Vivo recently hosted an event in China, focusing on the future of mobile imaging. Details of their vision can be found in a separate story.
In addition to imaging, Vivo confirmed its plans to enter the mixed reality (MR) market. The company announced that it will release an MR wearable headset in 2025.
Confirmation of MR Plans
Earlier this year, Vivo’s executive vice president, Hu Baishan, hinted at the company's interest in MR technology during the Boao Forum for Asia. At that time, Baishan described MR as the next significant advancement in mobile technology. Now, Vivo has officially confirmed these plans.
Vivo is not entirely new to Extended Reality (XR). The company launched its first AR smart glasses in 2019, although these required pairing with a 5G smartphone to function.
Standalone MR Device?
There is hope that the new MR device will provide a more immersive, standalone experience similar to Apple’s Vision Pro, but no specific details have been confirmed yet.
Vivo’s innovation comes during a period of strong market performance. According to Canalys, Vivo is the top smartphone brand in China, with a 19% market share. The high-end Vivo X series has also seen sustained growth, reinforcing the company’s position in the premium consumer device market.
Competition and Market Position
Competitors such as Huawei and Oppo are rumored to be working on similar MR products, though no official announcements have been made.
The Imaging Festival was also an opportunity for Vivo to highlight its technological advancements. The company revealed that its next flagship smartphones, likely the Vivo X200 series, will incorporate an in-house Blueprint image sensor, Blueprint Algorithm Matrix, and Blueprint Imaging chip.
Vivo’s move into the mixed reality (MR) space marks a notable development in the wearable device market. The company’s success in the smartphone industry will likely influence its approach to this new technology.
