Lynx-R2 Headset Revealed With Surprisingly Wide Field-of-View in a Tiny Package

Lynx has introduced the Lynx-R2, an upgraded version of its original R1 mixed reality standalone headset designed for the enterprise and prosumer markets.

The French startup believes that the R2 represents a significant advancement, incorporating new aspheric pancake lenses from Hypervision that offer a 126° horizontal field-of-view (FOV), surpassing the R1’s 90° and Quest 3’s 110° horizontal FOV.

Equipped with dual 2.3K LCD displays providing over 24 pixels per degree (PPD) at the center, the R2 promises sharp text and image rendering suitable for industrial and medical applications.

Image courtesy Lynx Mixed Reality

Despite retaining the flip-up design of its predecessor, the R2 is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2, offering enhanced GPU and AI performance compared to the R1, which initially utilized the older Snapdragon XR2 Gen 1.

Additional features include 6DOF head tracking, hand-tracking, controller and ring tracking, as well as a full-color four-sensor Sony camera array with depth sensing capabilities for advanced computer vision.

Originally intended to ship with Android XR, the Lynx-R2 will now debut with Lynx OS following Google’s decision to cease support. However, Lynx OS is based on Android 14, enabling APK sideloading and supporting OpenXR 1.1.

Image courtesy Lynx Mixed Reality

Lynx also plans to release the electronic schematics of the headset motherboard and mechanical design blueprints, enabling academics and hobbyists to customize the device.

This will grant developers access to raw sensor data for creating their own computer vision applications, in addition to providing full offline functionality suitable for defense, healthcare, and industrial sectors, according to Lynx.

“With the R1, we demonstrated that a small, independent team could develop a top-tier mixed reality device,” stated Stan Larroque, founder and CEO of Lynx Mixed Reality. “With the R2, we are showcasing that an open ecosystem not only is a philosophy but also offers a superior approach to these devices. We have heeded the feedback of third-party developers and enterprise users. They desired more than just higher pixel counts; they wanted a broader field of view, faster processing, and complete control over their sensors. The R2 delivers on all fronts. I firmly believe that the Lynx-R2 is an exceptional VR headset and will deliver an unparalleled MR experience.”

While an official release date has yet to be announced, Lynx has mentioned that the R2 will be available for ordering “starting this summer” through the official Lynx portal and authorized enterprise resellers.

In the interim, more details are forthcoming, but here is what Lynx has revealed thus far:

Lynx-R2 Specs

Display
Lens Type

Hypervision Aspheric Pancake

Pixels Per Degree (PPD)
Field-of-View 126° horizontal, 133° diagonal
Refresh Rate Not specified
IPD Adjustment Yes
Eye Relief Adjustment Yes
Glasses Support Yes
Processor (SoC)

Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2

Cooling System

Active (dual silent fans)

Operating System

Lynx OS (Android 14–based)

OpenXR Support
Passthrough Type

Full-color video passthrough (Sony RGB)

Passthrough Resolution 3K × 3K per eye
Tracking Cameras

4 (hand, ring, controller & head tracking)

Depth Camera Yes
IR LEDs Yes
Supported Engines
Battery Placement Rear-mounted
Battery Access
Strap Type Rigid
Weight Not specified

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