Archos VR Glasses are compatible with nearly any smartphone, priced to sell

[Shawn Knight]

Archos, the French consumer electronics company best known for building budget-friendly tablets, is preparing to launch a virtual reality headset. Their solution, the Archos VR Glasses, is a bring-your-own-screen headset that’ll accept smartphones with screen sizes up to six inches according to a press release on the matter.

Built of robust and lightweight materials, the Archos VR Glasses will be compatible with phones running Android, iOS and Windows Phones. All virtual reality apps (more than 100 as of writing, we're told) will work with the wearable.

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of Archos’ solution is the price. The headset will start at just $29.99, far cheaper than most everything else we’ve seen thus far.

The company points out that they are also working on a Bluetooth controller for gaming purposes but didn’t disclose any more information on it.

We have Google, not Oculus VR, to thank for the wave of bring-your-own-screen virtual reality headsets flooding the market. Google Cardboard, a build-it-yourself enclosure that was distributed to I/O conference goers earlier this year, has spawned a number of copy-cat devices from a variety of manufacturers.

Samsung partnered with Oculus VR to create Gear VR, a headset that relies on the Galaxy Note 4 (and only the Galaxy Note 4) to provide visuals. It’s supposed to go on sale sometime this fall at a rumored cost of $199.

More recently (as in, earlier this week), optics specialist Carl Zeiss unveiled its VR enclosure. The VR One is half the price of Samsung’s solution and will be compatible with more than just one phone.

The Archos VR Glasses will be available starting next month. 

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https://www.techspot.com/news/58468-archos-vr-glasses-compatible-nearly-any-smartphone-priced.html

 

[GhostRyder]

I find these funny when they say they are compatible with any smartphone. Mostly because I keep imagining people trying to walk around with them on and smacking into walls.

Or then I also remember this gem I have in my room
http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/210/2105296/2411205-0718025329-virtu.jpg

 

[Skidmarksdeluxe]

To me it sounds like the Oculus is already dead then if all it takes is your smartphone and a cheap headset thingy to make VR a reality. Shame, and FB has just dropped a ton of money on them.

 

[Rippleman]

To me it sounds like the Oculus is already dead then if all it takes is your smartphone and a cheap headset thingy to make VR a reality. Shame, and FB has just dropped a ton of money on them.

I assume that the oculus could have a lot more true horsepower compared to a phone, video power in particular.

 

[davislane1]

I always wanted to browse through my contact list in 3D.

 

[IAMTHESTIG]

To me it sounds like the Oculus is already dead then if all it takes is your smartphone and a cheap headset thingy to make VR a reality. Shame, and FB has just dropped a ton of money on them.

The Oculus is targeted at hardcore gamers. There are plenty of us spending money on hardware. I think it will do just fine if the price is right. Rather than spend $400 on a nice 27" monitor for gaming, I could keep my old 24" and get the Oculus.

 

[EClyde]

OH Yea ! I'm wearing those ! Where is my welding gear ?

 

[Skidmarksdeluxe]

I assume that the oculus could have a lot more true horsepower compared to a phone, video power in particular.

I don't know, smartphones are pretty powerful things nowadays.

 

[Skidmarksdeluxe]

OH Yea ! I'm wearing those ! Where is my welding gear ?

Lift your dark visor. If you still can't see it then you may have to visit your optometrist or report a theft to the cops.

 

[Skidmarksdeluxe]

The Oculus is targeted at hardcore gamers. There are plenty of us spending money on hardware. I think it will do just fine if the price is right. Rather than spend $400 on a nice 27" monitor for gaming, I could keep my old 24" and get the Oculus.

You could be right but targeting it just at hardcore gamers doesn't sound terribly lucrative to me, I woulda thought you'd want to sell as many as possible to as many people as possible.

 

[SantistaUSA]

To me it sounds like the Oculus is already dead then if all it takes is your smartphone and a cheap headset thingy to make VR a reality. Shame, and FB has just dropped a ton of money on them.

It would only be dead if this VR for $30 is any good which I highly doubt it, I bet the resolution is horrible and won't be worth the money, but people might just buy it since it is dirt cheap. I'm betting my money on the Oculus.