Meta's Cambria VR headset could feature 12GB memory and a new XR2
Cambria could get twice as much memory as Quest 2 and an improved Qualcomm chip.
Hardware analyst Brad Lynch, along with Quest data miners Samulia, Reggie74, and Basti546, have found firmware code that points to Meta's upcoming data glasses (codenamed Hypernova). According to a leaked roadmap, the device will be launched in 2024.
The device appears in the firmware code under the name "Kona AR Glass". Kona is the codename of a product line from Qualcomm that includes the Snapdragon 865, 865 Plus and 870.
The Snapdragon XR2 chip used by Meta Quest 2 and many other standalone VR headsets is based on the Snapdragon 865. According to Lynch, the codename "Kona AR Glass" indicates that an XR2 chip is installed in the prototype of the data glasses.
Meta AR Glasses (prototype) has leaked. Seems* to be far in development. And might be Meta's first smartglasses with an embedded display.
AdAdRunning on a Qualcomm Kona chip (such as XR2)
Using 1080p OLED MICRODISPLAYS by the Chinese SeeYa Tech Fab (possibly .49" diagonal) pic.twitter.com/zHjUhg5ML4
- Brad Lynch (@SadlyItsBradley) April 27, 2022
The device is said to use two 0.49-inch OLED microdisplays from the manufacturer SeeYa with a brightness of 1,800 nits. The firmware find also points to an external player that also contains a Kona chip as well as a battery with a capacity of 6,100 mAh. According to Lynch, the development of the device is already well advanced.
XR2 revision in development
Lynch suspects that the name "Kona v2.1" that also appears points to a revision of the XR2 chip. On the official Qualcomm website, the company listed a newer model of the XR2 chip until recently.
However, the link was deleted after Lynch reported it. The same product designation ("SXR2150P") also appeared in Qualcomm's import logs. Apparently, Qualcomm had received the chip in various configurations. The development is running under the project name "Tron".
According to Lynch's sources, Cambria, which is scheduled for launch later this year, will still rely on the XR2. Qualcomm might have a slightly improved version of the chip for the VR headset up its sleeve. There is no further information about the technical differences.
Cambria: Twice as much memory for the virtual office?
Lynch and co. found out via further import logs that current Cambria prototypes have 256 GB of storage and 12 GB of RAM as well as a Wifi-6E chip. The Quest 2 can be purchased with either 128 or 256 gigabytes of storage, but both models have only 6 GB of RAM.
SEACLIFFBCM >> SEACLIFFBCM HM FBPN: 392-01127-01 ITIMS - 895-00058-01_CONFIGHSP1MA_04B 3 - ASSY, HMD,256GB / 12GB, P1, SEACLIFFBCM HM
- Brad Lynch (@SadlyItsBradley) April 27, 2022
Cambria is said to be designed for work and productivity, so it would benefit greatly from more RAM. According to Lynch, a major interface update for Quest and Cambria is in development that allows for much better multitasking. For example, it should be possible to use multiple VR and 2D applications simultaneously.
Lynch and his partners also found documents about Meta's first smartwatch, which is said to be in an advanced testing phase.
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