Google Daydream View

Google Daydream View
Basic Info
VR/AR	Virtual Reality
Type	Head-mounted display
Subtype	Mobile VR
Platform	Google Daydream
Creator	Google
Developer	Google
Manufacturer	Google
Announcement Date	October 4, 2016
Release Date	November 10, 2016
Price	$79 (2016), $99 (2017)
Website	https://vr.google.com/daydream/ (archived)
Versions	Daydream View (2016), Daydream View (2017)
Requires	Daydream-ready smartphone
Predecessor	Google Cardboard
Successor	None (discontinued)
System
Operating System	Google Daydream (Android-based)
Chipset	Powered by smartphone
CPU	Powered by smartphone
GPU	Powered by smartphone
Storage
Storage	Powered by smartphone
Memory	Powered by smartphone
SD Card Slot	Via smartphone
Display
Display	Smartphone display
Subpixel Layout	Smartphone dependent
Peak Brightness	Smartphone dependent
Resolution	Smartphone dependent
Pixel Density	Smartphone dependent
Refresh Rate	60Hz (minimum certified)
Persistence	Low persistence (certified)
Image
Field of View	~90°
Horizontal FoV	~90°
Vertical FoV	~90°
Average Pixel Density	Smartphone dependent
Peak Pixel Density	Smartphone dependent
Foveated Rendering	No
Optics
Optics	Fresnel lenses
Ocularity	Binocular
IPD Range	Fixed (~64mm)
Adjustable Diopter	No (glasses compatible)
Passthrough	No
Tracking
Tracking	3DoF (smartphone + controller)
Tracking Frequency	Smartphone dependent
Base Stations	None required
Eye Tracking	No
Face Tracking	No
Hand Tracking	No
Body Tracking	No
Rotational Tracking	Yes
Positional Tracking	No
Update Rate	60Hz
Tracking Volume	Stationary
Play Space	Stationary
Latency	<20ms (certified)
Audio
Audio	Via smartphone (3.5mm or USB-C)
Microphone	Via smartphone
3.5mm Audio Jack	Pass-through from smartphone
Camera	Not used
Connectivity
Connectivity	NFC for auto-setup
Ports	None
Wired Video	No
Wireless Video	No
WiFi	Via smartphone
Bluetooth	Via smartphone (controller)
Power	None required (headset)
Battery Capacity	Controller: 220mAh (2016), 224mAh (2017)
Battery Life	Controller: ~12 hours
Charge Time	Controller: USB-C charging
Device
Dimensions	~167mm × 110mm × 105mm (2016)
Weight	220g (without phone)
Material	Soft fabric, foam
Headstrap	Elastic fabric strap
Haptics	Controller haptics
Color	Slate, Snow, Crimson (2016); Charcoal, Fog, Coral (2017)
Sensors	Capacitive nubs, NFC tag
Input	Daydream Controller (3DoF)
Compliance	FCC, CE

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The Google Daydream View is a discontinued mobile VR head-mounted display developed by Google, announced on October 4, 2016, and released on November 10, 2016 at a price of $79. Building on the success of Google Cardboard, Daydream View represented Google's premium mobile VR solution, featuring a lightweight fabric construction (weighing just 220g, about 30% lighter than average VR headsets), a wireless 3DoF motion controller, and tight integration with "Daydream-ready" certified smartphones. Unlike the universal Cardboard platform, Daydream required phones meeting specific performance and sensor requirements to ensure a quality VR experience. Google discontinued Daydream View and the Daydream platform on October 15, 2019, citing lack of broad consumer and developer adoption.

History and Development

Beyond Cardboard

Evolution from Cardboard:

Cardboard proved mobile VR concept
Premium experience desired
Controller interaction needed
Quality certification required

Google I/O 2016 Preview

Platform announcement:

Daydream platform revealed May 2016
Phone certification program
Controller design shown
Developer preview

October 2016 Launch

Hardware announcement:

Daydream View headset revealed
First Daydream-ready phones announced
Google Pixel as flagship
November 10 release date

2017 Refresh

Second generation:

October 2017 announcement
Wider FOV lenses
New colors
$99 price point

Discontinuation

October 15, 2019:

Pixel 4 not Daydream compatible
No new certified phones in 2019
Official discontinuation announced
Platform abandoned

Design Philosophy

Premium Mobile VR

Step up from Cardboard:

Higher quality materials
Included motion controller
Certified phone experiences
Consistent quality

Comfort Focus

Wearability priority:

Lightweight fabric construction
Soft, breathable materials
30% lighter than competitors
Extended comfort

Daydream Certification

Quality assurance:

Phone must meet specifications
Display latency requirements
Sensor accuracy standards
Consistent experience guaranteed

Hardware Design

Fabric Construction

Unique material choice:

Soft woven fabric exterior
Foam padding
Lightweight design
Premium aesthetic

Weight

Lightest in class:

