Oculus Go
The Oculus Go is a discontinued standalone virtual reality head-mounted display developed by Oculus VR in partnership with Qualcomm and Xiaomi, announced on October 11, 2017 at Oculus Connect 4 and released on May 1, 2018 at $199. It was Oculus's first standalone VR headset, requiring no PC or smartphone to operate. The Go featured a high-resolution 2560×1440 fast-switch LCD display that reduced screen door effect, 3DoF rotational tracking, and compatibility with Samsung Gear VR software. Starting at $199, it brought standalone VR to the masses before being succeeded by the 6DoF Oculus Quest in 2019.
| Oculus Go | |
|---|---|
| Basic Info | |
| VR/AR | Virtual Reality |
| Type | Head-mounted display |
| Subtype | Standalone VR |
| Platform | Oculus Store |
| Developer | Oculus VR, Xiaomi |
| Manufacturer | Meta Platforms, Xiaomi |
| Announcement Date | October 11, 2017 (OC4) |
| Release Date | May 1, 2018 |
| Price | $199 USD (32 GB), $249 USD (64 GB) |
| Website | https://www.meta.com/ |
| Successor | Oculus Quest |
| System | |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 |
| Storage | |
| Storage | 32 GB, 64 GB |
| Memory | 3 GB |
| Display | |
| Display | 5.5" LCD (single panel) |
| Resolution | 1280×1440 per eye (2560×1440 combined) |
| Refresh Rate | 60 Hz, 72 Hz |
| Image | |
| Field of View | ~110° |
| Optics | |
| Optics | Fresnel lenses |
| Ocularity | Binocular |
| Tracking | |
| Tracking | 3DoF (orientation only) |
| Eye Tracking | No |
| Hand Tracking | No |
| Audio | |
| Audio | Built-in speakers, 3.5mm jack |
| Connectivity | |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB |
| Device | |
| Weight | ~468g |
| Color | White/Grey |
History and Development
Facebook (now Meta) announced the Oculus Go at Oculus Connect 4 on October 11, 2017, positioning it as an accessible entry point to VR. The headset was developed in partnership with Qualcomm (Snapdragon 821 processor) and Xiaomi (manufacturing). The Go shipped globally on May 1, 2018 at $199—significantly lower than PC VR alternatives.[1]
The Go was compatible with Samsung Gear VR software, providing access to a substantial library at launch. It was discontinued after the Oculus Quest proved that 6DoF standalone VR was viable at consumer prices.[2]
Design and Hardware
Display
High-resolution fast-switch LCD:
- Single 5.5-inch LCD panel
- 2560×1440 combined resolution (1280×1440 per eye)
- 538 PPI pixel density
- Fast-switch LCD reduces blur
- Dramatically reduced screen door effect vs Rift CV1
- 60 Hz or 72 Hz refresh rate (application dependent)
- ~110° field of view
Processing
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 SoC
- 3 GB RAM
- 32 GB or 64 GB internal storage
- No SD card expansion
Tracking
3 Degrees of Freedom (3DoF):
- Rotational tracking only
- Tracks head rotation (pitch, yaw, roll)
- No positional tracking (no leaning/walking)
- Same tracking as Samsung Gear VR
- Less immersive than 6DoF alternatives
Controller
Bundled 3DoF controller:
- Single trigger
- Trackpad
- Back button
- Menu button
- Same inputs as Gear VR controller
- Sleek, intuitive design
- Orientation tracked
Audio
- Built-in integrated speakers
- No headphones required
- 3.5mm headphone jack
- Spatial audio support
Battery
- Built-in rechargeable battery
- 2.5 hours continuous use
- USB charging
Build
- ~468g weight
- All-in-one design
- No external tethering
- White/Grey color scheme
- Fabric exterior
Standalone Design
Key advantages of all-in-one form factor:
- No PC required
- No smartphone required
- No external sensors
- Quick setup—power on and play
- Fully portable
- Self-contained processing
Software Compatibility
- Oculus Store library
- Gear VR app compatibility
- Thousands of apps at launch
- Social VR (Oculus Rooms, Venues)
- Media consumption focus
Comparison with Gear VR
| Feature | Oculus Go | Samsung Gear VR |
|---|---|---|
| Form Factor | Standalone | Phone-powered |
| Tracking | 3DoF | 3DoF |
| Display | Built-in LCD | Phone display |
| Price | $199 | $99 + phone |
| Setup | Instant | Insert phone |
| Software | Same Oculus library | Same Oculus library |
Reception
Praise:
- "Standalone VR For The Masses" - UploadVR
- "Convenient VR For The Masses" - Tom's Hardware
- $199 price point revolutionary
- High-quality LCD reduces screen door effect
- 538 PPI clarity
- Built-in audio convenient
- No phone or PC required
- Gear VR app compatibility
- Quick, simple setup
- Excellent media consumption device
Criticism:
- 3DoF only—no room-scale VR
- Cannot track positional movement
- Limited compared to Quest's 6DoF
- Quickly superseded by Quest
- No hand tracking
- Fixed storage (no expansion)
- 2.5 hour battery life limited
- Discontinued product[3]
See Also
References
- ↑ "Oculus Go Available Now: Our Best VR Optics in Our First Standalone VR Headset". Meta. https://www.meta.com/blog/oculus-go-available-now-our-best-vr-optics-in-our-first-standalone-vr-headset/.
- ↑ "Oculus Go". Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oculus_Go.
- ↑ "Oculus Go Review: Standalone VR For The Masses". UploadVR. https://www.uploadvr.com/oculus-go-review-standalone-vr/.
- ↑ "Oculus Go Standalone VR Headset Review: Convenient VR For The Masses". Tom's Hardware. https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/oculus-go-standalone-vr-headset,5597.html.