Huawei's VR headset dares Samsung Gear VR

Twitter courtesy of Huawei

When Huawei launched its P9 and P9 Plus smartphones early in April in Shanghai, it also allowed its guests to take a look at its own VR headset. It is strikingly similar to the Samsung Gear VR and also needs to connect to a smartphone. The company also said that their VR gear will be offering a 360-degree sound field, the first of its kind.

There are currently conflicting reports on how the new Huawei VR will work. According Engadget, the new VR goggles will fit the P9, the P9 Plus, and the Mate 8. However, the said phones can only offer a 1080p screen resolution, far less than the QHD resolution that Samsung flagship phones can offer.

To experience a true VR environment, the Huwaei VR headgear is also said to offer the first mobile 360-degree sound field through its own app, the right content, and a compatible pair of headphones. Additionally, the device offers a 95-degree field of view, which is less than its nearest counterpart. The Oculus Rift and HTC Vive offer a 110-degree viewing angle, but these are not portable.

Tom's Guide also mentioned that upon release of the goggles, the company will be ready to offer more than 4,000 movies, over 40 free games, and several hundreds of panoramic images and virtual tours. And they will all be free.

On the other hand, Gizok stated a different way that Huawei's VR will function. It stated that smartphones do not need to be inserted to the headgear for the display because it has its own display screen, although one needs to connect a cable from the P9's USB Type-C port to the VR gear. Once connected, the built-in screen offers a 639 ppi pixel density and offers a viewing experience similar to watching a 130-inch screen from two meters away. Samsung flagship phones have around 500 ppi pixel densities on their display screens.

Huawei has not really released any official details about their latest offering. There is also no information with regard to its price and availability.