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Xiaomi will build the new Oculus VR headset

And help Facebook crack China

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Mi VR Standalone and Oculus Go. Photo: Oculus
This article originally appeared on ABACUS

Chinese phone maker Xiaomi has revealed it’s building the hardware for Facebook's new VR headset, the Oculus Go. The deal will also see Xiaomi launch a similar device in China called Mi VR Standalone.

Mi VR Standalone and Oculus Go. Photo: Oculus
Mi VR Standalone and Oculus Go. Photo: Oculus

The two VR headsets are both self-contained, meaning they don't need to be connected to a smartphone or a PC. Oculus Go will cost just US$200, making it much cheaper than the company’s first headset. Oculus Rift, which requires a powerful PC to run, costs US$400.

Xiaomi will have its own software for the Mi VR, but says Oculus developers can localize their existing content for China.

What wasn’t announced was the release date. Facebook and Xiaomi haven't said when people can get their hands on the headsets. The Oculus Go headset was initially set to be available in early 2018.

Oculus Go. Photo: Oculus
Oculus Go. Photo: Oculus
Xinmei Shen joined the Post in 2017 and is a technology reporter. She covers content, entertainment, social media and internet culture. Previously, she was with the Post’s tech news site, Abacus. Before that, she was a reporting intern at The Information whilst studying at the University of Hong Kong.
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