Move Over, Vision Pro: ThinkReality VRX is the Newest Headset in Town

Lenovo’s latest VR headset is made for enterprise users like engineers and designers, and you can pair it with the new Leap hand-tracker for controller-free control.

A hot sun in the clear blue sky. Soft grass under bare feet. A cool quaff of sweet tea in the shade. None of these simple summer pleasures compare to the thrill of using new tech in an air conditioned room, and you’re in for a non-stop thrill ride with these three new reality-enhancing gadgets.

You can also experience the thrill of watching this Tech Check as a video.

Virtual comfort and 6DOF

Lenovo is launching its latest portal to the industrial metaverse: a new all-in-one virtual reality (VR) headset called the ThinkReality VRX. Made for enterprise users, the ThinkReality VRX offers six degrees of freedom and full color HD passthrough for mixed reality (MR) applications. Lenovo says the VR headset is ideal for technical skills training and simulation as well as other enterprise use cases like design collaboration and retail.

The Lenovo ThinkReality VRX virtual reality headset. (Image: Lenovo.)

The Lenovo ThinkReality VRX virtual reality headset. (Image: Lenovo.)

There are many XR headsets for engineers, and Lenovo set apart the VRX with a few key features. The company emphasizes that the ThinkReality VRX was designed “with comfort as a core requirement.” The VR headset has a slimmer profile than earlier generations, thanks to the use of so-called pancake lenses that cut back on volume and weight. Additionally, the headset packs a rear battery that serves as a counterweight to make the VRX feel more balanced on the head. In total, the headset weights 1.76 pounds (0.8 kilograms).

The ThinkReality VRX is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 1 processor and runs Android 12, meaning it does not require a tethered connection to an engineering workstation. It’s got a 6900mAh battery, 12GB of memory, 128GB of storage, and a display resolution of 2,280 x 2,280 pixels per eye, with a 90Hz refresh rate and 95° field of view.

(Image: Lenovo.)

(Image: Lenovo.)

A final benefit of the ThinkReality VRX is its price tag (unlike some new VR headsets we could mention, this one won’t require a mortgage). The VR headset will start at $1,299 and will be available for direct order in August 2023.

You’ve got to hand it to them

VR company Ultraleap is looking to make the virtual experience a touch more tactile thanks to the new Leap Motion Controller 2, a hand-tracking sensor that allows VR users to ditch their controllers. Mounted on a VR headset, the second-generation sensor captures the user’s hand movement in VR and allows them to control their experience with intuitive gestures like tapping on a virtual keyboard.

The Ultraleap Leap Motion Controller 2 hand-tracking sensor mounted to a VR headset. (Image: Ultraleap.)

The Ultraleap Leap Motion Controller 2 hand-tracking sensor mounted to a VR headset. (Image: Ultraleap.)

The Leap Motion Controller 2 improves every aspect of the original, which Ultraleap released in 2013. The new Leap has higher resolution cameras, an increased field of view, a 30 percent smaller package size and 25 percent less power consumption than the original.

The hand tracking sensor is compatible with a range of VR headsets, including the Lenovo ThinkReality VRX, but it’s not limited to virtual reality. The Leap can be used as a peripheral on any computer with Ultraleap’s hand tracking software, as well as for applications such as touchless kiosks and digital signage. Ultraleap is also touting its hardware’s effectiveness for automotive HMI (human-machine interface) applications.

(Image: Ultraleap.)

(Image: Ultraleap.)

The Leap Motion Controller 2 is currently available from Ultraleap’s distributors, including Mouser and Arrow, for an MSRP of $139.

I scream, you scream, we all scream for 5K screens

If high-res displays make your day, Samsung will make your week with its new ViewFinity S9 5K monitor. The 27-inch display was first showcased at CES 2023 and it will finally make its way to desktops this August.

The new Samsung ViewFinity S9 5K computer screen can rotate 90 degrees. (Image: Samsung.)

The new Samsung ViewFinity S9 5K computer screen can rotate 90 degrees. (Image: Samsung.)

The sharpness of the screen (5,120 x 2,880 pixels) may be its biggest selling point, but the ViewFinity S9 is no slouch on other key specs. The new monitor covers 99% of the DCI-P3 color gamut with an accuracy of Delta E < 2 (the technical way of saying that most humans can’t notice any deviations with the bare eye). The computer screen offers a typical brightness of 600 nits, which should suit most working environments. One disappointment is the screen’s refresh rate, which is a vanilla 60Hz.

One of the most interesting features of the ViewFinity S9 is that users can calibrate it using their smartphones. By pointing their camera at the screen and using Samsung’s SmartThings app, users can customize settings such as white balance, gamma, color temperature, color space and luminance, and the app will generate a report on the adjustments and accuracy. It’s a lot easier (and cheaper) than using a colorimeter—provided it’s reliable, and not just a gimmick.

Once you’ve got your work out of the way, the 5K screen doubles as a smart TV with embedded streaming apps, built-in speakers and a remote control. The monitor will be available from Samsung in August for $1,599.

Written by

Michael Alba

Michael is a senior editor at engineering.com. He covers computer hardware, design software, electronics, and more. Michael holds a degree in Engineering Physics from the University of Alberta.