PortalCam Sells 300+ Units in 24 Hours: Is This the "3D Gaussian Splatting" Breakthrough?

It is rare for a hardware launch to immediately signal a market shift, but the numbers suggest something different is happening here. Since the release of 3D Gaussian Splatting (3DGS), the industry has been waiting for a purpose-built capture device. On September 2, 2025, Shenzhen-based XGRIDS launched the PortalCam spatial camera to the overseas market, sparking immediate debate on LinkedIn.

By leveraging 3DGS, PortalCam aims to democratize the workflow of transforming physical spaces into editable, photorealistic 3D assets.

1. The PortalCam Spatial Camera: Technical Breakdown

Unlike traditional photogrammetry rigs or purely industrial laser scanners, PortalCam hybridizes consumer ease-of-use with professional-grade data density.

Core Technology & Specs

• Sensor Fusion Architecture: The device features a quad-camera array combined with LiDAR. This setup allows for simultaneous capture of geometry (via LiDAR) and texture/radiance (via cameras).
  • LiDAR: 30-meter range for precise depth and spatial relationships.
  • Optics: Dual fisheye lenses ensure blind-spot-free panoramic coverage, while dual front-facing cameras capture high-frequency details (text, textures).
• On-Device Edge Computing: Utilizing a proprietary Multi-SLAM algorithm, the device weighs only 870g, allowing for single-handed operation. It fuses sensor data in real-time to build scalable spatial models without tethering to a PC.
• Battery Life: The unit supports 60 minutes of continuous scanning via a removable battery system.

Software Workflow: LCC Studio

The accompanying LCC Studio software handles the heavy lifting of post-processing.

• Automation: Capable of processing 100m² of scan data in approximately 10 minutes.
• Interoperability: Crucially for developers, the software bridges the gap between raw data and game engines. It exports not only proprietary .LCC and standard .PLY files but also .USDZ for Apple ecosystem workflows.
• Integration: The generated 3D assets are compatible with Unity, Unreal Engine, and WebXR, supporting immediate deployment in VR/AR or virtual production pipelines.

Primary Use Cases

• AEC & Real Estate: Rapid digital twinning. A 280m² property can be captured in roughly 15 minutes, allowing for immediate measurement and virtual staging.
• Virtual Production (VFX): Location scouting and pre-visualization. Crews can capture lighting and blocking data on-site and import it directly into 3D environments, reducing on-set downtime.
• Game Dev: Rapid asset creation. Turning real-world environments into game-ready meshes or splats.
• Archival: High-fidelity preservation of heritage sites or personal spaces with photorealistic lighting inherent to 3DGS.

Pricing & Kits

Global shipping is handled via OpenELAB with warehouses in Munich, Long Beach, and Shenzhen. Note: EU orders are DDP (Duty Delivery Paid), while other regions may require customer clearance.

User Reaction: As user pixelreconstruct noted on the launch video: "This is the first real competitor to Matterport. The price point is aggressive. Hope to validate the workflow soon."

2. Industry Analysis: The View from LinkedIn

Analyzing the engagement on LinkedIn (filtering for posts with 100+ likes), the conversation among professionals goes beyond "how do I buy it?" into the implications for the spatial computing industry.

The Accuracy vs. Visualization Debate
Ryan Chris Brown (Head of Developer Ecosystem, Looking Glass) raised a valid engineering concern: While the LiDAR sensor is visually prominent, XGRIDS needs to publish rigorous accuracy data. For visualization, "good enough" works; for surveying, engineers need specific tolerances.

The "Walled Garden" Problem
David W Jaunay (Geospatial Architect) and Jamie Portolese (GIS Professional) focused on the business model. The current market leader, Matterport, is criticized for a closed ecosystem where users rent their own data.

• The Opportunity: If PortalCam offers true data sovereignty (local processing, fee-free exports), it disrupts the subscription-heavy status quo.
• The Risk: If XGRIDS locks high-res exports behind the Premium subscription, they risk repeating the mistakes of legacy players.

Resolution Limitations
Cyril PREISS (CEO, Gigascope) provided early hands-on feedback. While the UX is smooth, the resolution of fine details (e.g., text on a small object) struggled in his tests. This highlights the current trade-off between the speed of Gaussian Splatting and the absolute clarity of high-end photogrammetry.

Summary

With over 300 units sold in the first 24 hours, XGRIDS has successfully captured the early adopter market. The hardware specs—particularly the lightweight design and 30m LiDAR range—are compelling for field engineers.

However, the long-term success of the PortalCam won't just be about the hardware; it will depend on the software ecosystem. Can it deliver consistent, cleaner data compatible with Unreal/Unity workflows without trapping users in a cloud subscription?

For now, alongside drones and terrestrial scanners, the PortalCam represents a new, agile category in the spatial capture toolkit.

References:

• https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/VuVW2gMWWKWQul6xTbJK1w