4 Chinese companies give us insights about XR in China

In mid-May, I’ll be back in China for the VR AR Expo China, organized by VR AR World. It’s one of the most interesting XR-focused events of the region, so I will be happy to return to Shanghai on 14-15th of May to be a speaker, meet the Chinese XR community, and try some interesting hardware! And I hope you will join it, too, so that we can meet there.

Look mum, I’m one of the speakers in Shanghai! (Image by VR AR World)

Like last year, I’m one of the media partners of the event. For this reason, I asked if I could have a preview of the event by speaking with some relevant Chinese XR companies, and so I had the opportunity to have a mini interview with Pimax, INMO, FXG, and DPVR! They will explain to us not only what they do but also what the view of the current immersive market is from people who live in the Far East.

[Disclaimer: The organization of VR AR Expo China is going to pay for my hotel stay in Shanghai. Not that this changes much related to the content written here, but I have to mention this as a full disclosure]

Who are you and what does your company do?

Jaap Grolleman [Pimax]: For over 10 years, Pimax has been at the forefront of high-end PCVR, most recently with the Dream Air — a headset packing 27 million pixels, while being lighter than your phone. My role spans global branding and product launches, and I work closely with customer feedback to drive improvements across customer care, logistics, and our product lineup.

Near [INMO]: I am Near, and I handle marketing and brand partnerships at INMO. INMO is a smart glasses company dedicated to defining the next generation of mobile terminals. We are pioneers in consumer-grade, wireless, full-color AR glasses. Unlike the bulky headsets currently on the market, we focus on creating “Daily” wearable smart glasses, adhering to a wireless, lightweight, and stylish All-in-One approach.

Nikk Mitchell [FXG]: I’m Nikk Mitchell from FXG西顾. We create immersive content and develop immersive video technology.

Sunny Chen [DPVR]: I am Sunny Chen, Founder of DPVR. With more than 11 years of deep experience in the XR and smart hardware industries, I have long been committed to advancing the iteration and industrialization of perceptual interaction technologies.

Founded in 2015, DPVR is an innovative technology enterprise specializing in VR and AI spatial computing terminals.

Guided by the R&D philosophy of “software-hardware integration and visual intelligence”, DPVR has built a dual-engine product system centered on VR and AI.

In its VR business, DPVR has established a complete product portfolio covering all-in-one devices, PC VR headsets, and software platforms. Leveraging core capabilities such as millimeter-level positioning and high-definition video transmission, the company continuously serves scenarios including embodied intelligent robotics, smart education, integrated cultural tourism, and professional simulation training.

In its AI business, DPVR focuses on next-generation AI smart glasses, integrating multi-modal perception, first-person perspective recording, and intelligent interaction. It strives to create smarter portable terminals that are lighter, more natural, and better suited for daily use.

Building on long-term expertise in optical displays, graphics algorithms, spatial positioning, and AI interaction, DPVR has developed full-stack R&D capabilities spanning underlying systems, core hardware modules, and complete machine integration. To date, the company’s business covers more than 40 countries and regions worldwide, with over 13,000 partners. Moving forward, DPVR will continue to focus on spatial computing and visual intelligence, driving the widespread adoption and deployment of smart terminals across more real-world scenarios.

What’s your view on this difficult moment for AR/VR?

Jaap Grolleman [Pimax]: I don’t see this as a difficult moment for AR/VR, actually? Current RAM prices don’t help, but they seem to be coming down already. In general, more and more companies are (re-)entering the market, bringing a new burst of interest from manufacturers and developers, and users are also getting accustomed to the idea of integrating AR/VR devices in their life. Also, while I don’t think it’s obvious yet, AI and the way it assists our work is going to spur on innovation further. I’m very positive, not just for Pimax but for the whole industry.

Near [INMO]: I don’t see this as a “tough time,” but rather a period of “natural selection” and refinement. The early hype filled the market with immature concepts. This current cooling-off period allows resources to gravitate toward companies that truly solve user pain points and excel in wearing experience. The challenge now lies in balancing computing power, battery life, and aesthetics—a necessary journey for the industry to reach maturity.

Promotional image of INMO Air 3 glasses (Image by INMO)

Nikk Mitchell [FXG]: I don’t see it as being that difficult of a moment. It’s just XR’s slow page of development. I’ve been in XR for almost 15 years, and now it’s challenging, but it’s always been challenging. The industry has rises and falls, but if you look at the average, it is steadily increasing.

Sunny Chen [DPVR]: I believe the true nature of these “tough times” is simply an inevitable stage for the industry as it evolves from consensus-driven to value-driven.

