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.

Packaging of the latest Alcatel phone reportedly doubles as a Google Cardboard VR viewer

Alcatel has found a clever and fun way to make use of its OneTouch Idol 4S device. The packaging the phone comes in will reportedly ship in a plastic box that will work as a Google Cardboard-compatible VR viewer. Like other Google Cardboard devices, all it has are two eyepieces, a slot for holding the phone, and a single button to tap on the screen. It’s not high-tech but it sure is a nifty way to package a device.

The Idol 4S is a mid-range device that runs on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 652 processor with a 5.5-inch quad HD AMOLED display, 3GB of RAM, and 16GB internal storage. It’ll have a 16-megapixel rear shooter and 8-megapixel front-facing camera. It will reportedly sell for under US$400 and will supposedly come out in May.

Source: VentureBeat | Via: The Verge