It looks like another player is entering the arena with a Vision Pro duplicate, and this one even borrows the ‘Vision’ moniker.
You might not have Vivo on the tip of your tongue, but this Chinese company has earned a reputation for producing reliable mid-range smartphones. They’ve built a solid position, frequently ranking among the top five in global smartphone market share.
Today, at the Boao Forum for Asia in Hainan Province, Vivo made an exciting announcement: they’re stepping into the world of Extended Reality (XR) with their new device, the Vivo Vision.
In their press release, Vivo described this venture as a pivotal step in their broader strategy to explore robotics and XR technologies. The Vivo Vision represents a major milestone in their mixed reality technology journey.
Although there’s plenty of intrigue, details about the Vivo Vision are still shrouded in mystery. We’re left guessing about the specifications, operating system, launch date, availability on the international stage, and likely price. What’s clear, however, is the exterior design of the device, which was showcased at Vivo’s booth during the event.
The design seems to draw inspiration from the Apple Vision Pro, particularly its distinctive headstrap, digital crown-like button, and the external battery that attaches magnetically.
Vivo’s smartphones typically operate on modified Android versions. For the global market, they use Funtouch OS, while Origin OS is tailored for devices in China.
Being Vivo’s inaugural XR device, there’s speculation they might consider using Google’s forthcoming Android XR OS. This OS is also expected to feature in Samsung’s mixed reality project, ‘Project Moohan’, rumored for release this year, though nothing is confirmed yet.
What’s happening with Vivo is reflective of a broader trend: Chinese manufacturers are developing Vision Pro-like headsets. One noteworthy example is Play for Dream, which impressed many at CES 2025 earlier this year. Even former Quest engineer Amanda Watson praised it as “the best all-around HMD demo I saw on the floor today.”
