China-based smartglass maker Nreal has reportedly partnered with chip maker Qualcomm and LG Unplus to bring 5G connectivity to the mixed reality realm.
In an announcement at the 2019 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona yesterday, Nreal said that its smartglasses would have cross-platform compatibility with smartphones running on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 5G mobile platform.
Through a USB type C cable, the company’s Nreal Light smartglasses will be able to tap into any mobile phone’s computing power. The company also announced its compatibility with the recently unveiled LG smartphone at MWC, the LG V50 ThinQ.
The company promised that it would be able to deliver low latency and high data throughput on-the-go as well as the ability to stream videos quickly from a mobile phone to its glasses.
In an interview with Tom’s Hardware, an Nreal spokesperson said:
“This type of content will first roll out to Korean customers, but we’ll be looking to secure more carrier partnerships throughout MWC. And the compatibility will be available on most if not all 855-compatible 5G devices.”
Pushing 5G Connectivity
Aside from announcing Nreal Light’s compatibility with 5G-enabled devices, Nreal is also working with companies Sensetime and Netease to create more content for its glasses.
According to Nreal, partnering with smartphone brands will open more opportunities for 5G wearables that can connect to the virtual world. 5G connectivity would also reportedly enable mixed reality experience more accessible to the public.
In a statement, Nreal CEO Chi Xu said:
“Qualcomm is spearheading the next breakthrough in internet connectivity with 5G, while LG Uplus is forward-thinking by offering value-added compatible devices that extend the capability of smartphones.
With Qualcomm and LG Uplus’ support, Nreal will make it easier than ever to make mixed reality accessible by offering a platform that lowers the barriers to entry, through form factor, usability, and an affordable price.”
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