Sony’s Enterprise Mixed Reality Headset Launching Next Month for $4,750

Over the last year, details about Sony’s SRH-S1 standalone MR headset have been sparse since its unveiling at CES 2024. But finally, we have some news on the launch front. This enterprise-focused device now has a confirmed release window and pricing.

Teaming up with Siemens, Sony is set to introduce the SRH-S1, an unpretentiously named headset, to the market in February 2025, priced at $4,750. It’s clear the target audience here is strictly enterprise. Enthusiasts can place their orders starting January 23rd, 2025, via Siemens directly.

Though initially pitched at creative individuals last year, the focus seems to have shifted. Now, Sony and Siemens have set their sights on industrial applications, promising that SRH-S1 will “enable the industrial metaverse” and enhance areas like product design and manufacturing, thanks to Siemens’ advanced mixed reality toolkit.

In terms of technology, the SRH-S1 features a per-eye resolution of 13.6MP (3,552 × 3840) via Sony’s own ECX344A OLED microdisplay. It’s powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 chipset and boasts what Sony describes as a “proprietary rendering technology” for real-time 3D object rendering.

As a mixed reality device, it also offers passthrough video, a flip-up visor, and unique ergonomic controllers designed for intuitive 3D interactions. These come in the form of a stylus-type pointer and a ring.

Over the past year, Siemens has clearly put in work to hone its suite of enterprise-oriented Immersive Engineering tools. These tools will allow SRH-S1 users to design 3D assets within CAD, interact with models, and even conduct remote multi-user design reviews, all thanks to Siemens’ cloud-based NX X platform.

Bob Haubrock, senior VP of Product Engineering Software at Siemens Digital Industries Software, remarked, “Following our CES preview last year, we’ve developed tools that redefine mixed reality’s role in engineering. We’re not just supporting global collaboration using detailed 3D models; we’re empowering co-creation directly on critical 3D CAD data in a secure, managed setting.”

In related news from CES this week, Sony has hinted at a creative-focused headset named XYN, aimed at prosumers. While details on its price and release date remain under wraps, the device, still in the prototype stage, seems like a variant of the SRH-S1. Interestingly, XYN is distinguished externally by its sleek black finish, contrasting the SRH-S1’s grey design.