In previous years, the market was obsessed with exploring the imaginative potential of XR. Over the past two years, however, we have seriously returned to the fundamentals of business: Can products achieve high-frequency usage? Can we build a closed-loop business model? Can they create irreplaceable efficiency value in specific scenarios? This shift has indeed brought pain, including the rational return of capital and the survival of the fittest among enterprises. Yet this is precisely a sign of a maturing industry. This is not an “autumn downturn” for the sector, but a “spring selection” that belongs to professionalism.

For companies that can truly endure industry cycles, what matters is not short-term hype but extremely solid product strength, delivery capability, and a nuanced understanding of application scenarios. For DPVR, amid this wave of “value return”, our strategy has only become clearer:

Root deeper to fortify our “productivity” moat: we will fully penetrate and deepen VR in vertical scenarios, evolving technology from a “novel experience” into an “indispensable tool” for industrial upgrading.
Grow upward to expand the boundaries of “all-day perception”: We will substantiate higher-frequency smart terminals such as AI glasses, extending XR from professional sectors into daily life, making it an accessible intelligent lifestyle for everyone.

The true era of value for VR and AI has only just begun.

What’s your view on the future of XR? (e.g. Are smartglasses going to take the central stage?) And how is your company working towards that future?

Jaap Grolleman [Pimax]: I’m sure AR/VR will continue to diverge into all kinds of devices and different use-cases, ranging from lightweight classes to larger headsets. There’s not going to be one-killer device for the short-term future. Right now, Companies are constantly balancing competing constraints, such as optics, processing power, battery, size, heat dissipation, and the overall price of the device. Right now, it’s not possible to have the best of everything together. But that’s fine.

Near [INMO]: Smart glasses will undoubtedly become the core focus of XR because they align most naturally with human interaction. We believe AR glasses will eventually replace many functions of the smartphone. INMO is preparing for this future through a dual-product strategy: the INMO Air 3 focuses on the ultimate “Wireless All-in-One” AR experience with Fusion Recording and deep AI integration, while the INMO Go 3 emphasizes ultra-lightweight design and long battery life, bringing features like translation and notifications into Daily life, making AI assistants truly accessible.

Nikk Mitchell [FXG]: XR’s long-term future is becoming the final computing platform. As smartphones have combined cameras, calculators, phones, and much more, XR devices will combine phones, computers, televisions, and all other digital devices into one super device. The reason this hasn’t happened yet is that we need a very comfortable, small, and affordable device, and currently, XR hardware is either bulky, expensive, or lacking full immersion. Smartglasses are far from the device that is going to revolutionize technology, but they are at least form-fitting, and affordable, which means they have an opportunity to actually gain market shares. We will then see over generations that they will improve in immersion, one day become the XR device that we are waiting for.

Me and the amazing Nikk Mitchell, the CEO of FXG

Sunny Chen [DPVR]: For both VR and AI glasses, effortless wearability is the essential ticket to entering the consumer mass market.

For DPVR, our path is crystal clear: vertically, we deepen our focus on VR, continuously strengthening its irreplaceable depth of experience in professional scenarios; horizontally, we expand our presence in AI glasses, committed to creating a native product that users are willing to wear all day and use across every scenario.

We no longer simply pursue flashy technical stunts for individual features. Instead, we return to the fundamental essence of user value: ultra-slim and lightweight design, lifestyle-oriented aesthetics, reliable high-frequency audio-visual performance, and intuitive AI interaction. Only when technology truly fades into seamless daily wear can sustained usage habits take shape.

What are you going to show at VR AR Expo China, and what are your expectations about it?

Scenes of fun from VR AR Expo China 2025 (Image by VR AR World)

Jaap Grolleman [Pimax]: For Pimax this is particularly exciting — it’s the first big event where we are demoing the final production version of the Dream Air, our latest model. After years of R&D and iteration, it’s finally here. We are also showcasing the Crystal Super, which is a slightly larger but even more powerful headset. It’s always great to see people try out the headsets and light up with amazement. Even though we make hardware, it’s people’s reactions that make it all worth it.

I personally also look forward to seeing again dozens of content creators and journalists, many of whom I consider friends.

Near [INMO]: We will be showcasing our flagship INMO Air 3 and the ultra-lightweight INMO Go3. Visitors will have the chance to experience Air 3’s “Fusion Recording” feature to capture stunning moments blending virtual and real worlds. Meanwhile, they can experience the effortless wearability of the Go3, which feels like regular glasses, and its powerful real-time translation and AI office assistant functions. Our expectation is to demonstrate INMO’s mature solutions across various scenarios and connect with more ecosystem partners to enrich our app store together.

