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Dell's Windows Mixed Reality Visor will sell for $349.99

Dell's Windows Mixed Reality Visor will sell for $349.99

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Dell Visor
Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

The Dell Visor, Dell’s first headset for Microsoft’s Windows Mixed Reality platform, will be available this October for $349.99 or in a bundle with two controllers for $449.99.

Dell announced pricing and the release window today (there’s no specific date yet), after first announcing plans to build a headset back in May, when the new platform was announced. Though Microsoft is calling it “mixed reality,” and there are cameras on the front of the headsets that could theoretically allow for something like an experience halfway between AR and VR, early demoes of the platform have just shown virtual reality experiences so far. And apparently, that’s all we’re going to get from at least this first wave of headsets.

The headset’s price is supposed to be “affordable,” but it’s really not cheap at all compared to more established headsets. The Vive and the necessary accessories to run it (aside from a computer) sell for $599, and the Oculus Rift ships with controllers for $399. With such similar pricing, Microsoft and Dell will need a good pitch to get people to chose their headsets over the competition’s. (The fact that we don’t entirely know what Windows Mixed Reality is, does, or will do may also make it a tough sell.)

I got to try on the Dell Visor during a briefing earlier this month — though the headset wasn’t actually turned on, so I was just staring at a dark screen. What I can say so far is that it’s fairly light and comfortable for a VR headset, and Dell has done a good job of making the Visor easy to adjust (there’s a wheel on the back, kind of like a bike helmet) and to slip in and out of. You can actually flip the headset up while it’s still on your face, in case you want to quickly see what’s going on in front of you.

That all said, you will look like an alien wearing this thing.

1/8

Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

Update August 28th, 11:25AM ET: About two hours after announcing the Dell Visor’s pricing, Dell decided to lower its pricing by $10. This article has been updated to reflect the new details.