Look into other worlds: TOP 5 virtual reality helmets

The second generation of affordable VR glasses from Xiaomi, designed to work in tandem with smartphones, is assembled in a new “body” with components similar to its predecessor on the technical side of the issue.

The appearance of the mobile helmet is dominated by notes of minimalism: the “dragon fabric” upholstery, as the Chinese manufacturer of the device calls the combination of materials used, is distinguished only by the presence of a small “Mi” logo on the front panel, and the goggles are fastened to the head using a nylon strap on Hook-and-loop. The comfortable fit of the gadget contributes to a long pastime in the virtual world without the slightest sign of fatigue. The weightlessness of the helmet on the head is also given by the light weight of the product — only 183 g.

Devices with a screen size of 4.7 to 5.7" are placed in the grooves for attaching a smartphone. The VR content generator is a number of virtual reality applications available for download in the Play Market, in particular, the “native” programme Mi VR Play, which strongly reeks of Chinese, or Google Cardboard. The client from the "corporation of goodness" allows you to take virtual tours of famous landmarks, view panoramic videos and play games with a 360° viewing angle. Other applications are also suitable for the role of software, it is recommended to try them personally.

For user interaction with virtual reality, the model is equipped with a single button. In other cases, changing the parameters is done by removing the smartphone from the "seat". In the bottom line, Xiaomi Mi VR Play 2 can be safely called an entrance ticket to the world of mobile VR, which provides remarkable abilities for little money.

Samsung Gear VR virtual reality glasses in the 2017 version are "friends" with the flagship smartphones of the South Korean brand of the Galaxy S and Galaxy Note series. The owners of these mobile gadgets have access to all the delights of VR technology — viewing photos and videos with a 360° viewing angle, 3D gaming and virtual tours of uncharted places.

In terms of the model, there is a clear resemblance to the previous copies of the line (the Samsung Gear VR CE helmet and earlier representatives of the series). The VR glasses are fixed with Hook-and-loop straps around the back of the head and the top of the head. For focus, the design of the helmet has a wheel at the top. Other controls on the "body" of the model are represented by a touch panel on the left side and a pair of mechanical keys.

The helmet is able to take on board smartphones ranging from Samsung Galaxy S6 and Samsung Galaxy Note 4. Fresh devices are installed on a connector with a USB-C output, and for models that are more familiar on the market, a special complete adapter for a microUSB port is provided. During the game or consumption of VR content, the user has the right to power the "mobile phone" from the network.

Perhaps the most important role in the configuration of the VR helmet is assigned to the remote control with a joystick and a quartet of buttons on the front and a trigger from the rear. It is powered by two "little" batteries ( type AAA) and helps a lot in games. Fortunately, there are a great many of them under Samsung Gear VR New — cooperation with Oculus helped create a store with an impressive amount of exclusive content.

I’d like to support more smartphones and a less easily soiled glossy plastic panel in front — there would be no price for the model at all. And so Samsung Gear VR New has bitten off only a small part of the pie in the market of virtual reality glasses, sharpened for interaction with mobile devices, and a special expansion of its spheres of influence in its current form is not expected.

A VR helmet from Sony is one of the few offers for a game console. The model provides an opportunity to plunge into the world of virtual reality for owners of Sony PlayStation 4, regardless of the version of the console ( classic, Slim or Pro).

In terms of ergonomics, the Sony PlayStation VR is at least half a body ahead of its closest rivals. Judge for yourself, the weight of the helmet falls on the head, and not on the player’s eyes, the product is convenient to use with glasses (adjustment in depth is available within the order of 2.5 cm), besides, mechanics are used in the design of the VR headset attachment, not straps. The helmet adjusts to the coverage of the head literally in half a turn of a special wheel on the hoop, supplemented by a lock button for the selected position.

