Were it not from Google, the virtual reality (VR) headset Daydream View would probably have a Swedish-sounding name. With its grey-mottled and minimalistic fabric design, the device could easily come from an IKEA catalogue.
But it’s more than just a lifestyle article. It’s the access point for Google's VR and 360-degree world. So what do you need to access this world? First of all, there’s the wrapround spectacles for 69 euros (73 dollars), which includes a Bluetooth controller with three buttons and touch control.
You also need a smartphone - so far only Google’s Pixel and Pixel XL are supported.
The pairing of the headset with the smartphone works really well. You simply slide the phone into the Daydream View, the necessary software is installed and the device goes into VR mode.
Then there’s the controller. Pressing a key on that creates a digital pointing finger in the virtual world. With the controller in hand, menus can be clicked through, icons activated and games played.
This works surprisingly well and is much better than those VR headsets for smartphones which use a touchpad at the side that you have to reach up for.
But what do you see in Google's virtual daydream? First of all, a colourful meadow on a gently sloping river with floating icons that advertise VR films, 360-degree panoramas, VR games or other content - including YouTube VR which will feature content from Google Street View, 360 degree videos and virtual museum tours.
With Daydream View on your head you’re right in the middle of the scene and can explore everything virtually, whether it’s Norway's fjords, the Taj Mahal or other places of interest from around the world.
The 2,560 x 1,440 pixel resolution of the Pixel XL we used in the test ensured that the image was pretty good, considering how close it is to the eyes, with the pixels not overly visible. At the edges, however, we found the picture slightly blurred.
One annoyance: dust quickly settles on the lenses and affects the view. In addition, a lot of light falling on the sides of the device can cause reflections on the lenses. So virtual day dreaming in a sunny park or under neon lights is not a good idea.
Over a long period, staring into the headset can become quite a strain on the eyes and it’s hard to watch a whole feature film without a break. In addition, the smartphone becomes quite hot and the high computational load and streaming connection means that spending hours in the virtual world is impossible without plugging in a charging cable.
Nevertheless, Google's Daydream View is one of the most sophisticated concepts so far for experiencing VR via a smartphone. The headset is comfortable, the concept simple and effective and the library of content is already quite large.
The elephant in the room though remains the price.
The headset itself is not expensive, but the smartphone needed to complete the setup is. The smallest version of the Google Pixel costs around 760 euros, the bigger Pixel XL starts at 899 euros.
Google says Daydream View compatible smartphones are in the works from other manufacturers, including Huawei, Xiami, Asus, Motorola, HTC and Samsung. However, it remains to be seen whether these will meet the necessary hardware requirements.
