Magic Leap 2 adds OpenXR support in preparation for Apple's XR headset
Magic Leap 2 now supports the industry-standard OpenXR, while Apple will likely require a proprietary system for XR app development.
Magic Leap has contributed to the OpenXR standard for many years, but its AR glasses only recently became fully compatible. This is good news for developers since it opens up another platform for XR apps built with this open standard.
The OpenXR standard was publicly released in 2019 by the Khronos Group, a consortium of dozens of tech companies interested in extended reality development. Apple has not contributed to OpenXR and is still absent from the list of contributors, which has more than doubled since its initial release.
Why OpenXR support matters
Since the Magic Leap 2 now natively supports this open standard, it should expand the number of apps available to owners.
OpenXR developers and enterprise users that often prefer open standards should be able to write universal code that will run on AR and VR headsets made by Magic Leap, Meta Quest, Pico, HTC Vive, Varjo, and more. Headsets that use SteamVR, Windows Mixed Reality, and Snapdragon Spaces should also be compatible.
The timing of the announcement suggests the company is trying harder to establish the Magic Leap 2 in advance of the Apple Reality Pro, which is rumored to launch this year at about $3,000, roughly the same price as the Magic Leap 2.
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