Qualcomm has announced the Qualcomm Snapdragon Reality Elite, its newest flagship silicon for the extended reality space. Arriving as the direct successor to 2024’s XR2 Plus Gen 2, which powers the Samsung Galaxy XR, this processor is designed to take standalone headsets and smart glasses to the next level.
As expected, the Snapdragon Reality Elite supports Google’s Android XR operating system right out of the box, likely establishing it as the go-to platform for practically any premium headset not sporting an Apple logo.
Compared to the previous generation, the new chip brings a 30% bump in CPU speed, a 60% leap in graphics rendering, and an impressive 160% jump in NPU performance. Under the hood, you get a “4 + 2” Kryo CPU layout maxing out at 2.9GHz, alongside an Adreno graphics unit and 12MB of memory. While Qualcomm is keeping the exact GPU model number under wraps for now, it did confirm the neural architecture handles 48 TOPS for localized AI tasks.
Qualcomm introduces the Snapdragon Reality Elite
Additionally, the company claims this generation runs up to 12 degrees cooler and consumes 20% less energy under the exact same workloads as its predecessor. That’s notable, as lower thermals and better efficiency will allow OEMs to produce lighter, more comfortable visors that you can actually wear for extended periods.
On the visual front, the details are equally sharp. The system pushes resolutions up to 4.4K per eye running at a smooth 90 frames per second. Throw in reduced latency and upgraded image quality for mixed reality, and you get a setup that blends digital objects with your physical room almost flawlessly.
So, when can you actually try it? The XREAL Aura launching later this year will be the first commercial product to debut the Qualcomm Snapdragon Reality Elite. It will be housed in a puck that connects to the glasses. Play for Dream is also waiting in the wings, with its own upcoming flagship headset confirmed to use the chip.
Learn About This Author
