5G extended reality (XR) will be “an absolute killer app” for consumers, Nreal CEO Xu Chi has predicted.

“Let me just say it boldly. We feel that XR is indeed an absolute killer application on the 5G consumer side,” Xu told the Leading in 5G seminar.

Xu describes mixed reality as "the seamless integration of digital events and real events.”

He said while this may seem unfamiliar, in fact we have all seen it many times onscreen in cartoons or movies.

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Xu said a lot of the key technology is already mature today, the challenge being to be able to fully integrate a complete experience.

Many 5G experiences today were in fact a “perfect fit" with XR.

“I can give you an IMAX-level audio-visual enjoyment anytime and anywhere, or include the audio-visual or sports enjoyment we call MR. It can make us feel that the content we want to present is out of the second force's screen. The shock and sense of substitution it brings to everyone is unmatched by any screen today.

Once XR and VR/AR-related hardware has reached a critical point there will be “an endless stream of new good scenarios and ideas to emerge.”

He said Nreal believes China will become a pioneer in XR innovation because of the scale of its 5G deployment.

With its huge customer base Chinese operators and partners would be able to quickly drive "a market-oriented closed loop.”

Nreal believes that by 2030, more than 1 billion smart glasses will be in use worldwide.

“We also think that as glasses become more and more popular, this is likely to be the last screen that humans need before the brain is implanted with chips.”

Nreal already claims some of the world’s leading operators as partners, including China Mobile, Vodafone, LG Upus, KDDI and Deutsche Telekom.

“At the same time we are constantly innovating and exploring with the three major domestic operators, including some brand-new experiences with Migu, including telecom cloud games, including China Unicom, etc.”

Xu acknowledges the importance of developing new content for the emerging segment and says Nreal is already working with more than 8000 developers from all over the world.

Xu said Nreal's first product, a pair of mixed reality glasses called Nreal Light, is intended to be a product that can be easily carried around.

It has already been launched LG Uplus, KDDI and with Vodafone in Germany and Spain, with partners like Huawei.

“You can connect with your mobile phone anytime and anywhere to give you an upgrade of the mobile experience.… a larger screen presentation, more high-definition, more holographic and more 3D visual enjoyment,” Xu said.

“We believe that glasses will increasingly become a mainstream terminal. We may be willing to wear glasses in front of us anytime and anywhere, just like Iron Man.

“At the same time, glasses will give birth to some brand-new interaction paradigms, including gestures, including vision, voice control and so on.”

This content is sponsored by C114.