Canon has revealed its new mixed reality (MR) head-mounted display (HMD). Called MREAL X1, the new device is scheduled for release later this year.
The Canon MREAL X1 is the successor to the MREAL S1, which was released last year. The entire MREAL series of mixed-reality head-mounted displays is about fusing the real-world with computer-generated graphics.
While the form factor of the MREAL X1 is similar to the S1, the internal components have been greatly improved to offer a much wider field of view (FOV) and a better resolution of 1920 x 2160 pixels per eye (the S1 had a resolution of just 1,600 × 1,200 pixels per eye).
“By making full use of Canon’s proprietary display panels and the optical technology that Canon has cultivated over many years, the display area has been expanded by approximately 2.5 times while reducing the increase in mass to about 21g compared to the entry model, the MREAL S1,” states Canon in the official press release.
The MREAL X1 is an enterprise-focused headset, and it boasts a number of features to meet the needs of enterprise customers.
The compact and lightweight design of the headset makes it more comfortable to use it for extended periods of time, and users can choose between a traditional head-mounted configuration using the supplied Halo head strap and a handheld configuration using the Handheld Unit HH-4 accessory, which is sold separately.
Other optional accessories sold by Canon for the MREAL X1 headset include the OS-3 optical sensor and the BX-40 and IB-40 Thunderbolt 3 interface kits for connecting to mobile workstations and desktop computers.
The headset should go on sale this year in June, but it will be available only in Japan like the previous models in the MREAL series. Considering that the S1 costs $38,000, it’s safe to say that the upcoming model will be on the Christmas lists of only large enterprises.