CES 2017: Lenovo VR Headset Makes Virtual Reality More Affordable

Jan 05, 2017 02:05 AM EST

Trends come and go regardless of the industry, and if there is one particular trend in the consumer electronics industry that does not seem to showcase any kind of slowdown whatsoever, it would be Virtual Reality (VR). VR has certainly paved the way to a whole new method of interaction. Lenovo certainly does not want to get left out when it comes to the VR bandwagon, and over at CES 2017, they have decided to take the plunge through the introduction of the Lenovo VR headset. Yes, the naming convention itself is very simple and does not have any kind of fanfare to accompany it. However, this is one particular route that does seem to work.

The Lenovo VR headset is tipped to launch some time in the middle of this year, and it will be a Windows 10-powered mobile accessory. One thing that many people would be wondering is this: Will the Lenovo VR headset be worth the money paid, and how much does it cost? We are glad to say that the Lenovo VR headset is reasonably priced to hover anywhere from $300 to $400.

The prototype on display at CES was not working, but with simple powers of deduction, one is able to tell based on the design that this head-mounted display will come with a pair of depth-sensing VGA cameras. These depth-sensing VGA cameras are able to do their bit when it comes to room-scaling, which is beneficial since it does away with any need to include more sensors into the hardware, as what the far more expensive Oculus Rift and HTC Vive sport. Apart from that, it would help reduce the overall cost, and help the Lenovo VR headset shed some more weight off.

There is an integrated right within the band itself, so that those who have four eyes (aka wearing glasses) are able to position the Lenovo VR headset easily and comfortably without experiencing any kind of discomfort, even if for a while. Right at the back of the band lies a size-adjustment dial that those who are familiar with the PlayStation VR are able to resonate. Assuming Lenovo sticks to the targeted $300 to $400 price point, then it would be one of the most affordable VR headsets that is on the market.

It will be compatible with Microsoft Holographic as well, allowing one to gain access to the likes of your inbox, shopping hubs, social media and entertainment channels and VR. As for the two external cameras, these will get to work by tracking objects within the room in real-time, delivering a mixed reality experience. The Lenovo VR headset will also play nice with mainstream laptops which boast of integrated graphics, and runs Oculus and Vive software to boot.

In terms of weight, the prototype does seem to carry the feel of the HTC Vive. Until the final production unit is released with its full specifications sheet revealed, we would be hard pressed to come up with something definite. Hopefully the official specs will be shared sooner rather than later.