If you want the Daydream experience, at least right now, you need to buy the Daydream View headset. With the arrival of Daydream support for the Galaxy S8 this summer, it won’t be ideal for some. Many Galaxy S8 owners already have a great VR headset that can be easily used for Daydream, and it comes free with the phone. The only thing missing from the headset to complete Daydream is a Google motion controller.
The only way to get this controller right now is to buy the full VR kit from Google, and now the sales volume of Gear VR headsets in the world needs to change.
There’s something of an unspoken secret about Google Daydream — the headset is really just a plush version of Google Cardboard. There is no additional hardware in the headset, all the magic of Daydream lies in the software thanks to Google’s stringent hardware requirements. The only hardware that is actually required for Daydream to work is the Bluetooth wand you get with Daydream View, the Daydream controller. Google has made this controller a standard and said that any company can make Daydream headsets as long as this controller is enabled.
But due to the addition of support for the Galaxy S8, the script needs to be turned around a bit. While Google gets a lot of points for making Daydream View very comfortable and shockproof, the Samsung Gear VR headset is a more immersive experience, and it really is. established for Galaxy S8. It will be much easier to convert Galaxy S8 owners to Daydream if those who already own Gear VR can simply add a Daydream controller. If you offer a more engaging user experience with deeper integration with Google services, which is what Daydream does, it will be a win-win for many would-be VR fans. It’s already possible to use the Gear VR to launch cardboard apps, so it’s really not a jump.
This goes way beyond existing Gear VR owners. Google Cardboard headsets are everywhere, in any configuration and made of any material. Offering these people, even those with simple pieces of cardboard, a way to improve their experience with the right phone is a great way to keep growing.
Daydream View is still the best way to enjoy Daydream and is likely to remain the most common way users transition to the platform, but it shouldn’t be the only way. There are great alternatives and Google’s support will go a long way in getting users adopted.