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Oculus may cut the cord with $200 wireless VR headset

The headset maker could have a device out in 2018.

Erin Carson Former Senior Writer
Erin Carson covered internet culture, online dating and the weird ways tech and science are changing your life.
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Erin Carson
Watch this: Facebook rumored to release a wireless Oculus headset

If cables and mobile phones are cramping your virtual reality experience, Oculus might soon be able to set you free.

According to reporting from Bloomberg, Oculus has plans to release a $200 virtual reality headset in 2018 that doesn't require a phone or PC to run.

The device could be more powerful than the Samsung Gear VR but lack positional tracking, which is what tells the device where the user is spatially, the report said. 

In October 2016, CNET's Sean Hollister tried a wireless Oculus prototype that did include positional tracking.

"We don't have a product to unveil at this time, however we can confirm that we're making several significant technology investments in the standalone VR category," an Oculus spokesperson said via email. "This is in addition to our commitment to high-end VR products like Oculus Rift and mobile phone products like Gear VR."

This easy accessibility of a standalone headset could serve as a selling point, Stephanie Llamas, vice president of research and strategy at SuperData Research, said in a statement. She added, "an untethered, self-contained device for $200 seems like either a loss-leader or a highly simplified VR experience."

First published July 13, 8:45 a.m. PT.
Update, 12:49 p.m.: Adds analyst comment.