Alcatel introduces VR headset that doesn’t need smartphone support

Alcatel’s new virtual reality effort sits smack in the middle of the VR gear out there. It isn’t like the really expensive and high-tech Oculus Rift and HTC Vive, nor is it like Google Cardboard or Samsung Gear VR. A unique point for the Vision is it doesn’t need a smartphone slotted in front of your face to get it to work, nor does it need to be connected to a powerful computer. But as Tech Crunch’s Brian Heater points out Alcatel is marketing it as an entry-level VR headset and the graphics on it seem to back the point. Its price tag, though, is pretty hefty at €499 to 599 (around CA$720 to $860).

Content is also a point of concern but Alcatel promises at least 50 games and 100 VR-ready videos by the time the headset is available on the market by year’s end. Its system is said to be Android-based so navigation should feel familiar and it has a touchpad and volume buttons to its side. Plus, there’s padding and support that extends to the back of the head. If for wanting something unique in the VR space, this might be worth checking out.