The new Oculus Go promises to bring virtual reality to the masses. Sarah Moore reports.
Oculus Go marks, in many ways, "the dawn of a new era in virtual reality", say Michelle Fitzsimmons and Gerald Lynch on Tech Radar. This is "VR for the casual gamer, the relaxed consumer of media, the person without the time, money or interest in setting up a PC to power a higher-end headset".
But despite its budget price (£199 for 32GB on-board storage, £249 for 64GB), the Oculus Go delivers impressive results, says Matt Kamen on Wired.co.uk. It has a single 5.5 inch, 2,560x1,440 LCD panel with a pixel density of 538ppi. From the home screen, which puts you in one of multiple 360-degree vistas, to the various games and apps optimised for the Go, the quality of the visuals is "startling", says Kamen. But it's the Go's integrated physical features and nifty design tricks that "really make it stand out". Built-in speakers push audio down the head straps, while the embedded mic allows for chat and conferencing features, making the VR experience a "near-premium" one.
Subscribe to MoneyWeek
Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE
Sign up to Money Morning
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
The Go offers "what VR insiders call three degrees of freedom", says Janko Roettgers in Variety. The action will happen all around you, but you can't truly lean in, or walk within a game, as you could with higher-end VR devices like the Oculus Rift or PlayStation VR. Similarly, you can point the controller at objects, and swipe through menus with a built-in trackpad, but you won't be able to reach out, or bring your virtual hand up to your face. The battery lasts for just two and a half hours, and you can't use it while charging.
But for the price, the Oculus Go is "almost a no brainer", says Roettgers. Once high-end, all-in-one devices become available to consumers, virtual reality will "truly unleash its potential". Until then, the Go is "a great entry-level VR device".
-
Divorce financial settlement fights surge – why it pays to agree terms earlyLawyers expect more court battles as tax rises and sharp falls in asset values make divorcing financially more difficult.
-
Emotional investing: what is it and how you can avoid itAre you an emotional investor? Your feelings could be damaging your long-term investments, but here's how to stay rational when the markets are turbulent.
