China’s Play for Dream is making waves with its latest venture into mixed reality: a standalone headset that bears a striking resemblance to Apple’s Vision Pro. However, don’t let appearances fool you. This headset offers more than just a superficial likeness, as attested by a former Quest engineer who has lauded its craftsmanship.
Currently, this MR headset runs on a custom version of Android but plans are in place for a significant shift. The company shared with Road to VR that they are in talks to transition to Google’s Android XR platform. However, a clear timeline for this switch has yet to be settled.
There’s some ambiguity about whether existing headsets could receive an update to Android XR after they’re released, or if this change will be reserved for future models. With a price tag of $1,900, this headset is slated for a debut at the end of this month. It’s unlikely we’ll see this operating system transition before launch, especially since Google has pegged Samsung’s Project Moohan to be the inaugural device featuring Android XR, which remains without an official release date.
Although Play for Dream is a familiar name in China, it’s relatively unknown stateside. The company began its journey in 2020 under the leadership of CEO Huang Feng. Feng is no stranger to the gaming world, having established Wanyoo Esports, Asia’s top esports café chain, and Bixin, a major gaming platform in China boasting over 60 million registered players. The leadership team also includes Chairman Zong Yuan and CTO Yue Fei. Impressively, the company has over 200 employees on board and has yet to seek outside investment.
Play for Dream has already made its mark in the Asian market with various headsets. Now, its latest MR headset is set to target the US market explicitly. Addressing concerns over its close resemblance to Apple’s Vision Pro, a spokesperson clarified, "Our intention wasn’t to compete head-on with Apple’s Vision Pro. We admired their pioneering design but aimed to create an Android-driven device that mirrors our distinct vision."
Despite its similarities to the Vision Pro in both design and interface, the Play for Dream MR headset distinguishes itself by supporting motion controllers. It first took flight via a Kickstarter campaign in September 2024, securing nearly $300,000 from 215 backers and concluding in October.
The campaign implies that the first units are already on their way to backers, with a broader release aimed for the end of March.
Update (March 1st, 2025): An earlier version of this article suggested the headset was priced at $1,200 during its Kickstarter phase, but the current retail price has been adjusted to $1,900.
