The XGRIDS Lixel L3 is the flagship of the XGRIDS mobile scanner series. Compared to the K2, it is equipped with a noticeably higher-quality camera optics and is aimed at projects where high precision and a convincing visual representation come together. At the product launch, XGRIDS mentioned a validated relative accuracy of 5 mm, 4K HDR color capture, and integrated RTK. Point clouds, meshes, and photorealistic 3DGS scenes are created from a single shot.
What is the XGRIDS Lixel L3?
The Lixel L3 is a hand-held spatial scanner that combines LiDAR, visual sensors, SLAM, and RTK in a single system. An integrated display displays acquisition information directly on the device. The recordings can be processed locally; no continuous cloud upload of raw data is required.
XGRIDS positions the L3 for larger, more demanding projects where geometry and visual quality are equally important. These include asset capture, architecture and construction, digital twins, cultural heritage, and film and XR production. A single capture can be further processed as a point cloud, mesh, or Gaussian splat depending on the workflow.
Technical specifications and accuracy
- Relative accuracy: 5 mm, named by XGRIDS as the valid value for presenting the L3.
- LiDAR performance: up to 640,000 measurement points per second; the product data lists a range of 0.7 to 120 m.
- Image system: 1/1.3-inch CMOS with 4K HDR recording for color and surface detail.
- Positioning: integrated RTK for the acquisition of absolute coordinates under appropriate GNSS conditions.
- Expenditures: Point cloud, mesh and 3D Gaussian Splatting.
- Recording speed: XGRIDS lists around 100 m² as a typical benchmark in about ten minutes.
The accuracy specification of 5 mm refers to relative accuracy. It should not be confused with a blanket guarantee for every project or with absolute GNSS accuracy. Results and repeatability depend, among other things, on the scene, route, satellite reception, reference data, and processing.
RTK: why integrated positioning is important
RTK stands for Real-Time Kinematic. It is a satellite-based surveying method: A GNSS receiver uses correction data from a known reference station or a reference network. In this way, positions can be determined with significantly greater accuracy under suitable conditions than with a conventional GPS receiver.
The practical benefit lies in georeferenced data. A scan can be more easily integrated into an existing coordinate system, a map, or another surveying model. For this, the device needs sufficient GNSS visibility and the appropriate correction link. Interiors, deep road canyons, dense forest, or shaded areas are unfavorable for RTK; SLAM, control points, and the specific capture workflow remain crucial in these areas.
RTK also helps when ground and drone data are combined. XGRIDS‘ LCC Studio supports an aerial-ground fusion, where drone images and terrestrial data are combined into a single model. The coordinate systems, correction data, and acquisition specifications must all match. RTK alone does not automatically correct two datasets correctly.
When is the L3 useful?
The L3 is then interesting when a project requires both spatial accuracy and high-quality visual documentation. For large building complexes, industrial facilities, outdoor spaces, or complex interior spaces, the mix of geometry, color, and integrated positioning can reduce the need to switch between multiple recording systems.
- Architecture and Construction: Capture data, document progress, and prepare data for BIM or CAD workflows.
- Digital twins: represent real spaces and facilities as a spatial data base for planning, operation, and visualization.
- Cultural heritage: Document buildings, interiors, and objects with geometry and visual surface details.
- Film and XR: Prepare real-world locations as detailed 3DGS scenes or meshes for virtual production, the web, and immersive applications.
- Drone projects: Combining ground and aerial measurements at a larger scale when the recording and reference systems are coordinated.
L3 as flagship: camera optics and position relative to K2
The L3 is the top-of-the-line model in the XGRIDS portfolio. Compared to the K2, it offers even better camera optics and visual detection; XGRIDS describes a 1/1.3-inch CMOS system with 4K HDR. This brings the L3 closer to high geometric precision in image quality. The K2 remains the more compact and lower-priced device class with a very dense point cloud and integrated RTK.
