Google is reportedly releasing a VR headset this year, and it's not made out of cardboard

Google Cardboard is a $25 VR headset, made by cheap corrugated paper and is about to be replaced by a high-end one. According to Financial Times, Google is working on a new VR headset made of higher quality materials. The new VR headset will feature higher quality lenses and improved sensors, that are housed in a sturdier plastic casing. It will be similar to the Samsung-Oculus manufactured Gear VR. 

The new VR headset is said to be compatible with wider range of Android smartphones and just like the cardboard, the handset would be placed inside the headset. The report adds that Google is planning to reveal a new VR technology, potentially making Android handset capable of streaming native VR content, without the need of a dedicated app. Most of the processing power for the VR headset would come from the smartphone.

Google is expected to push the new VR headset, in a manner similar to its Nexus devices, created to show off the new OS and hardware capability. Other manufacturers will use this as a reference design to make their own version of Google VR device. Google's new VR headset is rumored to be showcased at its I/O 2016 event in May.

Google has sold more than 5 million Cardboard VR headsets so far, thanks to the aggressive pricing. Additionally Google's rival, Apple is also working its way into the virtual reality market as the company is acquiring VR- related companies and hiring highly-qualified team of experts to develop Virtual Reality device.

It looks like 2016 is going to be an interesting year for the virtual reality technology. 

Via