Daydream: which phones support Google's VR platform

Which smartphones support Daydream © CNet

Virtual reality in the smartphone environment is a dynamically developing industry. Google gave it a big boost with the introduction of CardBoard, which made VR available to the majority. The next evolutionary step was the Daydream platform, announced in 2016.

Google Daydream brings even more features and convenience when working with virtual reality, but to support it, the phone must be certified by the developers. Which smartphones support Daydream? Below we offer a list of devices that have passed certification for compatibility with it.

Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL

Pixel 3 & 3 XL © Mashable

Google's new flagships support the Daydream platform and come with pre-installed software for it. Both devices are powered by the powerful Snapdragon 845 chipset and 4GB of RAM. The older model is equipped with a 6.3 "OLED screen with a resolution of 2960x1440 pixels, the younger one uses a 5.5" display with a resolution of 2160x1080.

Smartphone screens have an extended color palette, high contrast, which makes these phones excellent devices for working with Daydream.

Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9 +

Galaxy S9 and S9 + © Andro-news.com

Samsung's current flagship phones, the Galaxy S9 and S9 +, are also certified and support Daydream. In them, to use the VR environment, you need to download and install the appropriate software from the application store. These devices are equipped with high-performance chipsets Exynos 9810 or SD845, have 4 or 6 GB of RAM.

To achieve a high-quality picture, screens have a resolution of 2960x1440 pixels and differ in diagonal (5.8 and 6.2 ", respectively).

Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL

Pixel 2 and 2 XL © YouTube

The last generation of Google phones, the Pixel 2 Pixel 2 XL, also supports the Daydream platform. Their Snapdargon 835 chipset still delivers excellent performance, and 4GB of memory is enough for VR. The software for this is built into the firmware, so the phones are ready for VR out of the box.

The gadgets are equipped with high quality OLED screens. The older model has a 6-inch matrix resolution of 2880x1440 pixels, the younger one is equipped with a 5-inch FullHD panel. Since these devices are made by Google itself, they are maximally adapted to Daydream and remain relevant even a year after their release.

Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 +

S8 and S8 + © Engadget

The first Samsung phones to support Daydream were the 2017 flagship Galaxy S8 and S8 +. These devices are based on SD835 or Exynos 8895 chipsets and have 4 or 6 GB of RAM. To work with VR on them, you just need to purchase a compatible headset and install the application from the software store.

To display a high-resolution picture, these smartphones are equipped with screens with a resolution of 2960x1440 pixels, 5.8 and 6.2 "diagonal, depending on the model. OLED panels with a high PPI are used, which, despite the PenTile structure, give a clear picture.

Asus ZenFone AR

ZenFone AR © Asus

The Asus ZenFone AR isn't the newest flagship phone, but it supports not only the Daydream VR platform, but also Project Tango augmented reality. It is also the first smartphone to receive 8 GB of RAM, which are not found everywhere even now. Only the Snapdragon 821 chipset may seem a little old, but it is still good enough.

The Asus ZenFone AR displays images through a 5.7 "display with a 16: 9 aspect ratio and a 2560x1440 resolution. The device has no cutouts, bends, so the usable area is used as much as possible, showing a clear picture in the Daydream virtual reality environment.

LG V30

LG V30 © Android Central

Another flagship phone that supports Google Daydream is the LG V30. This slim gadget is based on the Snapdragon 835 chip and has 4GB of RAM. It is powerful and currently has a moderate cost.

The large OLED display in 18: 9 format, without cutouts or other limiting elements, gives a good picture quality. With a 6 "diagonal and a resolution of 2880x1440, the image density on the phone screen reaches 537 PPI.

Samsung Galaxy Note 8

Galaxy Note8 © CNet

The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 phablet is, in fact, an enlarged version of the S8 model, with a number of improvements typical for this series (like a stylus). It has the same Exynos 8895 or SD835 chipset inside, paired with 6GB of RAM. Even in 2019, this hardware is enough to use VR, so the device not only supports Daydream, but is really convenient when using this platform.

Image output in the device is carried out on a 6.3-inch 3K-screen with a resolution of 2960x1440 pixels. It pleases with a high contrast ratio, a margin of brightness and HDR10 support, for displaying the highest quality graphics in a VR environment.

Moto z2 force

Moto Z2 Force © Digit

The Moto Z2 Force is a slim phone that not only supports Daydream, but also a ton of modular accessories. This feature turns it into a versatile harvester capable of much, and its small weight (143 grams) and thickness (6.1 mm) make it easier to use the phone in conjunction with modules. The Snapdargon 835 chip and 4 or 6 GB provide sufficient performance.

The smartphone screen has a diagonal of 5.5 "and a QHD-resolution of 2560x1440, which gives a bright and clear picture with a pixel density of 534 PPI.

Google Pixel and Pixel XL

Pixel and Daydream © Screen Rant

Google Pixel and Pixel XL are not new devices, but they were the first phones to support Daydream. The Snapdragon 821 chipset is still fast enough, 4GB of RAM is enough, so if there are devices in the store at a reasonable price, they can be considered for a purchase. The younger device is equipped with a 5 "FullHD display, the older one uses a 5.5" QHD matrix, which is enough to get a good image in VR.

ZTE Axon 7

Axon 7 © Digital Trends

Chronologically, it was the ZTE Axon 7 that became the first phone to support Daydream. But since this platform appeared only in Android 7, the first time before the release of the update, the device did not support it, and the Pixel was truly the first.

Perhaps now the Snapdragon 820 and 4 GB of memory no longer look impressive, but this smartphone has a good 5.5 "screen with QHD-resolution, excellent stereo sound, and you can buy it for relatively little money.

Moto Z and Moto Z Force

Moto Z © Digital Trends

Moto Z are Motorola's first modular smartphones. Like ZTE, they came out back in 2016, and worked on Android 6, so Daydream technology is only supported after updating to a new version of the OS. Not everyone will love the SD820, 4GB of RAM, which doesn't look like a flagship these days, but these phones have it all for VR.

The devices are equipped with 5.5 "QHD screens, with a pixel density of 535 PPI, have enough power and are suitable for entertainment in a virtual reality environment.

Huawei Mate 9 Pro and Mate 9 Porsche Design

Mate 9 Pro © FullHub

Huawei Mate 9 Pro and Mate 9 Porsche Design are actually versions of the same phone, differing in design, positioning and several characteristics. These are the first devices from this Chinese manufacturer to support Daydream, and so far the only ones. They work on the basis of the Kirin 960 chipset, have 4 or 6 GB of RAM. The image is displayed on a 5.5 "QHD screen with a pixel density of 535 PPI.

All phones that support Daydream

• Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL
• Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9 +
• Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL
• Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 +
• Asus ZenFone AR
• LG V30
• Samsung Galaxy Note 8
• Moto z2 force
• Google Pixel and Pixel XL
• ZTE Axon 7
• Moto Z and Moto Z Force
• Huawei Mate 9 Pro and Mate 9 Porsche Design

Currently, the official list of phones that support Google Daydream has about two dozen certified models. However, it should be borne in mind that there are much more smartphones theoretically compatible with this platform, and the only question is in passing the test. As the popularity of the technology grows, there will be more supported devices, the same Galaxy Note 9 may appear on the list in the near future.