What is the Magic Leap 2?

Billed as "the most immersive AR platform for enterprise", the Magic Leap 2 is a head-mounted computer that can superimpose 3D objects and other  elements onto the real world. It's set to be released in September 2022.

First off, a quick word about AR. Headsets that transform your surroundings may put you in mind of virtual reality (VR) headsets like Oculus Quest – products that give you the chance to lose yourself in vivid, immersive worlds. AR headsets like the Magic Leap 2 belong to the same family of technologies, but there are some key differences.

VR provides near-total immersion as your living room is transformed into a golf course, battlefield or fantasy world with astonishing detail. The real world in which you're wearing the headset is all but replaced by a simulation.

Augmented reality (AR) is a little different – and it's this category that the Magic Leap 2 belongs to. When using AR devices, you remain aware of the real world, but it's now blended with unreal objects.

Examples aimed at consumers include Pokémon Go, the IKEA Place app (which allows you to see how IKEA furniture would look in your home), and Snapchat filters that, for example, lay hats, tiaras, or bunny ears over your face.

The Magic Leap 2 belongs to this family of products – but as the tagline suggests, it's built for business use. It comes into its own in workplace scenarios where situational awareness is needed alongside gaming-quality graphics.

What does it do?

The Magic Leap 2 is fitted with state-of-the-art sensors that capture and map out the environment you're in. It then overlays realistic 3D models. The technology is such that these objects look as though they're right there with you in your real-world surroundings.

Once overlaid on the real world, these virtual objects are tracked by the Magic Leap 2. This means when you move, the objects move with you. So, a room full of people wearing Magic Leap headsets can see the same object without all having to remain in the same place looking in the same direction. This makes it ideal for training simulations where free movement is key.

What are some of its uses?

One of the great strengths of the Magic Leap 2 is its versatility. It can be used to empower staff in a variety of industries.

In manufacturing, for instance, companies can use the Magic Leap 2 to train technicians in how to handle potentially dangerous scenarios. No longer is there a need to ferry trainees to an actual site – they're able to experience and interact with the scenario through their headsets.

If you work in construction, you'll be familiar with the challenges that present themselves when sharing building plans. These are all but eliminated by AR technology devices like the Magic Leap 2. Picture the scene – your team fitted out with Magic Leap headsets, all looking at an uncannily realistic 3D model of your design, and with the ability to examine and rotate it.

The Magic Leap 2 can also be used in the field of medicine. It provides surgeons with the invaluable opportunity to perform pre-ops on lifelike 3D renders of patients' organs. This has the benefit of reducing the possibility of surgical error.

What's more, the Magic Leap 2 has the capacity to recreate medical emergencies so students can learn how to respond to them. Gone will be the days when students have to gather round a dummy for training purposes. AR technology means that medical students can participate in impressively real simulations.

When it comes to the Magic Leap 2's applicability, really, the sky's the limit. It's flexible enough to realise almost any scenario you want – whether it's a recreation of an on-site scenario, a virtual car showroom, or a training session that meshes the real world with detailed, interactive simulations.

Intrigued? Discover more transformative AR use cases.

How is it different from the Magic Leap 1?

1. More RAM and processing power. (If you want the juicy stats, you can see the Magic Leap 2's specs on the developer's website.)

2. It's even smaller, lighter, and more ergonomic than its predecessor. The Magic Leap's weight was part of its USP, and it's only gotten lighter. Where the Magic Leap 1 weighed 316 grammes, its successor weighs a remarkable 252 grammes. To put that in context, its competitor the HoloLens 2 weighs 556 grammes.

The new Magic Leap builds on the strengths of its predecessor by reducing its size, making it a remarkably compact piece of kit.

The first Magic Leap was also noteworthy for its ergonomic, comfy design. The new model continues this trend by narrowing the headband, making it more suited to prolonged use.

3. Increased field of view (FoV).

Field of view is key to AR technologies. Put simply, it's the range of what you can see through the device. The wider the field of view, the more realistic the superimposition of digital layers onto the real world and the more realistic the experience is for users.

The Magic Leap's FoV has gone up by 20 degrees since its first model, and now stands at 70 degrees.

4. Changes to the controller.

On first glance, the Magic Leap 2 is a lighter, thinner, more compact version of the Magic Leap 1. It retains the hockey puck processor which you wear on your hip, and is operated by a single controller.

The difference is that the original Magic Leap had a motion controller which emitted a magnetic field. This was sensed by a receiver that formed part of the headset. The new version has two camera sensors on the controller along with sensors on the headset.

Want to find out more?

The Magic Leap 2 isn't available just yet, but at Expand Reality we stock a wide range of industry-ready transformative tech. Take a look at our full range of XR devices from leading brands.