HTC expects 5G to boost VR and AR sales, but not until 2020

Virtual and augmented reality headset sales are improving after a rocky 2017, but HTC says that VR and AR will really take off when 5G networks become available. Unfortunately, both the Vive headset maker and independent analysts are predicting that the convergence between 5G and VR/AR won’t happen in any meaningful way until 2020.

Speaking at the Dubai launch of HTC’s Vive Pro virtual reality headset, the company’s VP of product and strategy, Raymond Pao, expressed optimism about 5G’s coming impact on both VR and AR. Mirroring comments made by 5G chipset developer Qualcomm, Pao told Gulf News that “VR and AR could be the perfect fit for 5G,” noting that “there are limitations for current devices, but with a better communication protocol, we can move more computing power to the cloud … that way, we can make the device lighter. We can avoid the cable and cloud connection.” As the logic goes, consumers will flock to lighter, tetherless headsets.