Former HTC CEO back with new VR start up XRSpace and the 5G-capable Mova headset

Although VR and AR are still to really catch on with users, the COVID-19 lockdown has forced office workers into embracing video conferencing platforms like Zoom and Teams. It has also created an opportunity to make the working from home experience less remote through utilizing VR and AR platforms. Former HTC CEO Peter Chou is back after three years out of the spotlight with a new social media and entertainment VR headset called the XRSpace Mova and an accompanying social media and entertainment platform called Manova that could be set to tap a new wave of interest in the technology.

The headset is a standalone type in the style of the Oculus Quest but is much lighter and also uses newer technology. Where the Quest weighs 571 grams, the Mova weighs just 470 grams and while the Quest uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 VR platform, the Mova uses the more recent Snapdragon 845 VR platform. It is mated with 6 GB of RAM and a large 4,600 mAh battery and features a display with a very high pixel density of 702 dpi and a 90 Hz refresh rate. It also fully supports 6DoF which makes translates to the ability to walk in VR naturally.

It differs from other VR platforms like the Oculus Quest in that it is centered on using everyday hand gestures, rather than a pair of controllers, but also includes a single hand controller for games. It even supports full body avatars which is a first for this type of device. Importantly, the XRSpace Mova has some solid backing behind it in Asia, in particular. This includes Taiwanese telco Chunghwa Telecom backing it while it will also come to Europe through Deutsche Telekom. The XRSpace Mova is currently up for pre-order at US$599 although its 5G support will mean that this price can be broken down though carriers over longer 12, 24 and potentially 36-month contracts.