Nikk Mitchell [FXG]: We will be showing our latest immersive film, which is launching in theaters around China later this year. We are looking forward to seeing the reactions to our feature film and also checking out what everyone else is up to.

Sunny Chen [DPVR]: At VRAR EXPO CHINA, we will highlight our strategic layout across three key dimensions:

Form Evolution: We will publicly unveil our all-new PCMR product, Project TITAN, for the very first time. More than our flagship release of the year, it represents DPVR’s in-depth exploration of next-generation interaction paradigms and performance frontiers.
Value Realization: We will showcase a focused lineup of industrial-grade practical solutions, especially applications in robotic teleoperation training, as well as achievements in arcade entertainment, healthcare, and education. We aim to demonstrate to the market that VR has moved beyond experiential stages and is evolving into a more practical and efficient productivity tool.
Scenario Expansion: We will also present our AI glasses-related offerings, which embody another core path for DPVR to drive XR toward high-frequency, everyday usage.

Through our sustained dual-product lineup, we hope to convey DPVR’s strategic clarity and confidence to the industry. Meanwhile, we look forward to engaging in in-depth exchanges with global partners. As XR enters its phase of value validation, we seek to jointly explore opportunities for deploying technology in real-world commercial scenarios.

Which one, in your opinion, is the biggest difference between the XR ecosystem in China and in the West?

Jaap Grolleman [Pimax]: I’m from the Netherlands, but I’ve now lived 8 years in China. The use cases are largely similar overall. For PCVR and Pimax specifically, I would say one key difference is that people dedicate more time to it — in China, the culture of working hard and pushing innovation is intense and deeply ingrained. On the hardware side, living spaces in the West are generally larger, making it much easier to set up a full flight or racing rig. Both factors affect the use case of high-end PCVR.

Another key difference is that Chinese consumers are generally more tech-savvy and more open to embracing change.

Near [INMO]: The biggest differences lie in “execution speed” and the “hardware supply chain.” China (especially Shenzhen) possesses the world’s most complete hardware supply chain, giving us a significant advantage in hardware iteration speed. Additionally, China’s mobile internet ecosystem is highly developed, leading the way in integrating AR with daily scenarios like mobile payments and instant messaging. Conversely, the Western ecosystem excels in underlying engine technology, high-quality content creation, and an active early-adopter community.

Nikk Mitchell [FXG]: In China, there is a huge industry of LBEs, with hundreds of companies making them. LBEs are big internationally, but nowhere near the size of the industry in China. In the West, the home market for VR, with PC VR and mobile VR like the Quest, is much bigger than in China.

The six models of smartglasses offered by DPVR (Image by DPVR)

Sunny Chen [DPVR]: Chinese ecosystems excel in scenario agility, while Western ecosystems dominate in rule-defining power.

Strengths of the Chinese ecosystem: scenario-driven innovation and extreme efficiency. Backed by world-leading supply chain clusters, rapid hardware iteration, and exceptional cost-control capabilities, Chinese companies demonstrate extraordinary commercial agility. We excel at diving deep into specific vertical scenarios, validating business models quickly, and closing the loop from lab prototypes to large-scale commercial deployment. Simply put, we possess strong realization and transformation capabilities.

Strengths of the Western ecosystem: platform logic and ecosystem definition. Leading Western companies still hold profound technological sovereignty and first-mover advantages in underlying operating systems, developer ecosystem building, global content systems, and the ability to define consumer rules. They tend to start from underlying protocols to build a platform consensus on a global scale.

However, the endgame of the future XR competition will not be regional rivalry, but complementary strengths from a global perspective. Companies truly capable of riding out industry cycles must be inclusive and integrative: they need China-style speed of innovation, delivery efficiency, and scenario depth, as well as global platform thinking, brand heritage, and ecosystem synergy.

The future of XR will inevitably be one of deep integration. We are committed to seamlessly linking China’s hardware advantages with global application scenarios, creating value for users worldwide in a more open ecosystem.

I thank Jaap, Near, Nikk, and Sunny for taking the time to write these answers and inform you all about the Chinese XR ecosystem. I also thank a lot Cinzia from VR AR World for having made this interview possible.

I hope this article has been informative for you, and if it has been the case, please share it around with your peers! See you in Shanghai on May 14th!

(Header image by VR AR World)

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This article was originally published on skarredghost.com