Update: At Google IO 2017, the firm announced a well-documented and significant move forward for Daydream: standalone headsets. Read more about how it's all expected to work and who's involved below.
Also, the list of Daydream-compatible phones has recently grown, including the Moto Z2 Force and the Samsung Galaxy S8, so head over to the next page to see if your phone (or the phone you're getting next) will be VR-ready.
Original article follows below.
Daydream is Google's latest attempt at bringing VR to mobile devices, and it's quite different than Google Cardboard, to say the least.
Unlike Cardboard, which aimed to get people in the VR door with a low cost and lenient power requirements, Daydream is a more robust vision that has its sight set on providing higher-quality experiences to Android Nougat and soon to Android O users, too.
Beyond even that, Google is working with partners like Qualcomm, HTC and Lenovo to develop Daydream headsets that are completely free of phones, PCs and wires.
In short, Daydream is all about bringing exciting and absorbing VR experiences to those who can't afford a HTC Vive or Oculus Rift. Here's everything you need to know about it.
Cut to the chase
- What is it? Google's high-quality VR platform
- When is it out? Now
- What will it cost? $79 (£69, about AU$104) for the View, but you can frequently find it for less. Standalone headsets will obviously be more expensive
Daydream View headset
Want to get started with Daydream? Google has its own headset that you'll be able to use with Daydream-ready phones. It's called Daydream View and, unlike other VR headsets we've seen before, it has a material design ... just like the Android operating system. There's a latch on the front to slide your phone in and the controller for the headset is included.
Last year, Google invited other device makers to create their own Daydream headsets. This year, at Google IO 2017, it was made obvious that said device makers responded, with dedicated, standalone Daydream headsets in works by HTC and Lenovo. But, more on that in a bit.
Netflix, HBO and Hulu all have Daydream-ready apps available now, plus The New York Times has launched an app, too, for its VR videos.
Plus, Google has also made its own apps compatible with the Daydream platform. That includes Play Movies, Photos, Maps and YouTube.
Daydream goes independent
During Google IO 2017, the firm officially confirmed the well-reported rumor that it would be launching standalone Daydream headsets with select hardware partners.
This means that all of the parts needed to drive the Daydream experience will be found inside these headsets. No need for a phone, PC or even any cables.
Google has worked with Qualcomm to develop a reference design for its Daydream headsets. While the company didn't have much to say or show of this reference design device, Google did tease that both HTC (seen above) and Lenovo (seen below) are working on standalone Daydream headsets based on this reference design.
Both headsets are made possible by Google's new WorldSense tracking technology, a series of sensors that provide all of the motion tracking and sense of presence that, say, a smartphone's sensor array would.
HTC hasn't said much of anything about its Daydream device other than it will be considered part of the Vive family. Lenovo, however, has already dubbed its device the "Lenovo + Daydream," but we'll see whether that sticks.
The Daydream View headset shown off by Google is the only option for Daydream VR right now. But, again, it's also letting other companies take hold of the tech, which will likely result in a variety of different looking headsets.
As Daydream is deeply integrated into Android Nougat and O, Google has put the entire Play Store within view while wearing a Daydream headset.
The Google Play Store takes on a familiar look in the VR space, with each individual app having its own rating and description. Google has also added the level of motion that you'll experience within each app, just so that you know what sort of immersion you're about to get yourself into.
Performance
Daydream requires these three pillars in order to be a viable VR option: smartphones that are optimized for VR, with a high quality system on chip (SoC) to maintain 60 frames-per-second playback, low persistence displays to eliminate ghosting and lag, and finally, top-notch sensors that operates with minimal latency to boost the sense of presence.
So, what sort of performance can we reasonably expect out of it? Well, you'd be right to think that it really depends on the power of the phone that's inside.
Google's new Pixel and Pixel XL phones pack a Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor and 4GB of RAM as well as running a FHD (1080p) screen on the Pixel and a QHD (2K) screen on the Pixel XL. You can bet that these devices will be primed to push high-quality VR experiences.
Google Daydream is baked into the OS on the Pixel, Pixel XL, and has since been added to many other Android phones.
Coming off of the news that there will be 11 Daydream-ready phones available by the end of the 2017, we've updated our growing list of devices that support the VR platform.
Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus
Samsung's latest flagship smartphones are the most recent candidates to earn Daydream support. Coming off the Google IO 2017 announcements in May, we've finally been treated to the update in August.
These phones are among the most capable smartphones that can pop into a Daydream View headset. Equipped with a Snapdragon 835, 4GB of RAM, and depending on which phone you have, either a 5.8-inch or 6.2-inch screen, these beg to play the latest Daydream apps and games.
ZTE Axon 7
The Axon 7 stuns with its 5.5-inch AMOLED display that runs at 2,560 x 1,440. This resolution will provide a more crisp experience than a 1080p screen, much like the ones you'll find on the OnePlus 3 and Nexus 5X.
A bleeding-edge display is a crucial ingredient in modern VR, but the Axon 7 also looks to offer up plenty of power to back it up.
It will launch with two variations: one with 4GB RAM and another with 6GB RAM. Each will feature the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 clocked at 2.2GHz.
The Nougat 7.1 update has yet to land on the Axon 7, but during CES 2017, Google and ZTE announced that it's coming very soon. And, with its low price tag, it's one of the cheapest ways to get in the Daydream door.
Google Pixel and Pixel XL
Google's Pixel and Pixel XL launched alongside the Daydream View headset, and among the other compatible devices, will currently provide the best VR experience thanks to their Snapdragon 821 and 4GB RAM outfit.
These phones, while totally capable now and in the future, will likely be outpaced early in 2017 with the incoming Snapdragon 835 system-on-a-chip.
Moto Z, Moto Z Force, Moto Z2 Force
The multi-talented Moto Z and the Verizon-exclusive Moto Z Force are compatible with the Google Daydream View.
Each is stocked with the Snapdragon 820 and 4GB RAM, and shine with 2,560 x 1,440 OLED displays, which make them ideal candidates for mobile VR.
The new Moto Z2 Force has been confirmed to support Daydream, though we've been told that the code isn't ready to launch on time with the phone's arrival on August 10.
Huawei Mate 9 Pro
While this phone is very similar in specifications to the Huawei Mate 9, it boasts a QHD AMOLED screen instead of FHD LCD used on the lower-end Mate 9, which makes it a prime candidate for Daydream compatibility.
Unlike the other options, Huawei's bucks the Snapdragon SoC in favor of its own Kirin 960 octa-core system on a chip. Paired with 6GB of RAM, this is one of the best ways to experience Daydream VR.
Asus ZenFone AR
The Asus ZenFone AR debuted at CES 2017 and is one of the most impressive phones to run Daydream. It houses a Snapdragon 821, like the Google Pixel and Google Pixel XL, but also comes in 6GB and 8GB variants.
It features a QHD Super AMOLED display to allow for rich colors and deep blacks, a necessity for Daydream VR.
What's most impressive is that the ZenFone AR is also Tango-compatible with its dual-camera setup on the phone's rear.
This phone will be arriving as a Verizon-exclusive device soon, so stay tuned for our full review.
August 02, 2017 at 12:19AM
Cameron Faulkner,Joe Osborne
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