HTC reckons 5G networks could usher in the next big boom for VR and AR

We've been hearing a lot about the tech world's plans for 5G in recent months. Ofcom began auctioning off the 5G Spectrum here in the UK, EE and Huawei had an impressive early demo of the tech and Intel already has 5G capable laptops in the works for 2019. However, it won't just be PCs and mobile that benefit from the age of 5G, according to the folks at HTC, virtual reality and augmented reality will also benefit.

Sales of VR and AR headsets have slowly been picking up since late 2017, when holiday season price cuts came into play. However, HTC reckons the next big boom for the technology will be when 5G networks are available. Speaking at the Dubai launch of the Vive Pro, HTC VP, Raymond Pao, said that “VR and AR could be the perfect fit for 5G”.

As quoted by Gulf News, Pao added that “there are limitations” for current headsets, but once 5G is in place, it can “move more computing power to the cloud”. By going down this route, VR and AR headsets can be lighter and avoid cable connections. The general line of thinking is that quality tetherless VR and lighter headsets will attract many more customers.

Unfortunately, for this plan to pay off, 5G networks need to be in place and available. HTC expects this kind of tech to be ready in 2020, though there are companies out there gearing up for 5G in 2019.

KitGuru Says: 5G is set to be the best wireless standard so far, with some even saying that its low latency will rival Ethernet. This opens up a lot of doors for wireless streaming, but it will be a while before we see all of this come to fruition.

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