The positioning compared to the PortalCam follows a different axis: The PortalCam is particularly convincing as a product for visual media production. The L3 is the flagship for demanding spatial capture, where precise geometry, positioning, and high-quality image data are in demand at the same time. More details about the mid-range scanner class can be found on our page on XGRIDS Lixel K2.
Lixel L3 compared to K2, L2 Pro and PortalCam
The XGRIDS devices do not form a simple ranking. They are tailored to different tasks:
- Lixel K2: Lightweight handheld scanner for small to medium scenes and a mobile work day. It delivers a very dense point cloud, meshes, and 3DGS. Its integrated RTK is included in the standard configuration.
- Lixel L2 Pro: Mobile mapping system for longer distances and different LiDAR configurations. Depending on the variant, it is designed for extensive or complex surveys.
- Lixel L3: New high-end system that aligns XGRIDS with high relative accuracy, high-resolution color capture, and large, complex applications.
- PortalCam: Camera-centric capture system for fast, visually convincing Gaussian scattering scenes. In our practical work, it delivers a better visual effect than the K2, while the K2 produces the significantly denser point cloud.
When the crucial question is „What does the scene look like?“, PortalCam is the more direct path for many XR and visualization tasks. If point cloud density, geometry, coordinate reference, or fusion with drone data are weighted more heavily, K2 or L3 is closer to the goal. L3 is aimed at projects where high accuracy and visualization are required together.
You can find more information about the middle device class on our page about XGRIDS Lixel K2. We show the visual capture workflow in PortalCam Review.
Software and data workflow
The processing depends on the desired output. XGRIDS calls LixelStudio for point cloud and mesh workflows, as well as LCC Studio for 3DGS reconstruction, fusion, and publishing. Requirements for drone ground fusion include recording route, RTK data, and connection points. The features and supported formats may depend on the software version and license edition.
Therefore, before purchasing, it is essential to compare not only the hardware: the included software, the export formats, the license terms, and the integration with existing BIM, CAD, GIS, Unity, or Unreal projects are also crucial. For an XR application, it is also necessary to determine early on what data volume and display quality will actually work on the target devices.
Our conclusion about the XGRIDS Lixel L3
The Lixel L3 expands the XGRIDS portfolio with a system that aims to combine precise geometry, visual details, and integrated positioning. The 5-mm value for relative accuracy is a manufacturer-specific value from the product launch and should be verified in your own project workflow. The L3 is particularly relevant when extensive spaces or outdoor areas need to be documented not only visually but also geometrically.
For purely visual scenes, the PortalCam remains an attractive alternative; for handy mobile scanning with a high point cloud density, the K2 is an appropriate device category. The L3 is particularly worthwhile if the scope of the project, the accuracy requirement, and the desired 3D output justify its greater performance spectrum.
Design4real helps companies align their capture processes, data processing, and XR output – from Gaussian Splatting on the web to interactive applications in VR and real-time 3D.
Further XGRIDS contributions
- XGRIDS Lixel K2: Point cloud, RTK and media production
- Lixel K1: the predecessor in the test
- PortalCam Review: visual capture workflow
- Aerial Ground Map Fusion: Combining drone and scanner data
Frequently asked questions about the Lixel L3
The Lixel L3 is the flagship mobile XGRIDS scanner. It combines precise spatial capture with a high-quality 4K HDR camera system.
The L3 is equipped with a visibly higher-quality camera optics compared to the K2. XGRIDS calls it a 1/1.3-inch CMOS system with 4K HDR. The K2 remains a versatile, denser, and more affordable device class.
It depends on the application goal. The L3 is the XGRIDS flagship for precise spatial detection and high-quality image data. The PortalCam is particularly strong as a system for visual media production and convincing Gaussian-Splatting scenes.
The integrated RTK supports coordinate referencing in outdoor shots. For fusion with drone data, recording, corrections, and the coordinate system in the Aerial Ground Map Fusion workflow must be consistent.
