In March 2021, Google seemed to have given up on its goal of launching its very own virtual reality. However, on Mar. 20, the search giant was reported to have acquired Raxium, a startup dedicated to making MicroLED displays.
The acquisition is in preparation for Google's plan to enter the augmented reality space.
Google Buys Raxium
Raxium has been in the business for only five years, but it has already made impressive strides in the field of augmented reality displays.
The terms of the deal are not known yet, but Google has placed a value of $1 billion on Raxium, according to The Information.
Ross Young, the co-founder and CEO of Display Supply Chain Consultants, in an email with CNET, said that they claim to have been able to achieve every good performance for R, G, and B MicroLEDs at small sizes without massive efficiency loss.
Young added that achieving good R, G, and B performance on a single wafer without color conversion is incredible enough, but to be able to do that at <5um is even better.
In the field of transparent display, OLED Microdisplays have been seen as the best choice for AR due to their high pixel density and lack of need for a backlight.
However, OLEDs have certain limitations, and given the AR headsets will be used in environments that have sunlight, so low brightness can be an issue.
Guillaume Chansin, the director of display research at DSCC, said that MicroLED could be brighter compared to OLED. This is very important for AR smart glasses that will be used outdoor.
Chansin added that MicroLED has the potential to deliver high resolution, high contrast and high brightness. This is the reason why it has become a great investment for tech companies working on smart glasses.
Apple is the major player that is said to be making strides for a future AR or mixed reality headset. The headset, which is said to cost up to $3,000, could use Micro OLED displays.
Currently, Microsoft has the HoloLens 2, which is an industry-focused AR headset that costs $3,500, and Meta has the Oculus Quest 2, which is a consumer-oriented VR headset that begins at $300. Meta has changed the name of Oculus Quest to Meta Quest.
It is uncertain what market Google might target with a potential AR headset but there is still no news as to when it will come out.
Building Its Own AR Headset
According to The Verge, Google's plans to create its own AR headset was announced in January. The project is codenamed Project Iris, and the search giant hopes that it will be done by 2024.
Just like the other AR headsets from tech giants such as Apple and Meta, Google's device uses outward-facing cameras to blend computer graphics with a video feed of the real world, creating an immersive and mixed reality experience compared to the existing AR glasses.
Google is reported to be making the specs of its AR glasses the same as that of Apple's.
The early prototypes are currently being developed at Google's facility in the San Francisco Bay Area, and it resembles a pair of ski goggles and does not need a tethered connection to an external power source.
Related Article: Google Project Iris is an AR Headset Kept in Secret; When Is it Coming, Will it Rival Other Hardware?
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Written by Sophie Webster
