Blog

The problem with the Vision Pro, aside from its shocking price tag, is that it purports to replace the laptop—a device that’s been refined over decades to be the perfect productivity machine for workers on the go. Laptops don’t need replacing (no one I know has complained that their laptop isn’t roomy enough) and frankly, they’re the perfect form factor for the work they do, so the Vision Pro might not be an ideal device , to replace them… but that doesn’t mean a space laptop isn’t a good idea. Meet the Spacetop, a hybrid “laptop” that bridges the gap between a conventional laptop and the Vision Pro. It’s thin, light, affordable and gives you a traditional laptop experience with a touch of augmented reality.

Designer: Remarkable

The Spacetop G1 comes from the minds of the folks at Sightful, who believe that AR/VR may be the future of work, but current headsets are not. The Spacetop G1 is a unique AR laptop that ditches the display for a set of AR glasses. Put them in and you get a screen that’s wider than your FoV, and the fact that the Spacetop G1 still has a keyboard and trackpad means you can work on a laptop, but only in AR.

The format is very unique, but not surprising. Most AR/VR headsets come with remotes and are aimed at entertainment and immersion. The fact that the Spacetop G1 opts for a form factor close to that of a laptop means there’s less of a learning curve. Put on the glasses, unfold multiple virtual screens in front of you, and get to work. The Spacetop G1 boasts a massive 100-inch virtual workspace that breaks the limitations of traditional laptops. Imagine working on documents, surfing the web, or editing videos on a virtual canvas that feels like a home theater screen. This expansive workspace enables seamless multitasking and a truly immersive computing experience.

Given its spiritual affinity to a laptop, the Spacetop G1 is designed to be thin enough to fit into a backpack without any problem. The keyboard and trackpad are as thin as those you’d find on most conventional laptops, while the “lid” houses a pair of AR glasses that fold into a sleek form factor. They’re not as bulky and unwieldy as the Vision Pro, Hololens, or any of Meta’s headsets, which makes them less cumbersome to carry and less awkward around other people. Your eyes still perceive the environment around you, so you are not completely blocked from the outside world.

Under the hood, the Spacetop G1 packs a punch. The Qualcomm chipset provides a 70% increase in performance compared to previous models, ensuring smooth operation even in demanding tasks. With a commendable 8-hour battery life, you can work non-stop throughout your work day or even work in AR while on a train or flight without missing your multi-display setup. A 90Hz optical refresh rate translates into clear and responsive visuals, further enhancing the user experience.

Having a 100-inch workspace simply means being able to do more with less. You can multitask effortlessly by having different windows in your periphery that you can move, move forward, or push back. Important tasks can occupy the center of your attention. Other windows can be located at the back or in the corners, still allowing you to see them if/when you need them.

That being said, the AR laptop doesn’t come cheap. It’s available for pre-order at $1,900, which is significantly higher than your conventional laptop, but the AR aspect factor makes the price more reasonable. After all, you would spend a lot more for a laptop along with a widescreen/multiscreen layout. The fact that the Vision Pro costs a whopping $3,499 is also something that makes the case for the Spacetop G1. Shipments of the Spacetop G1 begin immediately in October 2024. Early adopters can secure their device with a $100 reservation.