VERDICT
No PC? No smartphone? No problem – the all-in-one Oculus Go is the best way to get started in VR.
THE APPEAL OF virtual reality is hard to describe in words. Manufacturers have struggled, too: Sony’s PlayStation VR (Shopper 348) and the Samsung Gear VR (Shopper 340) have brought the technology to the largest audience yet, but no one company has managed to convey VR’s appeal to the masses. Now, however, Oculus and Xiaomi have joined forces, and the fruit of their collaboration, the Oculus Go, is set to change the face of VR forever.
One barrier to VR’s wider adoption is just how much effort it takes to start using it. Console and PC-powered headsets require myriad cables, sensors, cameras and chargers before you get started. And even smartphone-powered headsets have their issues: you’ll find yourself downloading apps, fumbling with plastic device housings, and tackling issues with phone compatibilities from the off.
Oculus Go is designed to solve all of that. Everything is bundled into a one device: no cables, no smartphones, just a headset you pick up, put on and power up. Despite only offering three degrees of freedom (DoF), compared with Oculus Rift, HTC Vive (Shopper 342) and PlayStation VR’s six, Oculus Go is easily the most compelling case for VR yet.
SAVING GRACE
That’s especially true when you look at the pricing. At £199 for the version with 32GB of storage or £249 for the 64GB model, the likes of the Rift and the Vive don’t even come close to this degree of affordability. The Oculus Go’s closest competitor is the Samsung Gear VR, which will only set you back £120, but this requires an expensive Samsung Galaxy smartphone to function, and it will tie up your phone exclusively for VR duties and drain the battery while it’s at it.
This story is from the September 2018 edition of Computer Shopper.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the September 2018 edition of Computer Shopper.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
XIAOMI Mi Mix 3 5G
VERDICT This is the most affordable of the first 5G smartphones, but even with great hardware, the service isn’t yet worth the expense
RHA T20 Wireless
VERDICT They’re not cheap, but these well-designed earphones deliver superb sound quality
Protect And Preserve
Data might be A Valuable Commodity, But It’s Remarkably Easy To Lose Or For Others To Get Their Hands On. Mike Bedford Provides Guidance On How To Preserve, Recover And Destroy Data, And Looks At The Technologies Involved
NZXT H510i
VERDICT Some qualities shine through, but this is an underwhelming case from a maker we know can do better
Kicking Off A New Era Of Football?
With the new football season well and truly under way, David Crookes talks to Jon Hare about reviving the spirit of Sensible Soccer with a new, more sociable offering that he hopes will avoid an own goal
NAIM Mu-so 2
VERDICT A luxurious and fine-sounding slab of metal, but for most homes it won’t be worth the expense
Motorola One Vision
VERDICT The One Vision comes close to being a brilliant mishmash of tech – shame about the camera
JBL Xtreme 2
VERDICT With top-quality sound and a versatile design, this is a great – if expensive – rugged Bluetooth speaker
HUAWEI MateBook 13
VERDICT What the MateBook 13 lacks in flourish, it makes up for in value and performance
GIGABYTE X570 Aorus Master
VERDICT A loaded and forward-thinking motherboard, but not one that fully justifies its high price
