Dlodlo V1 VR "sunglasses" tries to be portable, coming soon
A virtual reality headset that won't make you look like a chap from an 80's sci-fi bomb movie and one that will really let you take the VR experience anywhere. That is probably what some VR fans are dreaming of at the moment. Luckily for them, A Chinese company by the name of Dlodlo ("dwo-dwo") is about ready to make that dream come true. First revealed in April, the Dlodlo V1 headset looks pretty much like somewhat larger sunglasses and it will be shipping to developers later this year. But while it does look like the epitome of a truly lightweight and portable VR headset, when it comes to virtual reality, looks can really be deceiving.
On paper and in design, the Dlodlo V1 does seem to fit the bill. Aside from looking like simply overgrown sunglasses, the whole headpiece weighs only 88 g. But despite the size, each eye can enjoy crisp and hi-res 1200x1200 pixels, with a refresh rate of 90 Hz. But while the headset itself sounds and looks almost perfect, it's what's attached to it that somewhat breaks the illusion.
The V1 is not a standalone device and, like the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift, requires something else for processing power. Currently, that means plugging it into a PC, a laptop at least. Unless you have one of those VR laptop backpacks, that means you'll still be tethered to a single spot. Which, considering how VR works, is probably for the better. But at least the Dlodlo V1 won't take up too much space in your bag when you do need to go.
However, the company is also planning on an even more portable solution, called the Dlodlo D1. This is practically a non-cellular pocket Android device (iPod Touch anyone?) that can drive the VR experience on the V1. The problem at the moment is that the D1 is still nowhere to be seen and, even if it were already available today, the amount of content for the V1 isn't that much at all. And that's true even for the PC version.
While the Dlodlo V1 is scheduled to become available for developers this Fall, for a $559 price tag, its promise is far from becoming non-virtual reality. If it is possible at all. Aside from performance and content issues, a design like the V1's won't exactly fit every head out there, unlike boxy headsets with adjustable straps. Besides, because of the way VR works, it will still completely occlude your vision of the outside world. So while it seems to be going in the right direction in making VR headsets more compact and lightweight, the overall sunglasses design, not to mention the performance, might not be the right mix after all.
VIA: The Verge