Introduction to Spacetop for Windows
When the Spacetop G1 debuted last 12 months, it was positioned as a laptop and not using a screen. Instead, it was designed to be used with a pair of augmented reality glasses that allow you interact with a virtual large-screen display floating in front of you. But with a $1900 price tag for a pc with a custom operating system and a Qualcomm Snapdragon CWS8550 processor, it was a little bit of a troublesome sell for anyone apart from hardcore augmented reality enthusiasts.
A More Affordable Option
Now Sightful, the corporate behind the Spacetop G1, has unveiled a (type of) cheaper option: Spacetop for Windows brings the software experience to recent Qualcomm or Intel-powered computers with an NPU for hardware-accelerated AI features. You’ll still need a pair of augmented reality glasses and a Spacetop subscription though. And those costs can rack up.
Pricing and Bundles
Sightful is offering a $900 Spacetop Bundle that features a set of XREAL Air Ultra 2 AR glasses, and a 12-month Spacetop subscription that renews at $200/12 months after the primary 12 months. Or you may pay $1000 for a bundle that features a 2-year subscription. You may also pay an additional $50 for a pair of prescription lens inserts (or $150 for those who need progressive lenses).
The Spacetop Experience
Theoretically, you may just buy those glasses from XREAL for $699 and use them without the Spacetop software, but Sightful’s software is designed to supply a virtual multi-display desktop environment with window management and navigation features that make it easier to oversee and interact along with your applications on a virtual 100-inch display.
Subscription Model
And while Sightful says customers who have already got the glasses pays for just the Spacetop software, you’ll need to contact the corporate directly for that option – there’s no software-only purchase link on the Spacetop website because the corporate expects that the majority customers will want the entire kit, and those that may have already got XREAL’s glasses should still need to make sure they’re running firmware that’s compatible with Spacetop.
Is it Worth the Cost?
Is that price paying $200 per 12 months for? I truthfully do not know why this software requires a subscription in any respect. But I suppose the thought of using Spacetop as a Windows app might be more attractive than using the dedicated Spacetop G1 hardware since it means that you can bring your personal PC and use most Windows applications within the Spacetop environment.
Current Limitations
But it’s also still a piece in progress. Known bugs in the meanwhile include problems affecting distant desktop tools, video editing and design tools, and gaming. And some features which are listed as “upcoming,” include support for DRM-protected content, screen sharing in Teams & Zoom, and “improved visual stability.”
Future Plans
Sightful says that it’s validated Spacetop for Windows on computers with Intel Meteor Lake and Lunar Lake processors. There’s no official support for AMD or Qualcomm Snapdragon processors yet, but the corporate says it hopes so as to add support for those chips soon. Sightful also says it plans to bring Spacetop to Mac in 2026, but thus far the software is Windows-only. And Spacetop can be only designed for the XREAL Air 2 Ultra glasses in the meanwhile, but Sightful says it plans so as to add support for extra AR glasses in the longer term.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Spacetop for Windows offers a singular experience for those fascinated with augmented reality, but the fee and subscription model could also be a barrier for some. While it’s still a piece in progress, the potential for this technology is critical, and it can be interesting to see the way it develops in the longer term. With the power to make use of your personal PC and most Windows applications, Spacetop for Windows could also be a sexy option for those trying to explore the world of augmented reality.
