---
title: "Google Just Unveiled Their Entirely Untethered, Standalone Virtual Reality Headset"
description: "At this week's I/O developer conference, Google announced it has partnered with HTC and Lenovo to create a new Vive standalone virtual reality headset that will be the first to use Google's Daydream platform."
date: "2017-05-18"
modified: "2017-05-18"
authors:
  - name: "Kristin Houser"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/kristin"
url: "https://futurism.com/google-just-unveiled-their-entirely-untethered-standalone-virtual-reality-headset"
categories:
  - "Artificial Intelligence"
  - "Future Society"
  - "Google"
  - "Virtual Reality"
tags:
  - "Google"
  - "htc vive"
  - "Lenovo"
  - "virtual reality"
---

# Google Just Unveiled Their Entirely Untethered, Standalone Virtual Reality Headset

![google virtual reality htc vive lenovo](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Screen-Shot-2017-05-17-at-6.09.53-PM.png>)
*\<em\>Image: \<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9SUd1Q5G6s" target="\_blank"\>HTC Vive/Google\</a\>\</em\>*

## A Google Rumor

Nothing can snap you out of an immersive virtual reality (VR) experience faster than tripping over a cord, which is why VR companies have been scrambling to [develop wireless systems](<https://futurism.com/get-ready-htc-vive-is-making-virtual-reality-wireless>). Google is taking that freedom a step further, working to develop a headset that's not only wireless, but also works anywhere you want to go.

The company has reportedly been working on [the stand-alone VR system](<https://www.wsj.com/articles/google-developing-stand-alone-virtual-reality-headset-1455218948>) for more than a year now. The goal has been to create a headset that could handle everything needed to deliver a stunning virtual experience sans PC, phone, or gaming console — not easy when you consider the whole thing needs to also be comfortable to wear.

This week, *[Variety](<http://variety.com/2017/digital/news/google-standalone-vr-headset-io-1202429435/>)*[ reported](<http://variety.com/2017/digital/news/google-standalone-vr-headset-io-1202429435/>) that the world could potentially finally get a glimpse of this standalone headset in action at [Google's I/O developer conference](<https://events.google.com/io/>). Sure enough, yesterday afternoon a standalone VR headset was announced at the event, but Google's name wasn't the only one attached to it.

## A Match Made in VR Heaven

Google decided to partner with [HTC](<http://www.htc.com/us/>) and [Lenovo](<http://www3.lenovo.com/us/en/>) to create [a new Vive standalone VR headset](<https://www.theverge.com/2017/5/17/15655102/google-io-vr-standalone-headset-htc-lenovo-daydream>) that will be the first to use [Google's Daydream platform](<https://vr.google.com/daydream/>).

https://youtu.be/aJD34uGPQf8

[According to Backchannel](<https://backchannel.com/inside-googles-slow-mo-vr-moonshot-c1c739d310aa>), a "reference model" of the device has already been created with the help of [Qualcomm](<https://www.qualcomm.com/>), and the final commercial version should be ready in the next few months. It's expected to cost in the mid-hundreds range, making it financially comparable to the already released Oculus Rift and HTC Vive.

Google hasn't been the only company to pursue powerful standalone VR systems — [Facebook is working on its own](<http://mashable.com/2016/10/06/oculus-santa-cruz-prototype/>), as is [Samsung](<https://www.cnet.com/news/samsung-virtual-reality-gear-vr-high-power-oculus-vive/>). While a release date for Google's system is still forthcoming, clearly we won't have to wait much longer for the virtual world to reach that next level of freedom.

### Author social links  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinjhouser>)