Nokia OZO
Nokia's spatial audio technology suite for capture, playback, and communication.
Nokia OZO is a set of audio software technologies developed by Nokia for spatial audio capture and playback, originally named after a now-discontinued virtual reality camera. The OZO Audio suite includes features for recording spatial audio, wind noise reduction, and audio zoom, while OZO Playback enhances listening through device loudspeakers and headphones. OZO Immersive Voice enables 360° audio communication in real-time and non-real-time scenarios, aligning with the 3GPP codec for Immersive Voice and Audio Services (IVAS).
- Developer
- Nokia
- Original product name
- OZO VR camera
- Camera announcement date
- July 2015
- Camera first release date
- 30 November 2015
- Camera material
- Aluminum alloy
- Camera lenses and microphones
- Eight each
- Camera field of view per lens
- 195 degrees
- Camera frame rate
- 30 frames per second
- Camera production end date
- 10 October 2017
Lore & Background
The OZO name originally belonged to an advanced virtual reality camera announced in July 2015 and released on 30 November 2015. The camera was constructed from aluminum alloy and featured eight lenses and eight microphones, each lens having a 195-degree field of view and shooting at 30 frames per second. It recorded stereoscopic (3D) 360-degree video and audio, with the audio recording technology being OZO Audio. The camera was aimed at professional filmmakers; Disney began using the OZO for filmmaking in April 2016. Nokia ended production of the OZO camera on 10 October 2017, citing a slower-than-expected virtual reality market, but continued to provide customer support. The OZO audio technologies later appeared in smartphones and tablets from various manufacturers, including Oppo, OnePlus, ASUS, and HMD Global's Nokia-branded devices.
Reader's Guide
Nokia OZO represents a transition from dedicated professional VR hardware to integrated audio software for consumer devices. The original OZO camera, though short-lived, was a notable early entry in professional 360-degree stereoscopic video capture, used by major studios like Disney. Its discontinuation reflected the broader market's slower adoption of VR than anticipated. However, the underlying OZO Audio technology outlived the camera, becoming a software suite embedded in a range of smartphones and tablets from multiple manufacturers. OZO Audio's spatial audio capture, wind noise reduction, and audio zoom features, along with OZO Playback's stereo widening and bass enhancement, brought immersive audio capabilities to everyday devices. OZO Immersive Voice further extended this into real-time and non-real-time communication, aligning with the 3GPP IVAS codec for low-delay immersive voice services. The technology's adoption by brands like Oppo, OnePlus, ASUS, and HMD Global demonstrates its integration into the mobile ecosystem, making spatial audio more accessible beyond professional VR production.
Did You Know?
- The OZO camera contained eight lenses and eight microphones to record stereoscopic 360-degree video and audio.
- Disney began using the OZO camera for filmmaking in April 2016.
- OZO Audio features include Audio 3D, Audio Zoom, and Audio Windscreen for wind noise reduction.
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