Explanation
Lynx is a French startup founded by Stan Larroque, pioneering standalone mixed-reality headsets in Europe. After the Lynx-R1 (France's first standalone MR headset), the company is preparing the Lynx-R2 (summer 2026): a headset powered by the Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2, featuring Hypervision aspherical pancake optics with a 126-degree horizontal FOV (the widest among standalone headsets), 2.3K LCD displays at 24 PPD, and 4 Sony color cameras for 3K x 3K passthrough per eye. The Lynx-R2 runs Lynx OS (an open-source Android 14 fork, OpenXR 1.1 compatible) and stands out with its open-hardware approach (published electronic schematics and mechanical plans).
Real-world example
A research lab orders a Lynx-R2 to develop professional mixed-reality applications on an open platform with access to raw sensors and hardware schematics, free from Big Tech ecosystem lock-in.
Practical applications
- Developing mixed-reality applications on an open platform (OpenXR 1.1, Lynx OS)
- Rapid prototyping of professional AR/VR experiences without depending on Meta or Apple
- Professional mixed-reality training: seeing the real environment enriched with virtual information
- Research and innovation: access to raw sensors and hardware schematics for labs and schools
Lynx evolution
Lynx-R1 (2022-2024)
- First French standalone MR headset
- Catadioptric optics, 90-degree FOV, Snapdragon XR2 Gen 1
- Color video passthrough, VR and AR modes in a single device
- Limited production, primarily for developers and early adopters
Example: Approximately 400 R1 units shipped, mainly to developers and research labs
Lynx-R2 (summer 2026)
- Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2, Hypervision aspherical pancake optics
- 126-degree horizontal / 133-degree diagonal FOV -- widest among standalone headsets
- 2.3K LCD displays, 24 PPD, 3K x 3K passthrough via 4 Sony color cameras
- Lynx OS (open-source Android 14), OpenXR 1.1, open hardware (published schematics)
Example: A compact headset offering a wider FOV than Quest 3 (110 degrees) while running on a fully open platform
VR scenario
An engineering school equips its XR lab with Lynx-R2 headsets. Students develop mixed-reality prototypes on the open Lynx OS platform: with the high-resolution passthrough and 126-degree FOV, they see their classroom enriched with interactive 3D objects. Access to hardware schematics and raw sensor data enables researchers to build custom computer-vision algorithms. The headset's French origin and open-standards foundation facilitate collaborations with other European labs.
Why it matters in professional VR
- The only European manufacturer of standalone mixed-reality headsets, a sovereign alternative to Big Tech
- Radically open approach: open-source OS, published hardware schematics, raw sensor access
- The Lynx-R2 promises the widest FOV in the standalone market (126 degrees), a strong argument for professional immersion
- Strategic positioning in the enterprise and education market, between Quest 3 and Apple Vision Pro