Vivo Vision is a copy of the Apple Vision Pro, but significantly lighter

Vivo had already teased the launch last week, followed by the specifications and further details on the device at a launch event today.

From the outside, the Vivo Vision Discovery Edition is an almost exact copy of the Apple Vision Pro, but is slightly more compact in height and significantly lighter. The company states a weight of 398 grams. By comparison, the Apple Vision Pro weighs between 600 and 650 grams depending on the light seal and headband used, while the Meta Quest 3 with standard head mount weighs 515 grams. To ensure the Discovery Edition is comfortable to wear, there is a choice of four different sizes of light seal and eight different types of foam padding. As with Vision Pro, a wired external battery is required for operation.

With 3,840 × 3,552 pixels per eye and a color coverage of 94 % DCI-P3, the OLED microdisplays offer slightly higher values than the Apple Vision Pro, which have 3,660 × 3,200 pixels and 92 % DCI-P3. The device supports corrective lenses, which are inserted using a magnetic holder as with the Apple Vision Pro.

Vivo Vision Discovery Edition: only a demo device so far

The Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 is used as the chip. This is the same SoC that is also used by Sony's SRH-S1 and Samsung's upcoming mixed reality headset "Project Moohan".

Similar to Apple Vision Pro, the Discovery Edition is controlled using simple gestures and gaze, made possible by the integrated hand and eye tracking. Vivo calls the Android-based spatial operating system "OriginOS Vision". In terms of software and content, Vivo promises immersive videos, live sports, games, a virtual movie theater and productivity applications. 3D photos and wireless streaming from PC and smartphone should also be possible.

Even though Vivo is talking about a "launch event", the Discovery Edition bears its name because it can only be tried out for now, but not purchased. Vivo will be showing the headset in twelve official stores in major cities such as Beijing and Shenzhen from August 22. Further locations are to follow. According to Vivo executives, when the device goes on sale, it could cost around 1,200 euros, which is significantly less than the Apple Vision Pro, which starts at 4,000 euros in Germany. It remains to be seen when and where Vivo Vision will actually be launched on the market.

Vivo is one of the five largest smartphone manufacturers in the world, with the majority of its customers living in the Chinese domestic market. After Vivo had to temporarily withdraw from the German market due to patent lawsuits from Nokia, selected smartphone models from various price ranges are now available on Amazon again.

The "Vivo Vision Discovery Edition" is the first mixed reality product from a Chinese smartphone manufacturer and, according to Vivo, has been in development for four years.

(mho)