Premium Chinese smartphone developer Huawei has unveiled a new virtual reality headset offering immersive 360-degree sound.
Huawei’s answer to Samsung’s Gear VR headset, the device works in conjunction with the also newly-announced P9 or P9 Plus smartphone to act as the brain of the device.
Similar in style to the Gear VR, Huawei VR will feature a trackpad on one side, allowing users to use the phone while it is fitted into the headset as well as modify volume and focus controls.
The company says its headset will be the first to support 360-degree sound, creating a new level of immersion compared to its market competitors.
On launch, the 1080-pixel HD headset will have a huge amount of content available for users, with 4,000 videos and 40 games ready to play alongside hundreds of panoramic pictures and virtual tours of famous sites.
The company has not yet revealed financial details or dates for a commercial launch, but is reportedly focusing heavily on performance and price so its device can break into the top end of the North American and European markets.
2016 has been hailed as the year of VR,
with the sector predicted to enjoy its first billion-dollar year in 2016, providing new opportunities to businesses that want to create more immersive experiences for consumers. Several big name competitors are entering or have already entered the market this year, including Oculus, Samsung, HTC Vive and Playstation VR among others.
