiple modes of interaction. Users can access both three and six degrees of freedom, as well as controller capabilities, head tracking, and more for XR devices.
The Smart viewer AR Reference Design system offers users an insight into the augmented reality experiences they could create with the XR1 ecosystem.
The AR Smart Viewer Reference design improves user experience with all the processing power of the Snapdragon XR1 chipset. At the same time, the glasses can also share processing with a connected Snapdragon 5G phone or a computer device. This helps hardware manufacturers to accelerate development and design processes through early access to the latest features and technology from Qualcomm.
Snapdragon XR1 Platform Review: Verdict
Notably, while the Snapdragon XR1 platform is a powerful solution for companies hoping to build a new generation of XR applications, Qualcomm defines it as one of their more accessible platforms for XR innovation. The XR1 still comes a notch below the Snapdragon 845 environment, the premium flagship product for the brand.
Qualcomm pitched the XR1 first in 2018 as a way to bring down the price of AR glasses and basic XR headsets. The technology was used to power the Google Glass Enterprise Edition 2, and the Vuziz M400 headset.
For headset designers in the XR environment, the Snapdragon XR1 technology should offer a fantastic opportunity to accelerate innovation and experiment like never before.
