We’ve been learning about Daydream – Google’s new VR platform, since it was formally unveiled at the company’s I/O developer conference back in May, and one piece of this intriguing virtual puzzle was a new VR headset, named the Daydream View.
The headset launches today and we got ahold of one to see what you can expect inside before jumping into some new virtual worlds, courtesy of Google.
The box itself mirrors the clean aesthetic of the company’s new Pixel and Pixel XL smartphone boxes, with a simple white finish, the product name and an image of the View accompanied by some select details and another top-down view of the box’s contents on the back. The ‘Daydream ready’ stamp serves as a hallmark for compatible VR experiences and naturally one sits on the side of the View’s box too.
On the back, Google describes the Daydream View as a means of accessing ‘simple, high-quality virtual reality’ and also outlines some of the key experiences available at launch.
Slit the plastic tabs on the box’s right side and pull the card tap at the top to open the end downwards, revealing the Daydream View’s controller – a Bluetooth-based motion controller with two buttons, a volume rocker, a Type-C USB port for charging its non-removable battery and a clickable touchpad. The card surrounding the controller outlines all of its key functions and the lightly textured plastic finish is colour matched to the headset you’ve chosen. Our Slate sample adopts a dark grey palette, whilst two other colourways are also available at launch: Snow and Crimson.
Pulling the tab slides the entire contents out of the box in a single unit, so you can get a good look at the view itself. The body of the headset is mostly covered by an elasticated fabric, which gives the View a softer, more natural look. The front of the headset, where your Daydream ready smartphone would sit, is held in place by an elasticated leather tab, that when pull down reveals a plastic internal plate on adjustable hinges, design to accommodate phones of varying sizes or devices with cases on them.
There’s also a small channel with another elasticated band running across its centre, designed to hold the Daydream View’s remote when not in use, which is a smart move on Google’s part.
The headset is held in place by a card tab that points users to the Play Store to download the Daydream app and get started, whilst removing the headset from its card plinth reveals a leather lanyard embossed with Google’s ‘G’ logo, for use with the Daydream controller. Finally, nestled in the centre of the plinth lies another card container, in which you’ll find a multi-lingual safety and warranty information booklet.
The Google Daydream View looks to be an intriguing new offering in the consumer VR space and is available in select markets in the UK from today for £69, direct from Google as well as Carphone Warehouse and EE.
Read next: Google Daydream View Review: In Depth
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