Report: Google's Daydream VR headset will cost $79
Google's Daydream VR headset will cost $79.
Google on Tuesday is expected to announce a healthy list of hardware products at an event in San Francisco, Calif.
From two Pixel (not Nexus) smartphones to a Google Wi-Fi router, Google Home personal assistant, and 4K Chromecast devices, Google is also expected to announce its first Daydream virtual-reality headset.
According to a report from Variety, Google's Daydream VR headset will cost $79. Also worth noting is the headset will reportedly be manufactured by HTC, the same company rumored as the manufacturer of the Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones.
Now, before you get too excited, keep in mind that price is in addition to the cost of the Pixel or Pixel XL smartphone required to use the headset. They'll presumably be the first two devices available with support for Google's Daydream VR platform.
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Still, Google's Daydream platform will lower the barrier for those who want to experience virtual reality without purchasing a powerful gaming PC often required to run the HTC Vive or Oculus' VR dedicated headset.
Google first unveiled Daydream during Google I/O, its developer conference, in May 2016. The Daydream platform is built directly into Android 7.0 Nougat and will allow Android developers to build immersive apps and games.
Google's approach to VR with Daydream is similar to Samsung's Gear VR line, wherein a user places a compatible smartphone into a headset. The phone provides the display and computing power to drive the virtual-reality experience. Google is also requiring a handheld controller to move and interact within a virtual-reality app or experience, unlike Samsung's Gear VR headset, which relies on a trackpad on the side of the headset for interaction.
Google created a set of requirements, including specifications such as processor speed and display quality, which a device manufacturer must meet in order for a phone to be certified "Daydream-ready". ZTE's Axon 7, for example, is Daydream-ready and priced at just $399.
We will have a full report of everything announced during Google's hardware event, which kicks off Oct. 4 at 12 pm ET.