Huawei alongside Google in the race for virtual reality

Huawei supports Google VR in conquering the virtual reality sector via a new Daydream-ready visor and a Tango-powered smartphone

Huawei takes the field for virtual reality. And it does so with a VR visor ready for the Daydream platform developed by Google. Huawei’s new visor was announced in a Google blog post that also pointed to the new smartphones joining the Daydream family: the Mate 9 Pro and Huawei’s Porsche Design Mate 9.

The Chinese giant’s visor – according to Google – was “made to be easy to use” with “adjustable focus so it can be worn without glasses.” Huawei’s visor – at least aesthetically – is more reminiscent of Samsung’s Gear VR than Google’s Daydream View because of the materials used – white plastic – and the focus adjuster. The Chinese visor, however, will be compatible with Google’s virtual reality motion controller, which, not coincidentally, appears alongside the product in official images on the Mountain View giant’s blog.

Google’s Vision

Google launched the Daydream virtual reality platform along with the Daydream View visor only in November last year, and Huawei is the second manufacturer to release a Daydream-ready visor. And it certainly won’t be the last. Google has been very clear that although it has its own visor, Daydream is a platform that can also be used by models from other manufacturers in the hopes of “giving users even more choice in how they enjoy virtual reality.”

Chinese Tango

Huawei has not only joined Google’s Daydream family with two of its flagship smartphones, but also plans to integrate the Tango platform on one of its upcoming models. It’s a logical move on the part of the Chinese giant that, on the one hand, supports Daydream and, on the other, also Tango, which is Google’s augmented reality platform for mobile devices. Although nothing is yet known about this smartphone, and little more about Huawei’s VR visor. The number of devices using Tango technology is still very limited – Lenovo Phab 2 Pro and Asus Zenfone AR – while on the Google Play Store, at this time, there are only 36 Tango-compatible apps.