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VR is taking the world by storm. Gone are the days of pure motion sickness and slow games. Today’s virtual reality games are immersive, have the great game-play of video games, and are pushing the gaming world forward. VR games are entering homes all over the world and becoming one of the standard modes of game-play. But playing a VR game does require some extra equipment. To have the best experience, you’ll need a good headset which is why we are doing the Utopia 360 VR Review. Read on to learn all about the Utopia 360 VR Headset and what headset is right for you.
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What Is VR?
Virtual reality creates a virtual world that is as realistic to how humans experience the real world as possible. The environment is computer generated and three-dimensional with realistic interaction experiences. Typically, in virtual reality, you can manipulate objects and perform actions just like in the real world. The virtual world is achieved by combining the conceptual and the technical to create extremely detailed and coordinated 3-D environments that work with our finely synchronized and mediated brains.
What Is VR Used For?
Most people probably think of VR in relation to gaming. But the uses of virtual reality expand far beyond just having a good time. VR is already being used with great success in fields like medicine and education. It won’t be long before whole social networks and businesses are contained in the world of virtual reality. VR is already integrated with phones, and you’ll soon be able to answer calls and video chat. The potential uses are endless. It may soon be used in architecture and to help people visualize space.
Get to Know the Utopia 360 VR Headset
The headset is a key part of your VR gaming set up. It can make or break your experience. To review the Utopia 360 VR Headset, we’ll look at the overall specs, pricing, assembly, and the usability of the headset. This review also looks at how the Utopia 360 VR Headset compares with some of its price point competitors and other VR headsets on the market. To get a full picture of the Utopia 360 VR Headset you need to know what to look for.
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Tethered Headsets
Tethered headsets are physically connected to your PC or your PlayStation. The cables can be a bit much to deal with but the overall VR experience is much more complex because a tethered headset can read your position accurately and it also doesn’t need to be tied directly to your face. The dedicated display is also a much higher quality image. However, these headsets tend to be priced much higher than other types of headsets.
Mobile Headsets
Mobile headsets are generally shells with lenses built inside. The lenses separate the screen into two images so they are compatible with your eyes. They are generally pretty inexpensive and the main processing is done on your phone. The downside to mobile headsets is there isn’t accurate position tracking.
StandAlone Headsets
StandAlone headsets are newer and designed to be a good alternative to mobile and tethered headsets. They are basically mobile headsets with Android displays built-in.
What Is the Utopia 360 VR Headset?
The Utopia 360 VR is a headset that works with your phone. If you think about that, it’s even less expensive because you likely already have a phone, but you might not have a PlayStation or an Xbox. It is generally compatible with most Android and iPhone devices but the manufacturer doesn’t specify which phones are an exact match. The headset has padding and adjustable straps for comfort.
Product Specs
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This VR headset comes with a Bluetooth controller which is good for action games. The platform on the Utopia 360 VR is Android-based. The optics are pleasant and have an anti-glare Lucidview Lens System for 360 vision at any angle. There is a dual adjustable focus so you can modify the focal length and interpupillary distance to suit your needs. The headset also has a built-in action button for app compatibility and touch technology for ease of use. The design is basic, so it is easy to control and set up. All you do is put your phone in and connect it. The warranty on the Utopia 360 VR Headset is Amazon’s standard warranty.
Pricing
The Utopia 360 VR Headset can be purchased for around $20 on Amazon. It is a low price point VR headset. When shopping for VR headsets, the first place to start is with your price point because prices can vary so widely. There are three sets of price points for VR headsets.
The lowest price design is generally priced between $15 and $30. These headsets are the simplest form of VR headset. They are generally made out of plastic and used to simply be a pair of magnifying lenses and cardboard. Thanks to market penetration they are more high tech, have higher quality optics and are compatible with multiple devices, but they are generally made to work with your phone. There are lots of options for low price point VR headsets and the quality and functionality can vary widely, but they are also the most widely available type of VR headset. You can even build them yourself.
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Mid-range price point VR headsets can be a grab-bag full of features and styles. They are often phone powered headsets that will have additional features like built-in controls, tracking sensors, focus wheels, and their own screens. The quality and functionality of mid-range price point VR headsets can also really vary depending on brand. These headsets tend to have higher-end lenses and sturdier straps. The price range of mid-range VR headsets generally runs between $50 and $150.
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The high-end price point is generally where the best VR headsets are found. These are the gaming headsets that are likely tethered to a PC or PlayStation. Their upfront price can run from around $300 to around $800 depending on the brand and model. They are generally very comfortable and block out all outside light as well as having the highest resolution screens and including features like motion tracking.
