Some of the biggest names in the technology industry are obsessed with putting digital interfaces right in front of your eyes, thereby kickstarting the next major evolution in tech. While Apple’s Vision Pro wants to fuse the categories of a laptop, tablet, TV and smartphone into one entity, others are taking a different approach — by making smart glasses an extension of your smartphone. The Oppo Air Glass 3 XR, which was announced at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2024, is a fine example of this notion.
Now in its third generation, the Oppo Air Glass series is inching closer to being a pair of smart wearables that looks just like your conventional spectacles. Most of you would be hard-pressed to find the points of differentiation unless they are pointed out. This is highly impressive considering the Air Glass 3 XR is only in its prototype stage at the moment.
Since it’s only a prototype right now, Oppo is tight-lipped on its price, which means we don’t know if the Oppo Air Glass 3 XR would cost the same as the mighty Apple Vision Pro or the Meta Quest 3 AR headset. However, as the technology used here has been unveiled, we are going to deep dive into what makes the Oppo Air Glass 3 XR stand out from the rest of the crowd.
All we know about the Oppo Air Glass 3 XR’s technology
Before we begin, we would like to reiterate that the Oppo Air Glass 3 XR acts more like an accessory to your smartphone than a standalone AR computer (like the Apple Vision Pro). In the case of the prototype showcased at MWC, Oppo says that the Air Glass 3 is only compatible with devices running on ColorOS 13 platform, which currently limits its usage to Oppo’s Android smartphones.
Moreover, all of its smart features only work in China.
With that out of the way, let’s discuss two key areas that the Oppo Air Glass 3 XR focuses on – AI and advanced optics.
AI chatbot built into glasses
While Google and Samsung are busy integrating generative AI models into the core of their smartphone’s architecture, Oppo decided to do the same for its pair of prototype smart glasses. The Oppo Air Glass 3 XR features the firm’s own AndesGPT chatbot (a ChatGPT alternative) but unlike the Apple Vision Pro, it doesn’t run it on-device. Instead, Oppo offloads the processing for its AndesGPT to the companion smartphone.
However, the AI chatbot is integrated into the voice assistant and hence, the voice-based queries will be answered in a way that is more comfortable for humans to comprehend. From weather details to basic news-based queries, the AndesGPT should be able to answer them all. Having said that, this too is, unfortunately, limited to the Chinese market for now.
Advanced optics for a natural feel
For projecting the user interface onto the wearer’s eyes, Oppo has employed a new resin waveguide that promises to reduce the ‘rainbow effect’ as light passes through it. The new waveguide should result in improved clarity and colour accuracy on the Air Glass 3 XR when compared to its predecessor. With a rated peak brightness of 1,000 nits, Oppo says that users should be able to see the interface even in harsh sunlight and bright ambient lighting.
State-of-the-art audio and mic technology
Beyond the AI voice assistant and the impressive optics, the Oppo Air Glass 3 XR also houses an advanced onboard audio solution. The integrated speakers into the arms make use of the reverse sound field technique to prevent audio leakage during phone calls. A set of four microphones promises to improve voice clarity while taking calls (even in a loud environment).
The arms of the Air Glass 3 XR also house touch controls for UI navigation and other functions of the device.
Considering all the technology that is stuffed into a tiny form factor, the Oppo Air Glass 3 XR tips the scales at 50 grams, which is on the heavier side for a pair of spectacles. But that’s a small price to pay for the earliest iteration of the technology conceptualised by Marvel’s Iron Man over a decade ago.
What can you do with it?
With all that complex technology tucked in neatly, the Air Glass 3 XR lets you make calls, play music and view photos stored on the device. The pair of glasses can also show crucial information such as upcoming events from your calendar.
Although the feature list is rather small, there’s huge scope for Oppo to add more functionalities like a sneak peek into your health metrics and live language translation. It could theoretically show notifications from your messaging apps and email clients as well. The possibilities are endless but not as diverse as that on the Apple Vision Pro.
Oppo Air Glass 3 XR’s price and release date
The Oppo Air Glass 3 XR is currently in the prototype stage and hence, there are no estimates about how much it’ll cost. Similarly, as it’s in its prototype stage right now, we also have no clarity about its possible release date.
(Hero and Featured Image Credits: Courtesy Oppo)
This article first appeared here
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
– What are the features of Oppo Air Glass 3 XR?
The Oppo Air Glass 3 XR lets you make calls, listen to music and browse photos.
– What will be the price of Oppo Air Glass 3 XR?
The Oppo Air Glass 3 XR is in the prototype stage right now and doesn’t have an official price yet.
Tags
Written by
Amritanshu lives and breathes tech, cars, Formula 1, space stuff and everything that delivers an adrenaline rush. Since 2016, he converted his favorite hobby of going all gaga over iPhones and Lamborghinis into his profession; hence, you aren’t likely to be surprised upon checking his browser history. In his spare time, he loves to drive and explore food joints, but will somehow end up with a plate of Chicken Biryani and a big smile. He has previously written for Hindustan Times, India Today, BGR.in, and Deccan Chronicle.
