Vivo, the Chinese smartphone manufacturer, has officially entered the mixed reality (MR) arena with the unveiling of its first headset, the Vision Discovery Edition. This move positions Vivo against tech giants like Apple and Meta, both of whom have been striving to establish a foothold in the emerging spatial computing market. Announced at Vivo's 30th-anniversary event in Dongguan, China, the Vision Discovery Edition is designed to bring mixed reality from the lab into everyday life.
Design and Comfort
The Vivo Vision Discovery Edition shares design similarities with the Apple Vision Pro, featuring a curved glass visor, an aluminum frame, and a fabric headband. However, Vivo's headset distinguishes itself with a lighter weight of 398 grams, compared to the Vision Pro's approximately 600-650 grams. Vivo states that the compact design measures 83mm in height and 40mm in thickness. To enhance user comfort, Vivo offers four sizes of light seals and eight foam padding options to ensure an optimal fit for extended use. The headset also incorporates a 16-point weight distribution system to minimize facial strain.
Display and Performance
The Vision Discovery Edition boasts dual 8K Micro-OLED displays with a resolution of 3840 x 3552 pixels per eye, covering 94% of the DCI-P3 color gamut. These displays are professionally calibrated to achieve high color accuracy. The headset also supports diopter adjustments with magnetic lenses for users with nearsightedness. Providing a 180-degree panoramic field of view with spatial audio, the device can project a virtual 120-foot screen for an immersive cinematic experience. It runs on Qualcomm's Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 platform, which Vivo claims delivers 2.5 times greater GPU performance and up to eight times better AI performance than its predecessor.
Software and Interaction
The Vivo Vision Discovery Edition runs on OriginOS Vision, Vivo's proprietary MR operating system. Instead of relying on traditional controllers, the headset utilizes a combination of eye-tracking and hand gestures for intuitive interaction. The system can detect eye movements with 1.5-degree accuracy and track fingertip gestures across a wide range of motion, allowing users to select, move, and resize digital objects in mid-air. The OriginOS Vision enables seamless blending of UI elements with the surrounding space, allowing users to shift from traditional “tap-through-screen” interactions to “move-and-pinch” gestures.
Features and Applications
The Vivo Vision Discovery Edition supports various applications, including immersive entertainment, gaming, and productivity. Users can watch live sports and esports broadcasts from multiple angles or in split-screen mode. The headset also supports 3D video recording, spatial photos, and audio. On the productivity side, the headset supports floating windows, video calls, and immersive training applications designed to make everyday workflows more flexible in a mixed reality setting.
Pricing and Availability
While Vivo has not officially announced pricing or availability, reports suggest that the Vision Discovery Edition will be priced around 10,000 yuan, approximately $1,395 USD. This is significantly lower than the Apple Vision Pro's price of $3,500. Currently, the Vivo Vision Discovery Edition is limited to in-store experiences in mainland China, with trials beginning on August 22, 2025, in major Chinese cities.
Competition and Challenges
Vivo's entry into the mixed reality market pits it against established players like Apple and Meta. While the Vision Discovery Edition offers a lighter and more affordable alternative to the Apple Vision Pro, it remains to be seen whether Vivo can overcome the challenges of turning mixed reality into a mainstream category. Both Apple and Meta have faced difficulties in achieving significant impact with their headsets, highlighting the complexities of this emerging market.
Despite the challenges, Vivo's move into mixed reality reflects its commitment to technological innovation and its vision for the future of consumer technology. The Vision Discovery Edition showcases Vivo's expertise in imaging, sensors, and display technologies, positioning the company as a potential contender in the evolving spatial computing landscape.
