Google's own 'Android VR' headset will rumble with Samsung's Gear VR

Google will reportedly unveil its much-rumored virtual reality headset at its I/O developer conference next week.

The headset, dubbed "Android VR" will supposedly be a self-contained device, according to Peter Rojas, founder of Gizmodo and Engadget, and now entrepreneur-in-residence at Betaworks.

As a self-contained VR headset, Android VR won't need a smartphone to power it (like headsets like the Samsung Gear VR) or a powerful PC (Oculus Rift and HTC Vive).

According to Rojas, Android VR will supposedly offer a better VR experience than the Gear VR, but not quite as advanced as the Oculus Rift or Vive.

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Need more confirmation? The sleuths over at Android Police also spotted a placeholder page on Google's Developer Console website (when you sign in). As you can see in the screenshot below, there's an option for distributing apps on "Android VR" (far right icon).

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

Several reports from earlier in the year offered conflicting insight as to exactly what kind of VR headset Google was working on. It's possible Google will release two versions: a self-contained Android VR headset that "aims for the middle ground" as reported by the Wall Street Journal and possibly a headset that's more similar to Gear VR and requires a smartphone, but will work with more than just Samsung phones.

There will be an option for distributing apps on Android VR.

Cost is also the other big question. If Android VR is more powerful than the Gear VR, it'll also likely command a higher price than than the $99 Gear VR sells for. But since it'll also reportedly be less powerful than the Rift and Vive, we expect it to fall below the $500 and $800 those headsets cost respectively. A price anywhere between $100-500 seems fair for a standalone Android VR headset.

It's not like self-contained VR headsets don't exist. Sulon Technologies's Sulon Q headset, unveiled in March, is "the world's first and only tether-free, wireless wear-and-play headset that combines virtual reality, augmented reality and spatial computing into an all-in-one platform."

Google's plan to release a midrange VR headset could help make VR mainstream sooner rather than later.

Mashable will be reporting live from Google I/O next week where we'll find out more.

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