220g (without phone)
30% lighter than Gear VR
Comfortable extended wear
Minimal neck strain

Automatic Setup

Convenience features:

NFC chip for auto-launch
Capacitive nubs sense phone
Insert phone, VR starts
Simple user experience

Colors

Fashion-conscious options:

2016: Slate (gray), Snow (white), Crimson (red)
2017: Charcoal, Fog (gray), Coral (pink)

Optical System

Fresnel Lenses

Improved over Cardboard:

~90° field of view
Better optical quality
Reduced distortion
Standard VR optics

2017 Improvements

Second generation updates:

Wider field of view
Improved lens quality
Better edge clarity
Enhanced immersion

Phone Compatibility

Auto-adjustment:

Works with various phone sizes
Up to 6" displays
Front-loading design
Secure phone retention

Daydream Controller

Wireless Motion Controller

Included with headset:

3DoF motion tracking
Orientation sensing
Laser pointer interface
Essential accessory

Controller Design

Ergonomic handheld:

Touchpad surface
Clickable touchpad
App button
Home button
Volume buttons

Controller Tracking

Arm model estimation:

IMU-based orientation
Arm position estimated
Pointing accuracy
No positional tracking

Controller Battery

Rechargeable:

~220mAh capacity
~12 hours use
USB-C charging
Stored in headset

Daydream-Ready Certification

Phone Requirements

Strict specifications:

High-performance processor
Low-persistence display
High-quality sensors
Sufficient thermal management

Certified Phones

Compatible devices:

Google Pixel, Pixel 2, Pixel 3 series
Samsung Galaxy S8, S9, Note 8
LG V30
Motorola Moto Z series
Asus ZenFone AR
Huawei Mate 9 Pro
And others

Performance Standards

Quality requirements:

60fps minimum sustained
<20ms motion-to-photon latency
Accurate sensor fusion
Thermal headroom

Software Platform

Daydream Home

VR interface:

3D environment
App launcher
Library management
Settings access

Google Play Store

Content distribution:

Daydream category
Curated experiences
Quality standards
Growing library

Notable Apps

Key experiences:

YouTube VR
Netflix VR
Google Street View
Google Play Movies
HBO Go VR
Hulu VR
Need for Speed: No Limits VR

Google Services

First-party integration:

Google Photos
Google Play Movies
Google Street View VR
Google Earth VR

2017 Version Differences

Hardware Updates

Improvements:

Wider field of view lenses
Improved light blocking
New color options
Updated controller

Price Increase

$99 (from $79):

Premium positioning
Improved components
Additional features

Compatibility

Broader support:

More phones certified
Better fit system
Larger phone accommodation

User Experience

Setup Process

Simple onboarding:

Download Daydream app
Insert phone into headset
NFC triggers VR mode
Automatic calibration

Controller Pairing

Bluetooth connection:

Controller pairs via Bluetooth
Stored in headset
Ready when needed
Easy setup

Content Discovery

In-VR browsing:

Daydream Home environment
Browse apps in VR
Preview experiences
One-click install

Comparison with Gear VR

Feature	Daydream View	Samsung Gear VR
Price	$79-$99	$99-$129
Weight	220g	345g
Material	Fabric	Plastic
Controller	Included	Separate/bundled (2017+)
Phone Support	Multiple brands	Samsung only
FOV	~90°	96-101°
Platform	Google Daydream	Oculus Home

Challenges and Discontinuation

Market Challenges

Adoption issues:

Limited Daydream-ready phones
3DoF limitations
Standalone VR competition (Quest)
Developer interest declining

Consumer Response

Usage patterns:

Initial curiosity
Decreasing usage over time
Novelty factor faded
Standalone VR more compelling

Google Statement

Official reasoning:

"Haven't seen broad consumer or developer adoption"
"Decreasing usage over time"
Pixel 4 not certified
Platform discontinued

October 2019 End

Discontinuation:

No new certified phones
Headset sales ended
Platform no longer developed
Apps still functional (for now)

Legacy

Mobile VR Evolution

Platform contributions:

Proved controller importance
Demonstrated certification value
Influenced mobile VR design
Bridged Cardboard to standalone

Design Influence

Industry impact:

Fabric headset design copied
Controller interaction standard
Comfort prioritization
Lightweight materials

Transition to Standalone

Market shift:

Validated need for better mobile VR
Showed limitations of phone-based VR
Quest became clear successor
6DoF standalone future

Technical Specifications Summary

Specification	2016 Version	2017 Version
Price	$79	$99
Weight	220g	261g
FOV	~90°	~100°
Controller	3DoF included	3DoF included
Materials	Fabric, foam	Fabric, foam
Colors	Slate, Snow, Crimson	Charcoal, Fog, Coral
Tracking	3DoF (phone sensors)	3DoF (phone sensors)
Phone Requirement	Daydream-ready	Daydream-ready

References