The boundaries between augmented reality and virtual reality have started to blur, and that’s never been more evident than at CES 2024. There was a lot of unique VR technology that included VR headsets and augmented reality glasses. Here’s a look at what was announced in the world of virtual reality and augmented reality at CES 2024.
The innovative world of VR technology
Pimax took the floor of CES 2024 to announce two excellent VR headsets that both have cutting-edge visual fidelity. The brand showcased this technology in various scenarios including conventional desktop use to flight simulators or racing rigs.
In addition, Pimax showcased its compatibility with motion-capturing peripherals like VR gloves alongside internal eye-tracking technologies for total user control. It’s no wonder that Pimax was selected for the sole VR headset honoured at the 2024 CES Innovation Awards.
Pimax Crystal 60G Airlink and 12K EVT0
Pimax took center stage in the VR department with their top-of-the-line wireless Pimax Crystal 60G Airlink module. This fully wireless virtual reality headset boasts the best image quality available in VR right now. It’s high-speed and has impressively low latency, so it should make for a very satisfying VR experience. While it’s not the first of its kind, the 60G Airlink is a significant improvement from their previous models, taking all the features and visual quality you’d expect from a Pimax Crystal to the next level. It has features like inside-out tracking and glass lenses too.
When you pair the extremely high resolution and clarity of a Pimax Crystal headset with the wireless freedom of the 60G Airlink, Pimax has the power to give you an unparalleled high-definition VR experience.
A sneak peek at the Pimax 12K EVT0 prototype
Pimax had more to offer for VR headsets than just the soon-to-be-released Airlink, and they showcased the revolutionary 12K EVT0 prototype. This state-of-the-art test model has even greater visual fidelity than the already groundbreaking Pimax Crystal. This is a prototype right now, but it’s setting the stage for the future of high-grade VR headsets with greatly superior specifications in both resolution and field of view. There aren’t many details available on this one yet ,but with the increased field of view capabilities and the same interchangeable lenses as the Crystal, it should give you a very customizable visual experience.
While these virtual reality headsets have high expectations to fill, they’re still pretty far from hitting the shelves. In the meantime, you may be interested in the very highly rated Meta Quest 3 VR Headset. Meta has had multiple generations to create an extremely versatile device capable of both AR And VR technology respectively and it comes in at a very competitive price, especially when compared to higher-end models.
Sony Spatial Content headset
Sony also had a unique presence at CES 2024 and they showcased the brand-new Spacial Content headset extended reality headset. This device features a 4K OLED micro display, see-through functionality and precise spatial positioning technology with their advanced controllers. Compared to the already established PlayStation VR, this headset focuses on mixed reality that’s aimed towards a demographic of people who enjoy 3D modelling and other creative pursuits. There have been comparisons between the Sony Spatial Content headset and Apple’s newest Vision Pro spatial computing headset that’s releasing later this year in the USA. Both make the future of extended reality an exciting prospect, and I’m excited to see the differences between both of these cutting-edge devices when they release.
Advancements in augmented Reality
The only thing better than being completely immersed in a virtual world is combining the virtual and real world by wearing an immersive pair of augmented reality glasses. The key takeaway on augmented reality from CES 2024 is how different brands are attempting to further enhance the capabilities of smart glasses with innovations in AI and display types.
XREAL Air 2 Ultra provides an affordable alternative
XREAL has been taking the augmented reality world by storm, giving its smart glasses competitors a significant challenge. It’s easy to see how XREAL is the talked about brand in AR glasses when you look at their Air 2 Ultra AR Model. The glasses have detailed dual 3D cameras to easily map your space, and they can carefully track your hand motions so you have visually accurate real-time experience. For the lenses themselves, Xreal is offering an expanded 52-degree FOV paired with a 1080p OLED display for crisp visuals and contrasting colours. It doesn’t hurt that the glasses have a very stylish frame.
RayNeo X2 Lite for comfortable augmented reality
When trying to integrate technology like augmented reality into your daily routine, one of the most vital and sometimes overlooked aspects is comfort. Some glasses can be hard to wear for prolonged periods of use. RayNeo is one of the companies trying to keep things comfortable by utilizing MicroLED displays with an extremely lightweight frame.
The RayNeo X2 Lite has reduced weight compared to the X2 by offloading some of the processing duties to an advanced onboard AI. The only downside to this differing visual method is a lower, but still impressive field of view, with a capability of 30 degrees.
The Asus AirVision M1 multi monitor display
Asus is entering the augmented reality market with both feet thanks to its AirVsion M1 model smart glasses. Despite only being their first edition, the AirVision M1 boasts an impressive array of features and hardware technology that will make it a fierce competitor. Users will enjoy features to keep their viewing private, a fully encompassing 57-degree vertical field of view, and incredible ease of use.
The dual OLED smart glasses are 1080p with 1100-nit peak brightness for clear readability in any environment. The display also provides reduced flicker and blue light eye care settings to minimize discomfort over long sessions of either viewing or gaming. With their USB-C connectivity, you can use these smart glasses on just about any computer, gaming console, or other peripheral with a display port, although if you want to utilize the 10 window capacity you’ll need to use a PC with their Windows app.
Meta Ray-Ban Wayfarer smart glasses
While it’s exciting to see the future of augmented reality glasses, if you don’t want to wait the Wayfarer Smart Glasses combine the renowned style, comfort, and unique designs of Ray-Ban glasses with the technological advancements of Meta’s smart glasses. This Wayfarer model features a 12-megapixel camera with the ability to live stream directly to both Instagram and Facebook as well as entirely hands-free calling, messaging, and listening with built-in speakers. Whether you want to get your hands on the newest VR headset or augmented reality glasses, there are a lot of style variations and choices available right now at Best Buy.
If you want to read up on the latest and greatest technological marvels from this year’s CES, you can find breakdowns of every category at Best Buy Blog.
