The main competitors in the virtual reality market have cut the prices of their headsets, but we still need around 450 euros if we want to play with a computer. That has led to very important announcements such as the $200 headset that Oculus is preparing and Microsoft's future options. However, there is another alternative: replacing the headset with a smartphone. That is the proposal of Zeiss VR One Connect, a new platform compatible with SteamVR that processes games on the PC and streams them to the headset via USB.
The Problem with VR
Both the available software and the entry price are the two big weaknesses of virtual reality today. Hardly a handful of games try to justify the purchase of a headset and the necessary hardware, while the current investment (449 euros for the Rift, and 699 euros for the Vive) would be much better applied to objectives like 4K resolution or running games at higher frame rates. A viable shortcut (as long as the user is willing to accept it) is to replace the virtual headset with a smartphone. The concept is not exactly new, and last May we saw closely the the VRidge solution, but the folks at Zeiss want to go one step further.
Zeiss VR One Connect
At IFA, Zeiss presented its VR One Connect, a system composed of a software piece and two Bluetooth controllers. Although the idea is that interested parties acquire the VR One Plus headset for $99, the company confirmed that VR One Connect will work with its competitors' headsets, which probably includes the latest versions of the Samsung Gear VR, which have an additional USB port. The computer takes care of all the heavy lifting and transmits the pre-rendered content to the smartphone. The controllers pair via Bluetooth and register three degrees of movement, backed by the smartphone's own sensors.
Lag and Compatibility
The big question in developments like Zeiss VR One Connect is lag. Zeiss said that it would be necessary to have "a modern smartphone" based on iOS or Android with a screen of 4.7 to 5.5 inches, but those parameters leave out several high-profile units, starting with both Galaxy S8 models (in fact, the sizes match the iPhone 7 lineup). VR One Connect will debut before the end of the year at a price of $129, or $199 for the full package (Connect + Plus).
