Google is all set to delve further into the world of VR with a brand new headset, if rumours are to be believed. The company will apparently reveal a new headset later today at its Google I/O event, reportedly called Android VR.
It's not Google's first VR effort of course, with the hugely successful Google Cardboard initiative having already let millions of people turn their smartphones into ad-hoc VR headsets. Android VR, though, is a standalone headset, incorporating its own displays and making it a potential rival for the likes of Oculus Rift and HTC Vive.
The Android VR name obviously suggests that the headset will be running Android. That means it will likely have a mobile chipset built-in and a battery to power the device as well. If so, Android VR would be tetherless, allowing you to move and turn freely without worrying about a cable. If Google gets it right the new headset could have the comfort and freedom of Samsung's Gear VR, but with superior optics thanks to the dedicated display.
^ To date Google's VR efforts have revolved around repurposed smartphone hardware
However, using a mobile chip does come with its downsides. The Oculus Rift and HTC Vive headsets concentrate almost exclusively on gaming-related experiences and to create the fast-moving worlds required they use huge amounts of graphical power, provided by a high-end gaming PC.
Android VR, presuming a built-in chipset, would only have a fraction of this power, so such gaming experiences would be seriously curtailed. This means less detailed graphics and lower refresh rates, meaning that only shorter experiences are possible before players get tired eyes and possible nausea.
I'd expect Google to concentrate on more general VR experiences then, with games being just one part of the mix. 360-degree photos and videos have proved popular on Cardboard and Google has a big (and growing) library of 360-degree video content on YouTube, so a superior headset to Cardboard has a lot of potential.
I'll be at Google I/O Extended in London tonight and I'm hoping to bring you more details and maybe even an early hands-on test of the new device.