Each eye of the user is assigned a screen with a resolution of 960x1080 pixels, which in total produces the notorious FullHD with a holistic perception of the picture. The refresh rate of the picture on the display is 90 Hz, but not all games “pull” this figure. The issue is solved programmatically — in games with a maximum fps of 60 fps, the console reprojects every second frame, doubling the frame rate to 120 fps.

The position of the VR helmet in space is determined by the built-in accelerometer and gyroscope (in three axes each), as well as external devices that you have to buy for your hard-earned money. Examples of such accessories are the PlayStation Camera and the PlayStation Move motion controller. But on board the model there are speakers with an imitation of surround sound and a microphone.

One of the shortcomings of the model is the wired connection to the game console. Among other things, users blame expensive content. However, in this particular case , a VR Worlds set of five diverse games is attached to the helmet, on which you can save a little when buying a new generation gadget with a pronounced focus on avid gamers.

The brainchild of DJI can be attributed to the category of VR glasses with a big stretch. Externally, the gadget really has the characteristic outlines of a virtual reality helmet, but the true essence of the model is revealed only when it is used in conjunction with DJI drones.

The helmet gives an indescribable feeling of flight, broadcasting the picture from the camera on board the quadcopter from the first person. At a close distance from the drone, the image is transmitted in HD Mode (at a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels with a frame rate of 30 fps), and at a distance from the pilot — as Smooth Mode (1280x720 pixels, but already at 60 fps). The transmission delay is usually less than 50ms, which allows you to enjoy real-time flight. You just need to remember that with increasing distance to the operator, the quality of the broadcast deteriorates.

Antennas for connecting VR glasses with a quadcopter are mounted in the headband of the gadget, which explains its massive dimensions. Under each eye, the design of the model provides for one screen with a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels. Turning the head controls the gimbal of the camera or the yaw of the drone(depending on the selected mode). In parallel, the pilot receives a bonus in the form of flight data on top of the camera image.

The user is given the right to choose between several intelligent flight modes: Fixed-Wing (imitation of the trajectory of a real glider), TapFly (flying to a specified point), ActiveTrack (intelligent tracking of moving objects), Tripod (tripod), etc. Switching between them is implemented by tapping on the touch panel on the right side of the case, where there are also a couple of mechanical control keys.

The connection interfaces in the assets of the model are represented by an HDMI connector, a microUSB port and an audio output. The battery life of 9440 mAh is enough for about 6 hours of using glasses. And even though the specialization of the model is rather narrow, no one can cope with the task of “pumping” the potential of aircraft better than it. In the role of the “eye” of the DJI drone pilot, Goggles remain unrivaled.

The pro version of the popular HTC Vive virtual reality helmet, developed in close collaboration between HTC and Valve (the creator of the Steam gaming service), was released at the dawn of 2018. This is by no means a cheap toy for owners of powerful PCs who make the highest demands on the quality of the reproduced picture.

The helmet sits on the head like a glove — its weight is evenly distributed along the head, and the outside light does not penetrate inside at all. Accordingly, nothing distracts from the holistic perception of the picture on two AMOLED displays with a resolution of 1440x1600. The display refresh rate is 90 Hz and viewing angles are 110°. In this regard, there are no differences from the basic version of the VR helmet.

The model received built-in Hi-Res headphones that provide spatial realistic sound, a pair of forward-facing cameras for augmented reality and two microphones with active noise reduction. This is without taking into account the sensors put into service: an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a proximity sensor and an IPD sensor for adjusting the interpupillary distance. At the same time, hand motion controllers, base stations and a wireless adapter will have to be purchased separately, because they are not included in the package.

The helmet is good because you can run any game from the huge Steam library on it. However for comfortable gaming you will need a PC with powerful hardware and a lot of free space in the room (about 2.5x2.5 m). Well, you need to save up to buy a model along with related peripherals, a tidy sum equal to the cost of approximately two basic modifications of HTC Vive and two and a half Oculus Rift VR helmets. However, it's worth it.