Xaomi's first-ever virtual reality headset, aka the Mi VR Play, will be available for buying in India starting from December 21, the company has announced. The Mi VR Play headset will cost Rs 999 for buyers in India and it will be available for buying exclusively from the company's online retail website, Mi.com/in .
The Mi VR Play was first announced in China in August where it was launched at an introductory price of only RMB 1, which roughly translates to Rs 10. The introductory price was possibly aimed at generating buzz among buyers. Being marketed as a fancier equivalent to the Google Cardboard, Xiaomi's Mi VR Play headset works on very similar lines, in that it aims to offer bare basic VR functionality at a bare minimum price.
Xiaomi has however tried to premium-coat its VR offering through design and build material. The Mi VR Play headset, for one, is made out of Lycra and features a one-of-its-kind two-way zipper design. While Lycra ensures the headset looks and feels good, the two-way zipper design ensures that once a compatible phone has been slotted inside it, the phone won't fall out. Speaking of which, Xiaomi's VR headset is compatible with all smartphones with screen size of 4.7-inch to 5.7-inch. The headset weighs in at 208.7 gram and measures just 91mm in thickness.
The headset makes use of simple components, similar to what you find in Google's Cardboard VR. Users can view 360-degree YouTube videos and Mi Live VR live streams though the headset, in addition to shooting VR photos through Google's Cardboard Camera app.
Xiaomi has also been selective with the devices compatible with the Mi VR. Currently, you’ll need to own the Mi 5, the Mi 5S, Mi 5S Plus, or the new Mi Note 2 to enjoy virtual reality through the Mi VR. Once the phone’s slotted into the front of the headset, visit Xiaomi’s own app store to find a selection of apps and videos made for the device. The numbers aren’t big yet ” around 30 apps and 500 videos ” but more than 200 developers are registered to create more, so expect a wider choice in the near future.
Xiaomi hosted its first Mi Pop event in India on December 11. With an aim to bring Mi Fans together for a day, consisted of special performances by company executives including its global VP, Hugo Barra. The event was also live streamed in VR for its fans via Mi Community, Facebook, and YouTube and via Mi Live which is the company's own live streaming app with locally sourced.
