Smartphone Leader Vivo Unveils ‘Vision’ MR Headset, Echoing Apple’s Branding and Design

We’re about to see yet another Vision Pro imitation hit the market, and interestingly enough, it’s sporting the ‘Vision’ name as well.

While not exactly a household name globally, Vivo, a prominent player in China, is quite renowned for its reliable, mid-range smartphones. This success regularly places them among the top five smartphone manufacturers by market share.

Today, during the Boao Forum for Asia held in Hainan Province, China, Vivo introduced us to their inaugural foray into the XR (Extended Reality) scene with the debut of the Vivo Vision.

According to Vivo’s press release, this bold step into the XR market is a part of a larger strategy to delve into both robotics and XR technology. They described the Vivo Vision as a “significant milestone” in their pursuit of advancing mixed reality tech.

Currently, details about the Vivo Vision are rather sparse. While the official launch is expected in mid-2025, there’s little information available regarding the specs, operating system, international availability, release date, or pricing of this mixed reality headset. Basically, any information beyond the exterior design remains under wraps.

However, attendees at the Boao Forum for Asia did get a sneak peek at the prototype on display at Vivo’s booth. The design seems to borrow heavily from the Apple Vision Pro, with features like a distinct headstrap, a digital crown button, and an external battery that’s magnetically attached.

When it comes to software, Vivo’s current line-up of smartphones typically runs on modified Android operating systems. Their global devices use Funtouch OS, while those available in China run on Origin OS. Given that Vivo Vision is their first XR device, speculation is rife that they might collaborate with Google on the new Android XR OS. This same OS is reportedly being used for Samsung’s upcoming mixed reality venture, ‘Project Moohan,’ which is expected to launch later this year. But let’s be clear, this is all conjecture at this point.

This move from Vivo is part of a broader trend where several Chinese tech companies are crafting Vision Pro look-alikes. Earlier this year, Play for Dream made headlines with their MR headset at CES 2025. It was a standout, receiving accolade from former Quest engineer Amanda Watson, who remarked it was “absolutely the best all-around HMD demo I saw on the floor today.” Considering the momentum, the competition within the XR territory is heating up.