The disclosure describes artificial reality (AR) systems and techniques that enable hierarchical power management of multiple devices within a multi-device AR system. For example, a multi-device AR system includes a device comprising one of a peripheral device configured to generate artificial reality content for display or a head-mounted display unit (HMD) configured to output artificial reality content. The device comprises a System on a Chip (SoC) that includes a host subsystem and plurality of subsystems. Each subsystem includes a child energy processing unit configured to manage power states for the subsystem. The host subsystem includes a parent energy processing unit configured to direct power management of each of the child energy processing units of the plurality of subsystems.