How VR hardware is evolving towards mixed reality
Modern VR headsets are getting better at combining digital content with the real-world environment. Cameras and sensors map the space around the user, allowing virtual objects to stay positioned within that physical setting. As a result, VR is moving further towards mixed reality. This is especially useful in professional environments, where users can work with digital information while still remaining aware of their surroundings.
Passthrough brings the physical environment into view
One of the biggest changes is the improvement of passthrough cameras. These cameras feed images of the real world back into the headset, allowing users to see their surroundings while digital information is displayed on top of them. This is useful in situations where someone needs to keep a machine or physical object in view. The quality of the experience depends heavily on camera resolution and depth sensing. Additionally, how quickly the system can process the image is of influence.
Inside-out tracking makes headsets more flexible
Tracking has also changed considerably. Many modern headsets now use inside-out tracking. Cameras built into the headset determine the position of the device and controllers in relation to the surrounding space. That removes the need for external base stations in many setups. The headset combines camera input with motion sensor data to follow the user’s movement. In professional environments, this makes devices easier to deploy across different rooms or locations. For mixed reality, spatial tracking is also essential because digital objects need to remain fixed in the correct position as the user moves around them.
Pico 4 Ultra Enterprise as an example
The Pico 4 Ultra Enterprise is a good example of how VR hardware is moving towards mixed reality. The headset uses two 32MP colour cameras for passthrough, an iToF depth sensor and four environment-tracking cameras. It runs on the Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 platform and offers a resolution of 2160 × 2160 pixels per eye, a 90Hz refresh rate and pancake lenses. For business use, PICO also provides management tools such as Business Suite and Business Device Manager. These can be used to configure devices, distribute content and manage certain settings remotely.
Display technology still matters
Mixed reality also places greater demands on displays and optics. Text and interfaces need to remain sharp enough for practical use. Pancake lenses are therefore becoming more common in modern headsets. Compared with older Fresnel optics, they allow for a more compact design and can provide better clarity across a larger part of the image. Resolution alone does not determine image quality. Field of view, pixels per degree, lens quality and refresh rate all influence how comfortable and usable the headset feels.
Connectivity is becoming more important
Standalone headsets handle much of their processing locally, but network connectivity still matters for software distribution, streaming and device management. Newer devices therefore support faster wireless standards. For IT teams, this means VR and MR headsets increasingly become part of the wider technology infrastructure. Network capacity, access management and software deployment all need to be considered when devices are rolled out at scale.
Hardware and software need to fit together
High resolution and advanced sensors have limited value if the required software is unavailable or difficult to manage. For professional deployments, factors such as SDK support, device management, security and application availability can be just as important.