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It’s Holiday Season and the Metaverse is upon us. If you’ve already gotten a VR headset or are getting one, here are some of our suggested upgrades to improve your VR experience.
Why?
It’s the most affordable headset on the market right now.
It’s standalone – it’s an Android device behind the scenes and can run applications and games untethered, i.e. this does not need a powerful PC for a great experience. This makes it a great device to take to the family for the holidays. Make sure you have a case for it to protect your investment.
When you’re ready to take your VR experience to the next level you can tether it to a VR ready PC via USB C, or wireless with a strong Wifi connection to play PC based VR titles.
There are 2 models to choose from (technically 3 models)
While there are higher spec headsets on the market, because of the hybrid nature of the Quest 2 (standalone or tethered) this gives you the best of both worlds, especially for the low cost.
Why?
The Quest 2 native head straps have been prone to breakage over time. They’re also not that comfortable. The BOBOVR M2 head strap is much more comfortable utilizing a halo head strap design. It also has a magnetically attached battery for fast swapping and extending your VR sessions. The weight of the battery is set to a 50/50 balance between the headset and the battery so you won’t get neck fatigue from long gameplay sessions.
There are other head straps on the market but most require additional hook & loop straps to hold a spare battery, the M2 Pro has a magnetic mount on the back, you can add or remove a battery without even taking off the headset, it’s that easy.
$59.99 USD – BOBOVR M2 Pro Battery Pack Head Strap (comes with a 5200mAh battery)
$29.99 USD – BOBOVR B2 Battery Pack – Spare battery so you can play even longer!
Why?
If you don’t need or care for additional battery power the KIWI head strap is an excellent alternative to the standard strap or the elite strap from Meta directly.
It also has a front hinge to easily lift the headset a bit to sneak a peek at your phone or quickly look at something on your computer while developing for VR.
$44.98 USD
BOBOVR C2 Carrying Case
Why?
While some models of the Quest 2 come with a case, if you swap out the head strap, chances are it won’t fit. The C2 Carrying Case is designed to accommodate the M2 Pro Battery Head Strap and even has a slot for an additional battery pack in it.
If you’re going to be traveling this holiday season, you’ll want to protect your gear and this case does a great job of packing everything into a tight design that you can slip into a backpack.
Orzero Quest 2 Lens Cover
Why?
The lenses in a VR headset are basically magnifying glasses. You should NEVER leave your headset facing towards an open window, as direct sunlight will permanently damage the headset’s screens.
Chances are you’re not storing your headset in a case all the time, so invest in a little protection to protect those lenses.
$8.99 USD
Table Tennis
There are many add-ons for VR controllers. Lately I’ve been playing a lot of table tennis in Eleven.
I picked up a 3D printed table tennis paddle grip on Etsy, but you can also find them on Amazon (AMVR is one of the commercial versions). You attach your controller to the grip with Velcro and it gives it a more natural balance as if you’re holding a real table tennis paddle.
VR Cover Controller Grips
If you play energetic games like Beat Saber these grips give you added security that your controllers will stay in your hands.
$20.30 USD
Other Add-ons
There are many other add-ons for VR controllers such as gun stocks. Be careful with how they mount, sometimes inserting and removing the controller from the housing can put a lot of pressure on the tracking ring and risk breaking it.
Make sure you have a clear area to play, you don’t want to roundhouse the dog or body slam the Christmas Tree.
One last item on the list is a VR mat.
$65 – XPACK VR Mat
Why?
It’s a 35” round anti fatigue mat with texture on one side. The texture helps you stay oriented while in VR (if you’re barefoot or wearing socks you can feel the texture to know which direction you’re facing in the real world). You can also kneel down quickly since it’s a soft foam, perfect for fitness games which tend not to have you moving all over in your house.
Whether for yourself or the aspiring VR enthusiast in your life, these accessories and add-ons will go a long way in making their VR experiences that much better.
Enjoy!
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