LG to give G3 buyers a free virtual reality headset
LG’s answer to Gear VR will cost $200 less. Photo: LG
Need a reason to pick LG over Samsung when buying your next smartphone? Here’s a great one.
While Samsung will charge you $200 for its Gear VR add-on for the Galaxy Note 4, LG is set to give all G3 buyers its new virtual reality headset free of charge. The device will be based on the blueprint for Google Cardboard, but it will be built to last using plastic.
VR for G3 works just like Gear VR; users pop their LG G3 inside it, and its Quad HD screen displays virtual reality games and movies. The device has lenses and everything else you’ll need built-in, so it’s ready to go as soon as you get it.
The headset is designed to accommodate the G3’s rear-facing buttons, which give it an advantage over the Note 4 and Gear VR, LG says. It also “takes full advantage of the flagship phone’s 1W speaker with Boost AMP to provide richer, clearer sound effects that complement the rich visuals.”
LG has based its headset on Google Cardboard, an affordable alternative to devices like the Gear VR, which, as the name suggests, is made out of cardboard. But LG’s is made out of plastic instead, so it’s less likely to break if you sit on it.
VR for G3 is expected to be available later this month, and will be free for those buying a new G3. It’s unclear how much existing G3 owners will have to pay for it at this time, however, or what kind of content the South Korean company will be producing for the device.
