Google plans to launch its own virtual reality headset later this year: Report

The mobile VR space is going to heat up very soon as Google reportedly starts prepping a GearVR competitor to be launched sometime this year. The Verge reports that the device will feature a slew of new sensors, a plastic casing and add support for a wider range of smartphones. Google’s cardboard is already the most accessible and affordable form of VR available to the masses, but while cheap, it’s scope is very limited. The VR experience is limited to just a handful of in-built demos and YouTube videos. Samsung’s GearVR takes this a step further by integrating a few advanced sensors into a relatively inexpensive plastic housing that will be compatible with most Samsung phones. Oculus’s Mobile SDK (currently at version 1.0), will be used to publish apps and games, making for a more compelling VR platform the Google’s Cardboard. Google is reportedly planning to implement a similar system (headset, SDK, Play Store integration, et al.) with their own version of VR and as a result, open up the world of VR to a much wider audience (GearVR only works with a select few Samsung phones). The device will reportedly feature better lenses and sensors and will probably integrate VR into Android itself and add support for a larger variety of handsets. This is exciting news indeed and we’re now eagerly looking forward to **Google I/O** (May 18-20) where we will, hopefully, get some more information on the project.