I wasn’t thrilled with the AR glasses I tried at MWC last year. I said at the time that everyone designing these devices could only provide a tethered experience. He also said the industry is waiting for Apple to lead the way with its own AR devices.
Fast forward to MWC 2024 and Apple Vision Pro launches in the US. I expect to see more spatial computers released in the coming years as Apple perfects the Vision Pro and resolves various issues that early adopters have pointed out.
As for the AR glasses you see at trade shows, they’re still tethered, meaning you’ll need to connect them to your computer via a USB-C cable to enjoy any kind of immersive content. And the quality of that content will be the same as the quality of the display inside the glasses.
That was my general mindset heading into a demo of Tecno’s Pocket Go Windows AR gaming system on Wednesday.
I wasn’t expecting any surprises as marketers understandably overhype these devices. But let me say this now. From the moment I put on the AR glasses, I was amazed by the Tecno Pocket Go system. I had a lot of questions. I wanted the demo to last as long as possible, knowing that others behind me would want to test it.
AR display steals the show
So what is the Tecno Pocket Go console? The Chinese company is calling it the industry’s first Windows AR game set. The package consists of AR glasses (AR Pocket Vision) and a controller (Pocket Windows Handheld) that also functions as a Windows 11 computer. Connect the two via USB-C and you get a Pocket Go console unlike anything else on the market.
What surprised me during the demo was the quality of the AR display. Pocket Vision glasses feature an incredibly sharp 0.71 Micro OLED 2K display. The glasses project the equivalent of a 215-inch TV from approximately 6 feet away.
These are augmented reality glasses, but “reality” is not the core part of the experience. Of course, you can see real objects in your peripheral vision, but that’s it. And none of that bothered me at all, as I was running around in the game moving my head in the real world and sitting in a beanbag chair asking questions about Pocket Go.
The game ran smoothly, the controls were very responsive, and the virtual display moved as I moved my head. The headset is also very comfortable. They’re thicker than prescription glasses, but much lighter than most VR or AR headsets. It also features adjustable diopter settings to suit your vision requirements.
From the moment I put the Pocket Vision headset on my head, I knew Tecno was a winner when it came to AR display experiences. But I was also surprised to find out that this device is an actual Windows 11 PC. It’s not Android or a proprietary operating system.
So, you can play any high-end PC game on this Windows 11 machine while viewing it right in front of you on a virtual 215-inch display.
Additionally, Pocket Windows Handheld devices can operate as Windows 11 computers. Connect a keyboard and mouse and you have a kind of spatial computer. When used with the AR Pocket Vision headset, that is. I haven’t actually tried the PC experience with Pocket Go, but Tecno assured me it’s possible.
Not only that, AR Pocket Vision also works with other devices. You can connect it to your smartphone, Nintendo Switch, PS5, Steam Deck, or another PC.
Powerful Windows 11 PC
Although the AR Pocket Vision is not designed to work as a standalone device, Tecno has packed a lot of technology into the glass. In addition to its beautiful screen, you get a 6-axis gyroscope and an AI algorithm that helps track your head movements.
According to Tecno, the glasses are “equipped with N’BASS nanostructured acoustic material and TECNO’s proprietary vibration-enhancing algorithm, which transforms in-game sounds into subtle vibrations.”
I realized later that either there was no sound during the demo, or the volume must have been turned down. I focused more on the conversation with his Tecno rep about the Pocket Go system than the in-game sound. The controller gave me force feedback when something collided with me. It must have been some kind of car.
Given that the demo was relatively short, we could not assess whether AR Pocket Vision causes nausea. This can be a problem when it comes to wearable headsets. But when I used it, it felt good.
Regarding the performance of Windows 11 PC, Techno has equipped the controller with “the latest gaming CPU”. That means 8 cores, 16 threads, and speeds up to 5.1 GHz. In other words, this is a 35W chip that does the heavy lifting for high-end gaming. It is paired with 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 1TB of storage. PC-grade cooling system ensures proper heat dissipation.
Finally, the controller is equipped with a replaceable 50Wh battery for long gaming sessions. However, Tenco did not give us a quote for the battery.
The controller felt a little larger than a traditional game console controller, but I had no issues with the controls and it didn’t get too hot during the demo.
Price and release date
What I didn’t like about the gaming experience was the lack of ammo in the game. Those who tested the headset before me emptied their clips, and I was no longer able to use melee weapons in any games I was playing with the headset. You can tell right away that I’m not a gamer. I also see that many people have tried it before me.
But believe me when I say this. The AR Pocket Vision experience is great, and the display is a big part of it. This screen alone is a huge upgrade over many AR experiences from last year.
Are commercially available products equivalent? I can only hope so. We hope the Pocket Go works well both as a gaming system and as a Windows PC. Again, I only tested playing the game on the Pocket Go. We’ll have to wait for Tecno to ship it to see what else it can do.
When will it be available for purchase? We don’t know yet. Pocket Go is expected to launch later this year, but Tecno has not yet announced the first market it will launch in.
As for pricing, a Tecno representative said the Pocket Go could retail for around $1,000. This gives you both AR Pocket Vision and Pocket Windows Handheld. The company is likely to sell the two gadgets separately since there is no need to pair them. As I mentioned earlier, AR glasses can also be used with other gadgets. Windows 11 PCs work with all types of displays, not just virtual displays.
