Chinese electronics maker Xiaomi – often dubbed “China’s Apple” – has unveiled its first virtual reality (VR) headset as it joins the ranks of HTC and Samsung in attempting to gain a foothold in the nascent market.
The Mi VR Play will support a wide range of 4.7- to 5.7-inch smartphones that will be secured in the headset by a two-way zipper. It is wrapped in a lightweight lycra with a number of different colors including leopard print and denim.
Xiaomi said it received 1 million registrations in just eight hours since issuing a call for beta testers on August 1. Users on the beta testing program will be able to get the Mi VR Play for 1 yuan ($0.15).
The company has not released pricing and availability details for the headset once it is formally launched but said it would be an “entry-level product that seeks to bring the VR experience to a much wider audience”.
Along with the VR headset, Xiaomi allos announced the Mi VR App, a place that hosts content from partners such as Conde Nast Traveler. Read More…