Alongside its new Pixel phones, Google Home and the Chromecast Ultra, Google announced its first Daydream VR headset at its 4 October London event. We were there to check it out so here's our Google Daydream View hands-on review. Also see: The complete guide to VR.
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Google Daydream View review: Price and release date UK
Rather than a fully-fledged VR headset like the HTC Vive, the Daydream View is one by which you, er, view a smartphone through built-in lenses. It's a step up from Google's popular cardboard VR and makes it a rival to the likes of Samsung's Gear VR.
Because the Daydream View VR headset doesn't contain a huge amount of tech, relying on the phone for most, its price is relatively cheap. You can get it for just £69 and it has a UK release date of November. The cost of the phone adds a lot with the cheaper Pixel starting at £599.
It's available from today, 10 November, from the Google Store, EE and Carphone Warehouse.
Google Daydream View review: Design and build
The Daydream View VR headset is one of the most attractive we've seen with its fabric covering on the outside. It's available in three colours: Slate (as photographed), Snow and Crimson.
Google said it's worked hard on creating a cosy feel and it's certainly done this with the 'jersey fabric' finish. It's a comfortable and fairly light weight VR headset at 220g (around 30 percent lighter than the average). The adjustable strap just goes round your head rather than over it, too, which slightly restricts how quickly you can move your head without fear of it falling off.
The breathable fabric covered foam which makes contact with your face is soft and comfy and we were able to use the headset with glasses without any trouble.
Inserting the phone is easy via the hinged flap at the front which is held in place with an elastic catch (hopefully that doesn't wear out over time). Thanks to NFC, the phone and headset know what's happening so by the time you put the Daydream View headset on, the app has already launched.
We discussed the Google event right after it happened on our podcast. Listen here:
Google Daydream View review: Specs and apps
Since the Daydream View is a 'viewer' VR headset, the specs largely depend on which phone you put in it. The Pixel phones are the first which are compatible and Google said a handful of major phone makers have committed to produce Daydream-compatible phones by the end of the year.
When it comes to the Pixel phones, you're best off taking advantage of the Pixel XL's Quad HD resolution for a sharper image.
An interesting and useful feature of the Daydream View is that it comes with a wireless controller. It's very small, maybe a little too small for some, and while you might lose it, the remote fits inside the headset when there isn't a phone inserted. It connects over Bluetooth LE and charges via USB-C offering 12 hours battery life, according to Google.
When you first put on the headset you'll see a floating menu in front of you (below). Using the controller as a pointing device, you can navigate around and also use it to interact with experiences or play games. For example, we played a mini-game in Wonderglade which used the remote as a motion controller to tilt a virtual 'Labyrinth' style race circuit. We found the tracking, via 9-axis IMUs, smooth and accurate.
Google has also teamed up with J.K. Rowling for an exclusive Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them experience. Even a short play on this was pretty immersive and the controller becomes your wand – nice.
You'll be able to do other stuff too like watch YouTube and Netflix videos in a virtual theatre and Google is planning to add support for Google Play Movies, too. You'll also want to check out Street View which includes prepared guides of attractions such as the Taj Mahal.
Other Daydream VR apps include Guardian VR, New York Times VR, WSJ VR and Lego. More will arrive over time with Google touting 50+ by the end of the year.
Now it's on sale, Google has alerted us to new VR experiences for the headset including Danger Goat, VR Karts, Hunters Gate, Mekorama, MLB - Home Run Derby and Polyrunner VR.
