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The Magic Leap One: Creator Edition kit including a mixed reality headset and supporting hardware will be released this summer, the Plantation, Florida-based startup revealed during its most recent Twitch stream. The company that already raised some $2.3 billion in funding since its establishment in 2011 also revealed that its first product will be powered by NVIDIA’s Tegra X2 chip, a successor to the Tegra X1 found inside Nintendo’s Switch console. While the company could have equipped the gadget with more powerful hardware, it concluded that the Tegra X2 offers the optimal balance between processing capabilities and energy efficiency; as the Lightwear headset is tethered to another unit meant to be carried on one’s person, the startup had to think about battery life when deciding on its specifications.
Magic Leap still isn’t ready to share any details regarding the estimated battery life of the device, presumably because it’s still in the process of optimizing the product, not to mention that the device is being targeted exclusively at developers and hasn’t been envisioned as a truly commercial product. Additionally, Magic Leap indicated battery life will vary greatly depending on the app, suggesting third-party developers will be given a lot of control over the hardware itself. No official price tag has yet been attached to the wearable, though the developer kit is likely to break the $1,000 mark by some margin.
While the startup is expected to sell the Magic Leap One: Creator Edition directly, the wearable set will also be retailed by AT&T, as per the duo’s newly announced partnership. The second-largest wireless carrier in the United States will also be demoing the device over the course of this summer at select retail locations, having also confirmed its network will be compatible with the headset, effectively confirming the gadget will have cellular capabilities. Magic Leap is expected to launch a consumer-oriented product at some point next year.