Next-Gen HoloLens Now Reportedly Shipping Next Year

Earlier this year, we reported that Microsoft’s next-gen HoloLens device is expected to come out sometime in early 2019. Microsoft originally planned to show the device off later this year, and that’s not the case anymore.

According to a new report from Brad (that’s Brad Sams), the company has now changed its plans following development hurdles. Redmond is now targeting a late Q2 2019 release for the next-gen HoloLens, instead of the original plan to show the device off later this year.

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Brad reports that Microsoft is focusing heavily on localized-AI with the new upgrade to the HoloLens, which has apparently increased the difficulty of making the device. We already know that the device — codenamed Sydney — will include a lighter, smaller design, a wider field of view, longer battery life, and be more comfortable to wear. The new headset is also expected to be significantly cheaper than the original HoloLens.

With Apple investing heavily on AR and other companies like Magic Leap starting to ship their own AR headset, Microsoft’s new HoloLens has a lot of competition, at least in the consumer sector. Apple has invested a ton into ARKit, and all the amazing AR experiences that are available on your iPhone right now could come to an intuitive AR headset anytime soon. And for Microsoft, that’s a lot to worry about.

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Conversation 4 comments

  • jules_wombat

    19 October, 2018 - 8:00 am

    <p>I always thought the Holoens missed the essential Lighter feature. Some of still smoke, and don't carry matches. I was though hoping for a coffee mug holder. </p>

  • MikeGalos

    19 October, 2018 - 9:38 am

    <p><em style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">"Microsoft’s new HoloLens has a lot of competition"</em></p><p><br></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Um. No, actually it doesn't have any. That's why they can afford the delay of skipping a generation. Even the two "competitors" listed don't count today. Magic Leap is shipping a few prototypes that require the factory to come to your house or office and do the installation and have yet to announce an actual retail product. Apple has shipped nothing in actual AR headsets (or even a VR one) with their current offerings being toy phone software.</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Seriously. Maybe competition for HoloLens is coming someday, in fact that's inevitable, but that day isn't today.</span></p>

  • MikeGalos

    19 October, 2018 - 10:04 pm

    <blockquote><em><a href="#354835">In reply to Eric_Rasmussen:</a></em></blockquote><p>If that's what he meant then the rest of his statement makes little sense.</p>

  • edboyhan

    21 October, 2018 - 4:02 pm

    <p>Actually, I don't think MS is all that focused on HoloLens as a consumer device. All they've ever lately talked about and privately shown are enterprise scenarios. Focusing on the enterprise frees them from some price sensitivity, and with users that need a lot of screens (think Wall St trading rooms), the ability to virtually "project" lots of screens onto walls can dramatically reduce the need for lots of "real" screens, and desks w/o screens can be smaller meaning more workers can be shoe-horned into smaller spaces ("Economy Class" offices — ugh!). There are potentially real cost savings for these kinds of scenarios with HoloLens. Before we even begin to talk about the process improvements that an A/R device like HoloLens can provide.</p>

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