While next-gen VR devices such as the Samsung XR headset are yet to see the light of day, Qualcomm is said to be preparing for the next-gen models, including theMeta Quest Pro 2 and Meta Quest 4.
If the rumors are to be believed, Qualcomm is testing a new Snapdragon XR2 Gen 3 and XR2+ Gen 3 chipsets, as well as providing them to headset makers. The XR2 Gen 3 would be an upgrade on the chip that keeps the light running on the Meta Quest 3, but the XR2+ Gen 3 rumor sounds more interesting as there aren’t any XR2+ Gen 2 models in action.
Users will likely witness some XR2+ Gen 2-powered models coming out later this year. However, some of the much-anticipated devices like Samsung’s XR headset, Sony’s headset, and an HTC device might be delayed if a Gen 3 is in the offing so they can use the latest tech.
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Samsung And Meta Want To Take On Apple Vision Pro
Undoubtedly, there’s no stopping upgraded tech, and headset makers can’t forever wait for innovation to stop so they can launch their gadgets. But one reason why waiting till the Gen 3 comes out is that it’s a more significant step than the XR2+ Gen 2 was compared to the Gen 1.
The Gen 3 reportedly comes with support for up to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and Oryon CPU Cores, as per XR expert Brad Lynch, and is supported by WinFuture's Roland Quandt (via Android Central). The 16GM RAM here is important because it would bring XR2+ Gen 3 headsets in direct competition with the processing prowess of the Apple Vision Pro, which also packs 16GB of RAM -- which is currently the gold standard when it comes to performance.
It’s likely that headset manufacturers might have told Qualcomm that the XR2+ Gen 2 isn’t powerful enough, and a new model is required as soon as possible. If the company manages to deliver a fast chipset, Apple can face some stiff competition from other OEMs.
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Qualcomm Can Bring The New Chip Sooner Than Expected
With all the leaks and rumors coming out at an alarming rate about the XR2+ Gen 3, readers should take this information with a grain of salt. Until the Gen 3 is made official it’s anybody’s guess as to wehn it will launch. Moreover, even if the company is testing the Gen 3 right now there are several reasons why might not see it for several years -- such as manufacturing hiccups that still require attention.
But with some leakers hinting that something is on its way, it shouldn’t be surprising if the Gen 3 CR2+ chipset is launched a lot sooner than users expected.