Lenovo may have finally cracked smart glasses for the workplace

Lenovo ThinkReality A3
(Image credit: Lenovo)

Hardware company Lenovo has unveiled a new pair of augmented reality (AR) smart glasses, designed specifically for enterprise use cases.

At CES 2021, which is taking place online this year, the firm offered a first look at the ThinkReality A3 glasses, which hook up to PCs and certain Motorola smartphones (also owned by Lenovo) via USB-C.

The glasses are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon XR1 Platform and can serve up to 5 virtual displays at once, each at 1080p resolution. An 8MP camera of the front, meanwhile, can be used to create a video feed for remote consultation applications.

The headwear is said to “fit like sunglasses” for a lightweight feel (although images suggest the frame is slightly heftier than suggested), and a more “industrial” model is available for use cases that demand greater durability.

Lenovo ThinkReality A3 smart glasses

There are a number of different applications for the new ThinkReality A3 smart glasses, according to Lenovo, including 3D visualization, virtual desktop and AR-assisted workflows. They can also be used to help create more immersive training experiences.

“The A3 is a next generation augmented reality solution - light, powerful and versatile,” said Jon Pershke, a Lenovo executive with a focus on intelligent devices.

“Whether working in virtual spaces or supporting remote assistance, the ThinkReality A3 enhances workers’ abilities to do more wherever they are.”

The Industrial Edition, meanwhile, is geared towards optimizing processes in more complex and challenging working environments.

“For use in scenarios from factory floors and laboratories to busy retail and hospitality spaces, certified turnkey applications on the ThinkReality platform powers remote assistance, guided workflows and 3D visualization,” said Lenovo.

“Now, industrial workers have a light, flexible and scalable set of smart glasses to increase productivity and safety while decreasing error rates in daily tasks.”

It is not yet known how much the ThinkReality A3 smart glasses will cost, but Lenovo expects the range to launch in mid-2021.

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Joel Khalili
News and Features Editor

Joel Khalili is the News and Features Editor at TechRadar Pro, covering cybersecurity, data privacy, cloud, AI, blockchain, internet infrastructure, 5G, data storage and computing. He's responsible for curating our news content, as well as commissioning and producing features on the technologies that are transforming the way the world does business.