Have you experienced virtual reality yet? This hot technology can come in the form of a headset and is turning heads across the globe, literally.
Merge VR sent us their headset for mobile phones to test. The outer shell is made out of foam for comfort, durability and so it’s lightweight and able to fit different sized phones. The company says it’s compatible with Android and iOS devices.
The headset offers a fully functional VR experience. However, unlike its competition Google Cardboard, there aren’t any DIY elements to it. The lenses are in place when you open the box, all you have to do is adjust the knobs on the top and bottom of the headset to make sure you can see what you’re watching clearly.
You can wear glasses under the headset, but if contacts are an option for you I would suggest wearing those instead to maximize the experience and so you’re able to take advantage of your peripheral vision. And be sure to adjust the straps so the headset fits comfortably.
The headset boasts cooling vents to prevent any fogging and comes with a lens cloth so you can keep your phone’s screen squeaky clean. Before you get started, head over to vrstart.com to choose the apps you’d like to download. Keep in mind that most apps that are compatible with Google Cardboard will also work with the Merge VR headset.
The amount of apps available to use with this device is overwhelming, in a good way, and while some were immersive, others lacked excitement. A few I would suggest are Jurassic VR, so you can run around as a dinosaur, Skydive 360 for adrenaline junkies, and YouVisit VR, which allows you to visit the places in the world you’ve always dreamed of. You can also ride a rollercoaster, go under water with manatees, or take part in a street race. The options are endless, really. And don’t forget that you can look up, down or side to side instead of just forward. And it’s a three dimensional 360 environment so sitting in a rotating chair helps the experience!
There is a small, removable piece of foam on the front of the headset that complements augmented reality apps, so don’t forget to remove it for those.
In addition to Google Cardboard, View-Master has a VR device, but a major difference is that the Merge VR headset uses styluses for the screen instead of magnets.
One thing most love about this headset is the price tag. It’ll set you back about $60, which is much less than Sony’s Project Morpheus or the Occulus Rift, which sells for about $500. However, keep in mind that you get what you pay for.
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