Google Daydream View

Price: £69

For use with its new Pixel smartphones, Google has released its first VR headset: the Daydream View.

Price

Rather than a fully fledged VR headset such as the HTC Vive, the Daydream View is a headset with which you look at a smartphone through built-in lenses. It’s a step up from Google’s popular cardboard VR and a rival to the likes of Samsung’s Gear VR. Plus, because it doesn’t contain a huge amount of tech, its price is low. You can preorder one from tinyurl.com/hmLb9qh for just £69. It’s due to be released in the UK in November.

Design

The Daydream View is one of the most attractive headsets we’ve seen with its fabric covering on the outside. It’s available in three colours: Slate (see right), 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 lightweight headset at 220g (around 30 percent lighter than the average). The adjustable strap goes round your head rather than over it, which we found slightly restricts how quickly you can move your head without fear of it falling off.

The breathable fabric covered foam that comes into contact with your skin is soft and comfy, and we were able to use the headset while wearing 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 this won’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.

Apps

Since the Daydream View is a ‘viewer’ VR headset, the specs largely depend on which phone you put in it. The Pixels are the first compatible devices and Google said a handful of major phone makers have committed to producing phones that can use the Daydream by the end of the year.

When it comes to the Pixel phones, you’re best off taking advantage of the XL’s Quad HD resolution for a sharper image.

One useful feature is its 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 a 12-hour 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 this 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.

You’ll be able to do other stuff too, such as 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 tourist attractions such as the Taj Mahal.

Other apps include Guardian VR, New York Times VR, WSJ VR and Lego. More will arrive over time with Google touting more than 50 by the end of the year.

Verdict

You’ll need a compatible phone but the Daydream View is an accomplished device. Its attractive style is complemented by a comfortable fit, although an over the top strap might be an oversight for more energetic tasks. The NFC and wireless experience is great and the simple yet effective motion controller is a real bonus.