Google is set to unveil a number of new devices and services at today’s big event, mainly focusing on the Pixel and Pixel XL phones (which have already been widely leaked). According to a report by Variety though, Google’s new mobile VR headset platform Daydream is going to hit the spotlight as well, and at a price low enough to fit under almost any Christmas tree.
Variety’s report maintains that both Pixel and Pixel XL phones will work with the new Daydream headset—no big surprise here—but citing a source familiar with the announcement “could be sold for as little as $79.”
Variety further reports that the first Daydream headset may also be built by HTC, the manufacturer of the Pixel and Pixel XL.
Revealed at Google’s I/O 2016 event, Brahim Elbouchikhi, Senior Product Manager on the Google VR team, said the company intends on pushing out Daydream “at Android scale, meaning hundreds of millions of users…”
Daydream, unlike Samsung’s Gear VR which uses a headset-mounted touchpad, will come with a small Wii-style remote for gestural input and work across a number of Daydream-compatible phones from multiple manufacturers including Hauwei, Samsung, HTC, LG, Mi, ZTE, Asus and Alcatel. Gear VR only works with select flagship Samsung phones.
While we can’t read too deeply into the report, Google has provided their Daydream headsets reference design to multiple manufacturers, and it would make sense that a company already familiar with headset ergonomics (via the HTC Vive) would be one of the first to take a stab at building Google’s Daydream headset set to unveil today.
You can check out the livestream (below) at 9am PDT/12pm EDT today, Tuesday, October 4th. We’ll be reporting on all things Daydream as they develop.
