Qualcomm Announces Snapdragon VR820 Wireless, Eye-Tracking Reference VR Headset
Qualcomm has announced the Snapdragon VR820, its first VR headset reference platform. The Snapdragon VR820 allows OEMs to develop standalone head-mounted displays VR content and applications. It was developed alongside Goertek, a leading global ODM, and was built upon Qualcomm’s VR Software Development Kit and Snapdragon 820 processor.
Anthony Murray, Senior Vice President and General Manager, remarked, “The Snapdragon VR820 integrates key technologies and features for an exceptional VR experience and provides a springboard for OEMs and developers to usher in the next generation of truly portable and untethered devices that we think are necessary for mass consumer adoption of VR.”
The Snapdragon VR820 is equipped with integrated eye tracking cameras and dual front-facing cameras (6DOF). It also includes four microphones, gyro, accelerometer, and magnetometer sensors. Goertek provided its own mechanical, electrical, optical, acoustic, and firmware developments.
Qualcomm built the Snapdragon VR820 around its Snapdragon 820 processor, because the device provides excellent visual and auditory experiences. Visually effects will be handled by the Adreno 530 GPU, Qualcomm TruPalette display gamut mapping, Qualcomm EcoPix pixel compression, an AMOLED panel that supports up to 70Hz, 360° 4K video playback processing, and stereoscopic 3D with foveated rendering. On the auditory side, the Snapdragon VR820 will incorporate four microphones with Fluence HD noise filtering and active noise cancellation and Qualcomm Aqstic 3D surround sound and stereo, binaural positional audio.
The Snapdragon VR820 should be available later this year. The first commercial devices based on the platform should be available shortly after.
