Over the past twelve months, details have been sparse regarding Sony’s SRH-S1 standalone mixed reality headset, initially unveiled at CES 2024. However, Sony has now officially announced the launch date and pricing for this business-oriented device.
The SRH-S1, developed in partnership with Siemens, will be available sometime in February 2025, with a price tag of $4,750. Both companies are clearly targeting the enterprise market. Starting January 23rd, 2025, you can place your orders directly through Siemens.
Initially, when the device was introduced last year, there was talk about its potential to captivate creative professionals. But it’s become crystal clear that Sony and Siemens are now focusing squarely on industrial applications. They claim the SRH-S1 will help usher in the “industrial metaverse” by boosting product design and manufacturing, leveraging Siemens’ suite of high-fidelity mixed reality tools.
With an impressive resolution of 13.6MP (3,552 × 3840) per eye, thanks to Sony’s ECX344A OLED microdisplay, this headset doesn’t skimp on power. It’s equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 chipset, and it boasts what Sony brands as “proprietary rendering technology,” which ensures real-time 3D object rendering.
As a mixed reality headset, the SRH-S1 also features passthrough video, a convenient flip-up visor, and uniquely designed ergonomic controllers. These controllers are crafted for seamless 3D interactions and include a stylus-like pointer and a ring.
Over the past year, Siemens has been hard at work sharpening its suite of enterprise-oriented Immersive Engineering tools. These tools are especially designed for SRH-S1 users, making it possible to craft 3D assets in CAD, engage with various models, and conduct collaborative design reviews in real-time using Siemens’ NX X platform.
Reflecting on their progress, Bob Haubrock, a senior VP at Siemens Digital Industries Software, stated, “After unveiling the headset at CES last year, our dedicated teams have crafted tools that redefine the role of mixed reality in engineering. They not only enhance global collaboration on high-fidelity 3D models but also facilitate co-creation on vital 3D CAD data in a secure environment.”
In the midst of this excitement, there was also an announcement at CES about Sony’s plans to release a creative-targeted headset named XYN for prosumers. While Sony remains mum on the specifics of XYN’s pricing and release date, which is currently in the prototype phase, it’s believed to be a variation of the SRH-S1. The difference? It sports a sleek black color as opposed to SRH-S1’s grey design.
