Smartphone Leader Vivo Unveils ‘Vision’ MR Headset, Echoing Apple’s Branding and Aesthetic

A new contender is set to enter the realm of augmented reality headsets, and it’s carrying the “Vision” moniker. Meet Vivo Vision, brought to you by China’s Vivo, a company better known for its reliable mid-range smartphones rather than household electronics. Despite not being as widely recognized, Vivo consistently ranks among the top five smartphone producers based on market share, largely due to their practical device offerings.

Recently unveiled at the Boao Forum for Asia in China’s Hainan Province, the Vivo Vision marks the company’s first steps into the XR (extended reality) sector. Vivo heralds this move as a key milestone in its journey into mixed reality technology, aiming to expand its reach into both robotics and XR devices. This ambitious push is one of their biggest yet, as outlined in a press release shared by the company.

Although official details about Vivo Vision are being closely guarded, the headset is expected to make its grand debut around mid-2025. At the moment, specifics about the device’s specs, operating system, global availability, and pricing remain shrouded in mystery. Except for a few glimpses of its external design, which were showcased in a display model at Vivo’s booth, much is left to speculation. The design seems heavily inspired by Apple Vision Pro, featuring a distinctive headstrap, a digital crown button, and an external battery that attaches magnetically.

Traditionally, Vivo’s smartphones operate on tweaked versions of Android; globally they use Funtouch OS, while in China, they ship with Origin OS. With the Vivo Vision being its first XR gadget, there’s a chance the company is poised to collaborate with Google’s much-anticipated Android XR OS. This new operating system is anticipated to debut with Samsung’s mixed reality venture, ‘Project Moohan,’ expected later this year—though this remains speculative at this stage.

The surge of Vision Pro look-alikes from Chinese manufacturers continues to rise, setting an intriguing trend. Noteworthy mention includes Play for Dream’s MR headset, which grabbed the spotlight at CES 2025, garnering accolades from former Quest engineer Amanda Watson, who described it as “absolutely the best all-around HMD demo I saw on the floor today.” It’s clear: the race to innovate and capture the mixed reality market is on, and Vivo is eager to join the fray.