All Mode
In this week’s series “The King of Mobile VR,” I am comparing the current champion of mobile VR, the Galaxy S8-powered Gear VR to the rising star, HTC’s new stand-alone headset that was announced alongside Google Daydream at last week’s Google I/O. Why am I comparing these two headsets?
Firstly, because Samsung’s Gear VR is a massive success and one of the most recognized virtual reality headsets currently available. The Gear VR ranks higher in sales and mindshare than even the Oculus Rift and the HTC Vive. For all intensive purposes, the Gear VR is the King of Mobile VR. HTC wants to capitalize on this market and is competing to do so.
Second, I am comparing these two headsets because HTC’s new headset poses a threat to the Gear VR dynasty. It is similar in terms of graphical resolution, CPU, GPU, and more, but it offers some intriguing new features that can be attributed to hardware and software that the Lords over at Google-town developed for Daydream 2.0. Launching at the same time as Daydream 2.0, HTC’s new headset will have the hardware and software chops to offer a super portable high powered all-in-one or stand-alone headset.
Image credit: HTC
Portability: Winner HTC
Today’s and tomorrow’s comparison will focus on portability and tracking which are technologically related to each other. Portability is important to consider because both of these headsets are highly portable. Their designs bank on being more portable than other headsets like the Oculus Rift and the HTC Vive. Both headsets have extremely different approaches to being portable.
Portability of the Gear VR
The Gear VR is widely renowned as one of the best mobile virtual reality headsets that are currently available. Since it was designed to work with Samsung’s Galaxy S line of phones, it offers a full virtual reality experience powered completely by mobile processors. If you have never tried a Gear VR, you should know that it easy to set up, but it is also bit fiddly. The headset works by inserting the phone into the back portion of the Gear VR headset. The phone connects via the micro or USB-C connector found at the base of the Samsung S device.
After attaching the phone to the USB port, the phone swings into a clip that secures securing it parallel to the lenses in the headset. All in all, this works easy enough, however, the phone fits into the headset with a super tight clip. When traveling, you generally carry the phone and the headset separately (because you want to use your phone while traveling). For the most part, this winds up being a nice portable experience, however, since we are dealing with two objects, the Gear VR is not really “grab and go.”
Image credit: Engadget
In contrast to the Gear VR, HTC’s new headset is, in my opinion, the more portable option. Designed to be an all-in-one or a stand-alone headset, HTC’s new headset is fully self-contained and self-sufficient in a way that few other headsets on the market can match. Beyond using a power plug to charge the device, this headset contains all the graphics and processing mojo, displays, lens, and sensors that power the mobile virtual reality experiences that it provides.
HTC may and probably will provide add-ons like controllers, cases, and other goodies but these will be optionally required. This headset will truly be “grab and go.” In other words, I will not have to carry a separate headset or worry about correctly inserting my phone into the headset. Beyond this, I will actually be able to easily switch between using my phone and using the headset which is a pain in the butt with the Gear VR.
Image credit: HTC
Issues
This is actually my biggest beef with the Gear VR and the main reason why I do not use it very much. When using the Gear VR, I often get texts or calls which need to be answered. This means I have to take out the phone, quit the VR game or web page, and then proceed to my phone business. After the phone business is done, then I have to reinsert the phone, go back to Oculus home, launch the game, wait for it to load…Resultantly, for me, every phone call or text breaks any virtual reality immersion that I previously had.
This is all bothers me so much, as I said earlier, that I rarely use my Gear VR. HTC’s device should be different because it doesn’t rely on the phone. Given that the device is being marketed as a full VR headset, I imagine that HTC’s headset will not include any extra phone or communications software. This all should add up to a more portable headset that will be able to provide more immersive experiences than Samsung’s current King of VR.
thoug I agree with one thing that with having your phone inside headset it is alot of hassle to change videos and answering calls.
Well I highly doubt Google would release if they weren’t sure they would be # 1. Why else should their delay release if not for preparing to be on top?