If you are looking for a VR headset, there are many available in the market with prices ranging from a few dollars to a couple of hundred dollars.
Xtreme VR Vue is an affordable headset but is it worth the low price you are going to spend?
Don’t worry, our Xtreme VR Vue review will help you decide.
Xtreme Cables VR Vue Review
Build and Design
For such an affordable price I was quite surprised with the build quality of this headset. The entire headset is made of plastic and at first glance, it looks premium. It almost looks like the Oculus Rift with its black design.
It’s quite lightweight at 8.8oz (249.5g) and the dimensions of the device are set at 8 x 4 x 3-inches (203.2 x 101.6 x 76.2mm).
It supports smartphones ranging from 3.5 to 6-inches.
The letdown in terms of build is the uncomfortable head straps. Even though it can be adjusted it just doesn’t feel right. Another thing is that if you do wear glasses, you won’t be able to use this headset comfortably.
Display
Since this is a smartphone headset the display quality will depend on your mobile device.
On the other hand, the lenses are inferior, and the quality reflects the price. What’s even worse is that it doesn’t have an adjuster to change the interpupillary distance. So, if your IPD is over the range then the images are going to be blurred and not focused properly.
Audio
You really can’t expect any in-build headphones with this one, but you do get a 3.5mm headphone jack. So I suggest that you invest in a pair of headphones that support 3D sound for the best VR experience.
VR Buying Guide
Now that we’ve reviewed the Xtreme VR headset, let’s go through some important criteria which you can use to compare the product above and decide for yourself whether it’s worth it or not.
Types of VR headsets
Smartphone Headset
When VR was first released it wasn’t something everyone could afford, so cheaper options made its way into the market. Smartphone headsets are the cheapest and simplest way to enjoy VR. It’s as simple as just inserting your phone into the headset and voila!
You can even find smartphone headsets made of cardboard. Wondering how a piece of cardboard gives a VR experience?
All the headset does is hold your phone and it features two lenses for each eye. The work is done by the VR application running. It splits the screen into two and kind of does a trick on your mind making you believe you are somewhere else while standing in the middle of your room.
Everything depends on how good your smartphone is. The Xtreme VR glasses are a smartphone headset.
Untethered Headsets (Standalone devices)
This option can be described as a hybrid between a smartphone headset and the expensive tethered kind.
Some devices are expensive while the majority is affordable if you are serious about getting into the VR world. You don’t need any other additional device to experience VR on a standalone headset. All you need is an internet connection to download applications to internal memory.
These types of headsets are much better than cheaper smartphone headsets.
Tethered VR headsets
If you want a premium VR experience a tethered headset is your only option. These devices are connected to your computer so that they can use all that processing power to give you the best.
Just getting an expensive headset won’t do, you also need a high-end computer.
What type of VR activities do you want to do?
There are many things you can do with VR, from education to entertainment, but with the type of headset you invest in, your options will be limited.
If you are into hardcore gaming, you might want to get a tethered headset. If you are plan on occasionally viewing VR videos or play simple games, then a smartphone headset might be your best bet.
Your Play Space
Before you invest in a device try to gauge the amount of space you have to move. If you are just looking to watch VR videos then you’ll be on your couch so it doesn’t matter but if you are into gaming, you might have to pay close attention to this.
An untethered device will require the most amount of space when compared to a tethered device which is limited by the length of the cables.
Headset Features
Comfort
Always look for a lightweight headset because the device is bound to your face.
Speaking from my own experience, never get a heavy headset, no matter how good the features are because trust me you will end up hating VR after a while.
Look out for soft padding and adjustable head straps.
Audio
The majority of the cheaper headsets will not have any sound pieces so you will have to invest in headsets that support 3D sound. A premium headset will usually come with earbuds that support true spatial audio.
Display
Since the Xtreme VR VUE is a smartphone headset, this criteria doesn’t matter but when moving on to tethered or untethered headsets, you need to look out for resolution, refresh rate, and display technology used.
Interpupillary Distance
Basically, in simple terms this the distance between your pupils.
Since all of us have different IPDs, the headset lens should be adjustable until you find the perfect focus. Usually, a device specification will have the list of IPD’s it supports. If yours fall outside the range, you won’t be able to get a proper focus.
Field of View
On average our field of view is limited to 180-degrees unless you can turn your head 360-degrees. For a VR headset, the minimum should be around 90-degrees with anything over 110 is superb.
To sum up the Xtreme VR VUE, it is as simple as the Google Cardboard but with better build quality and straps. Nothing too fancy and your VR experience will mainly depend on how good your smartphone is.
However, don’t expect to use it for a very long time, because it’s an entry-level headset and if you do get hooked on to VR you’re going to want more.
Now that you know the criteria needed for a good headset, you can decide whether the Xtreme VR VUE is worth investing in.
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