Vivo has officially entered the mixed reality (MR) arena with the announcement of its Vision Explorer Edition headset. Unveiled at a recent launch event, the device marks Vivo’s first foray into MR and adopts a fresh approach by offering hands-on demo experiences before commercial release.
Ultra-Lightweight and Comfortable Design
The standout feature is Vivo’s focus on lightness and comfort. Weighing just 398 grams, the Vision Explorer Edition is significantly lighter than Apple’s Vision Pro, which tips the scales at over 600 grams. Vivo achieves this thanks to a split-frame architecture, incorporating magnesium alloy components to maintain sturdiness without added weight.
The headset is also compact, measuring 83mm tall and 40mm thick. Comfort features include adjustable face masks, multiple foam padding options, and a dual-ring strap with quick-release functionality for easy fitting and removal.
Stunning Dual 8K Micro-OLED Displays
Under the hood, the headset boasts dual 8K Micro-OLED displays, each with a resolution of 3840 × 3552 pixels per eye. These displays cover 94% of the DCI-P3 color gamut and deliver high color accuracy. Every headset undergoes factory calibration to ensure brightness consistency and color balance across eyes.
For users who wear glasses, Vivo offers magnetic optical lenses catering to prescriptions ranging from 100 to 1000 degrees without compromising the Visual Reality (VR) experience.
Cutting-Edge Performance and Features
Powered by Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon XR2+ chip, Vivo claims the Vision Explorer Edition delivers 2.5 times the performance of its predecessor. On top runs Vivo’s proprietary OriginOS Vision interface, supporting features like immersive movie playback, spatial sports replays, and multi-window productivity setups.
The headset’s passthrough mode offers only 13ms latency for full-color video, promising fluid transitions between real and virtual environments. Interaction is highly intuitive, with eye tracking at 1.5-degree precision and hand gesture recognition across 26 degrees of freedom within a 175-degree vertical field — letting users control the device naturally.
Exclusive Content and Broad Compatibility
Vivo has also curated exclusive MR content, including titles such as “Drum Master” and “Little V’s Journey.” The company partners with platforms like Migu for sports coverage, and the headset supports wireless streaming from PCs and smartphones. A spatial photo feature is specially designed for Vivo and iQOO phones.
Availability and Pricing Strategy
Vivo is launching demo stations at 12 authorized stores across major Chinese cities, including Beijing and Shenzhen, starting August 22, 2025. Users can experience the device firsthand before it goes on sale.
Though no official price has been set, Vivo executives hinted the headset might be priced around 10,000 yuan (approximately $1,395) or less. The company aims to hit a pricing sweet spot similar to how smartphones gained popularity by being affordable alternatives to basic phones in China.
What It Means for the MR Market
Rather than focusing on cramming every possible feature, Vivo prioritizes a lighter, affordable, and comfortable user experience. This practical approach could appeal to a broader audience and accelerate mixed reality adoption—if the market responds positively to the device’s demo phase.