How the Utopia 360 Compares to Others
To get the whole picture of the Utopia 360 VR headset, we looked at some other headsets to see how the Utopia 360 VR compares.
- HTC VIVE Pro VR Headset
- Oculus Rift + Touch VR System
- Pansonite 3D VR Glasses
Utopia 360 VR Headset
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Pros
- Inexpensive
- Compatible with most smartphones
- Comfortable and transportable
Cons
- Doesn’t have specific information on phone size
- Instructions are lacking
- Easily breakable
HTC VIVE Pro VR Headset
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The HTC Vive is a tethered headset that comes with two motion controllers and two base stations to define the whole-room VR area. The headset can track your movements and has a high-resolution display with outward facing cameras and lots of other features like tracking accessories that help you play games more naturally. To use this headset most effectively, HTC Vive recommends having at least an Intel Core i5-4590 CPU and a GeForce GTX 970 GPU. This VR Headset can be purchased for around $680 on Amazon and the warranty is a two-year limited warranty.
Price
Can be purchased on Amazon for around $680. The price is more affordable if you opt for a trade-in HTC Vive Pro VR Headset but it varies by the headset.
Ease of Use
As the HTC VIve Pro VR Headset is a more complex headset than the mobile VR headsets, it might take some time to check out and master all the different features effectively. However, users report that it is an easy device to use overall.
Assembly Time
The tethered headset and the whole-room experience means it will take longer to set up. You also need to have a compatible computer or PlayStation device to power the HTC Vive Pro VR Headset and that step-up should also be considered when thinking about assembly time.
Design Quality
The HTC Vive Pro VR Headset is extremely well designed and offers the user comfort and high resolution in one package as well as the whole-room VR experience which isn’t really found on other devices.
Warranty
The two-year warranty on the HTC Vive Pro VR Headset is a limited warranty which is the best on the list.
Pros
- Whole room VR experience
- Has motion control and external sensors
- Easy to use controls
Cons
- Expensive
- Tethered headset means that the whole room VR is hard
- No built-in audio
Oculus Rift + Touch VR System
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The Oculus Rift was one of the first super-popular VR headsets and it remains one of the most sought after today. It is very advanced and offers a more affordable alternative to the Vive. The Oculus Rift has Oculus Touch motion controllers. The Rift is known for its wow moments and high resolution. It has tracking but doesn’t require a full-room to set it up. The headset is good for high and low-tiered graphics cards. The headset is comfortable and comes with touch controllers that are well designed with excellent button positioning and analog sticks.
Price
The headset can be purchased for around $350 on Amazon.
Ease of Use
While it might take some time to figure out, the Oculus Rift is extremely easy to use. The motions you will use when you play feel extremely natural and fluid. It is also extremely easy to operate.
Assembly Time
As a tethered headset, it will take more time to set up than mobile headsets but the Oculus Rift generally takes less time to set up and requires less space than the HTC Hive.
Design Quality
This VR headset is extremely popular and each edition the design gets better and better.
Warranty
The Oculus Rift warranty is a 1-year limited warranty for parts and labor.
Pros
- Immersive VR experience
- Works with Oculus and Steam platforms
- Has conventional game-pad and Oculus Touch controllers
Cons
- Requires four USB ports to fully function
- Pricey
- Can’t install games from the headset
Pansonite 3D VR Glasses
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This VR headset is a mobile headset, but it is as close to high-end virtual reality as you can get on a budget. The front has a cloth design, and the headband is adjustable and made with plastic. It has built-in headphones with an aux input and the dial on top lets you adjust focus as your leisure. The small flap in the front will hold your phone in place well and still leaves the camera uncovered for anyone who uses AR-based apps.
The Pansonite also manages to block out almost all light even though the headset has lots of open space. Overall, it makes for a pretty immersive experience at a low price. The VR headset costs around $30 on Amazon.
Price
The price of the Pansonite 3D VR Glasses is around $30 on Amazon. This is considered a low-end affordable option.
Ease of Use
Users report that this VR headset is extremely straightforward and easy to use.
Assembly Time
The headset requires little assembly time.
Design Quality
The headset is well-designed for the price point.
Warranty
The warranty on this headset is Amazon’s standard 1-month warranty.
Pros
- Compatible with a number of smartphones
- Lightweight and comfortable
- AR/VR support
Cons
- No remote
- Light leakage
The Verdict
While the Utopia 360 VR headset is a good headset for its price point. It is not the best when comparing it to the Pansonite 3D VR Glasses. It is also not nearly as high-tech as the other high-end headsets. Therefore, the overall review of the Utopia 360 VR headset is 3 stars.
