ANTVR to Launch New Kickstarter to Fund a Hybrid AR/VR Headset

We were wondering why Beijing-based VR headset manufacturer ANTVR was exhibiting in the AR section of CES this year, but a recent tweet from the company helped clear that up. AntVR is launching a new Kickstarter campaign soon focusing on a hybrid AR/VR headset called AntVR Mix.

The company, which launched their first Kickstarter back in May 2014, raked in over $260,000 to realize their wireless VR headset. While the headset actually ended up shipping to backers, the lack of manufacturing experience and a penchant for overpromising the headset’s capabilities—optimistic ambition notwithstanding—ultimately rendered AntVR’s first headset a complete flop. To soften the blow of the tumultuous launch, the company offered a 20 percent discount off the next iteration.

AntVR has since gone on to ship a number of devices including a room-scale VR headset called AntVR Cyclops, and a number of portable Cardboard viewers, with one such viewer made in collaboration with Lenovo. Not many of these headsets have hit Western shores however, as the company only sells through the China-based webshop AliExpress.

While not much is known about the new AR/VR headset for now, two photos published by the company show a single camera sensor, two reflective panels/displays, a pair of servomotors mounted on each temple (possibly to change from AR to VR mode), and what appears to be a halo-style strap.

We’ll have feet on the ground at CES where we hope to learn more about the hybrid AR/VR headset. Check back for more news next week as the show starts Jan. 9th.