Last week, images of Samsung’s upcoming Windows Mixed Reality headset known as Odyssey were leaked to the Internet. Earlier this week, Microsoft confirmed these leaks by listing the headset for preorder on their own store with product images, as well as a list of specifications that indicate the Oddysey offers superior hardware and features compared to its competition. The new headset boasts OLED displays with a resolution of 1440×1600 per eye, higher than other Windows Mixed Reality headsets as well as both the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift. In addition to the extra pixels to combat the screen-door effect commonly noticed in VR headsets, the OLED technology is expected to provide improved low persistence, resulting in a sharper image and less blurring with movement compared to LCD-based headsets. In addition, Odyssey is the first Windows Mixed Reality headset to feature built-in audio in the form of integrated headphones. These improvements, combined with hardware interpupillary distance adjustment and a wider field of view (up to 110°) on par with the Vive and Rift, help it stand out from its direct competitors.
Microsoft’s Windows Mixed Reality platform is set to be released alongside the Windows 10 Fall Creator’s Update on October 17th, and provides a software platform for immersive virtual reality and augmented reality headsets from various manufacturers including Samsung, Dell, Acer, HP, and Lenovo, as well as Microsoft’s own HoloLens project. These headsets will come at various price points ranging from $399 to $599 USD. Microsoft’s listing puts the Samsung Odyssey’s price at $500 USD including motion controllers, which interestingly puts the headset in competition with the Oculus Rift, despite Samsung’s partnership with Oculus on the mobile-powered Gear VR. Microsoft has since taken down the listing, but the page is archived.
Sources: RoadtoVR, Microsoft via TPU
