ASUS is attempting glasses-free 3D in 2023, beginning with its new ProArt StudioBook laptop. It boasts a 16-inch, 3.2K OLED display that can be switched into the 3D mode with the press of a button. This innovation, dubbed Spatial Vision by ASUS, employs eye-tracking and a lenticular lens to present two distinct pictures to your eyes. This allows you to see 3D models and movies with the same depth that you’d expect from a normal 3D screen with glasses.
This isn’t quite new; Acer has been touting its SpatialLabs technology for years, most recently in a gaming laptop. ASUS looks to be taking a similar approach by prioritising professional users. Aside from the ProArt StudioBook 16 3D OLED, Spatial Vision will also be available in a little less quality VivoBook Pro mode, which should be less expensive. Pricing information is not yet available, although it will cost far more than a regular 2D laptop.
Spatial Vision appeared good on the StudioBook 16, according to a quick trial with ASUS, however, it took a few attempts to get it operating correctly. It turns out that ASUS’s eye-tracking technology struggled with a face mask, which makes me wary of employing this technology in a busy workplace. I was able to see a variety of 3D models up close after removing my mask. The eye-tracking sensors rotated the models as I moved my head from side to side, almost as if they were literally in the room with me. I didn’t get to play any 3D games with the StudioBook, but it will be fascinating to see how shooters interact with Spatial Vision.
Aside from its 3D capabilities, the ASUS ProArt StudioBook 16 3D OLED seems to be a high-end workhorse laptop. It’s powered by Intel’s new 13th-generation HX CPUs and NVIDIA’s RTX 4000 graphics. It can accommodate up to 64GB of DDR5 RAM and 8TB of PCIe 4.0 SSD storage, and there are two user-replaceable memory and storage slots. The ProArt’s OLED screen can also achieve 120Hz, making it suitable for late-night gaming when combined with NVIDIA gear.
Even though Spatial Vision appears fantastic, it’s questionable if consumers desire glasses-free 3D. I’ve spoken with 3D artists who prefer to fully explore their models with a VR headset nearby; they don’t see the utility of getting a little more depth right on their displays. However, I don’t blame ASUS, Acer, and other firms for investigating the potential of this technology – when it works well, it seems to be truly wonderful.
