Canon prototypes pocket-sized MR hardware and high-efficiency AR waveguides

Canon is pivoting its core optical engineering expertise toward the spatial computing hardware stack, addressing the primary friction point for immersive production: bulk. By miniaturizing the light path through folded optics, Canon is positioning itself as a critical component supplier or hardware rival to incumbents like Apple and Meta. This move suggests a shift in the production ecosystem where high-fidelity AR/MR monitoring could move from heavy headsets to pocketable devices. Watch for Canon to announce a formal manufacturing partner or a specific release window for the waveguide components, which would signal a transition from research prototype to supply chain participant.

The expansion into spatial hardware follows Canon's 2021 release of the RF 5.2mm f/2.8L Dual Fisheye lens, which targeted the VR content creation market. Per PetaPixel in January 2024, Canon has continued to iterate on its 'EOS VR System,' signaling a long-term commitment to the 180-degree stereoscopic ecosystem. This hardware focus mirrors broader industry movements; for instance, Sony announced a spatial content creation system at CES 2024, featuring a 4K OLED microdisplay and a ring controller, specifically targeting professionals in industrial design and film production.

Market data from IDC in early 2026 indicates that while the consumer VR market has seen fluctuating demand, the industrial and commercial segments for AR/MR hardware are projected to maintain a compound annual growth rate exceeding 25% through 2028. Canon's emphasis on MREAL Collaborator aligns with this trend, prioritizing enterprise utility over gaming. Furthermore, the push for OpenXR compliance reflects a wider industry mandate for interoperability, as seen in the Khronos Group’s recent updates to the standard in late 2025, which aimed to reduce fragmentation across different spatial computing platforms. By focusing on the waveguide—a notoriously difficult component to manufacture at scale—Canon is targeting a high-value niche within the XR supply chain that leverages its existing precision glass manufacturing infrastructure.