The headset seems to be the gadget of 2024. Although AR/VR glasses have been on the market for a while, the arrival of the Apple Vision Pro seems to make it considerably more popular. At CES 2024, Sony is showing off its alternative.
Sony has been making headsets for years, but they are for the PlayStation 4 and 5. The company is now changing that, as it is launching an AR/VR headset that can also be used without the game console.
The beauty of this headset is that you don’t need a special computer for it, just like the Apple Vision Pro. Sony has not yet announced the name of the gadget, but it should appear sometime in 2024.
Sony’s Apple Vision Pro competitor
Sony’s AR/VR headset has the dedicated Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2. This chip is specifically for AR/VR glasses. It drives the dual 4K OLED microdisplays and should support space tracking for mixed reality.
In total, Sony’s Apple Vision Pro competitor has six cameras and sensors. You also get two special controllers with the gadget. The first is a ring for manipulating objects, while the other serves as a pointing controller. The company partnered with Siemens for the software, allowing users to easily create 3D models in real time.
The new headset. (Image: Sony)
But with a headset, exactly how it sits on your head is also important. It shouldn’t be too heavy or hurt. So, as with the Apple Vision Pro, a lot of thought has gone into the design. Sony says it has improved the balance of the center of gravity.
Still differences between headsets
One major difference with the Apple Vision Pro is that the screen area can be folded up. This allows you to simply have eye contact with others without having to take the headset off.
Sony seems to be targeting artists and creators, rather than the masses, with this headset. It may even be a bit more like the Microsoft Hololens than the Apple Vision Pro. Still, we can’t really compare it until the product hits the market. That should be sometime in 2024, but Sony has not yet given an exact date. It is also still keeping its jaws tightly shut about the price.
