My first encounter with VR technology transported me into an entirely new world, and the sense of novelty was truly incredible. Then, when I tried AR equipment, that feeling became even more immersive, as it built upon the real environment rather than replacing it. It wasn’t just two separate worlds anymore; it felt like something magical was happening right in front of me.
"I could see my hand holding a glowing lightsaber and extending it forward, as if I were actually holding a piece of the future." That was my real experience with Lenovo Mirage.
Lenovo Mirage is a smartphone-powered augmented reality device launched by Lenovo at IFA 2017. It was the first consumer-oriented AR product in the market. For individual consumers, who are notoriously picky, the expectations for a toC product are much higher compared to business applications. Whether it has powerful computing capabilities, how advanced the platform is, or how well it presents the future vision—these all matter. Ultimately, what matters most is the user experience and the initial motivation to buy.
If these issues can be addressed, Lenovo Mirage had the potential to make a big impact.
What made people want to buy Lenovo Mirage in the first place?
Well, obviously, everyone is curious about AR technology. While VR is already widespread, there are still many AR products on the market. Although personal AR devices have been a gap in the industry, countless demos and promotional videos have flooded the market. However, this doesn't necessarily mean that people are ready to embrace it. The appeal of a new tech experience is itself a strong driver.
So, what sets Mirage apart from other AR devices? In terms of hardware, no brand has a clear technical edge. To deliver a great experience, AR relies more on software and content than on hardware alone.
This time, Lenovo partnered exclusively with Disney in the AR space. They worked together on both hardware and software development for the Mirage line. Characters, stories, and images from Disney’s Lucasfilm and Marvel will become unique content for the Mirage. Lenovo and Disney also invested in third-party content companies to specialize in AR games and software for the platform.
Among Disney's many major IPs, "Star Wars" is the first one brought to Mirage. According to reports, the standard hardware sold includes a head-mounted display, a tracking beacon, and a lightsaber-shaped controller. On the software side, there are three games: Lightsaber Battle, Strategy Battle, and Holographic Chess. For Star Wars fans, holding a 100% accurate replica of the movie's lightsaber and watching it slowly rise from their hands, or sitting next to R2-D2 playing holographic chess, would be an unmatched experience.
In a way, Mirage can be seen as a Star Wars accessory. You'll find it in Disneyland and Walt Disney Stores, especially around the 2018 Star Wars release. Given the popularity of the new movie series, I believe the demand for Lenovo Mirage will be strong.
According to statistics, there are about 11 million Star Wars fans in China alone. Most of them have a higher education and good income, and they love collecting Star Wars merchandise. Not to mention overseas markets—Lenovo said that the first batch of Best Buy orders exceeded expectations, proving that the "Star Wars" card was played well.
Even if you haven't seen the Star Wars movies, you've probably heard of Iron Man, Captain America, Hulk, or even the Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy. Marvel's popularity has been huge, and their IPs will also appear in the content lineup of Lenovo Mirage.
In 2018, with the upcoming "Avengers: Infinity War," many Marvel IPs will be featured in Lenovo Mirage. Think of Iron Man's armor, Spider-Man's gloves, Thor's hammer, and Captain America's shield. Even Starbucks' laser guns could serve as Mirage controllers. With AR's "real-world game," we could all become superheroes.
How is the experience with Lenovo Mirage?
The hardware consists of a head-mounted display, a tracking beacon, and a lightsaber controller. The controller changes based on the game theme. The current Star Wars version is a perfect match, with a 100% accurate replica of the Skywalker lightsaber.
The lightsaber feels solid in the hand, with a blend of metal and plastic that feels premium. Buttons are smoothly integrated into different parts of the blade without any awkwardness. If you're a Star Wars fan, you’ll definitely appreciate this design. Even if you don’t play often, it makes a great decorative item, with Lucasfilm’s logo clearly visible—truly official.
Playing the game is straightforward. First, place the tracking beacon in an open area (about 10 square meters), then open the game app on your phone, insert it into the head-mounted display, put it on your head, and grab your lightsaber to start playing.
Mirage has two positioning cameras on the head to track the beacon. As long as it appears in the field of view, the image will show up normally. Unlike VR, which creates a completely virtual world, AR overlays digital content onto the real environment, making it feel more natural and immersive.
Through Lenovo Mirage, I saw the lightsaber in my hand actually glowing, and a Skywalker figure was waving it in my room. It was an amazing experience, like having a lightsaber duel at home.
The basic principle of Lenovo Mirage is using a semi-transparent lens so users can see the real environment while also seeing the screen from their phone overlaid on it. During my test, there were no curtains in the room, and the lighting was similar to a sunny day. Despite that, the display was still clear. Darker environments provide better results, but overall, it's not too sensitive to light levels.
The entire headset isn’t very heavy. Even with an iPhone 7 Plus inside, it didn’t feel burdensome. The design is comfortable, with supports that rest on the back of the head, distributing the weight evenly. Unlike other VR headsets, the pressure on the eyes is minimal, and I found the comfort level very satisfying.
The Mirage head itself doesn’t have a display screen. Instead, the phone’s screen is reflected onto the environment. This means the resolution is roughly half of your phone’s resolution (since each eye sees a separate image). But because AR is based on the real world, what you see is only part of the overlay. The rest is real, so I didn’t notice any resolution issues. After all, the real world has infinite detail, and in AR, the display resolution has less impact than in VR.
However, if your phone has a brighter screen, the virtual elements will appear brighter. So, it’s best to use a brightly lit phone and set the brightness to maximum for a better AR experience.
During the entire gameplay, even when the lightsabers moved quickly, there was no lag or delay. The lightsaber followed my movements smoothly. From an AR perspective, I was very satisfied with the performance of Lenovo Mirage. Of course, I also know that as the first consumer-level AR headset, there’s still a lot of room for improvement, but experiencing AR games in the real world is still exciting and motivating.
When the initial Lenovo Mirage was released, it came with three games: Lightsaber Battle, Strategy Battle, and HoloChess. Due to limited conditions, I only experienced two of them—lightsaber and strategy. From an interaction standpoint, the lightsaber battle was more fun, requiring swinging, dodging, blocking, and moving. The strategy game involved more planning and longer gameplay.
Lenovo Mirage will launch in overseas markets in October and hit China by the end of the year, with all content localized for Chinese users. Initially, it will support Apple’s iPhone series, Samsung S series, Google phones, and Motorola. When it launches in China, it is expected to support popular domestic Android brands like Huawei, Xiaomi, OPPO, and vivo.
There is still a lot of potential for Lenovo Mirage. Imagine having multiple themed controllers and games—like Star Wars lightsabers, Iron Man gloves, and Thor’s hammer. It would be a lot of fun. On the technical side, Mirage may eventually recognize real-world objects and integrate tables, chairs, and cabinets into the game experience through AR.
It’s undeniable that AR is the future of personal entertainment. Lenovo Mirage took the first step, and I hope it can lead the industry forward.
May the Force be with you!
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