Hype I FX Virtual Reality Headset Review


woman using VR

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The world has been waiting for virtual reality for a long time, but the future has finally arrived. It’s now possible to enjoy a fully immersive interactive experience with our technology, and virtual reality headsets are making this a reality. In this Hype I FX Virtual Reality Headset review, we’ll take a look at which headsets deliver the best experience for your dollar, whether you want a budget choice or the best that money can buy.

There are lots of headsets available these days, from the super-performers like the Oculus Rift to ones designed to work specifically with a certain type of mobile phone. We begin our Hype I FX Virtual Reality Headset review with a look at the Hype, followed by a comparison with three other headsets that are worth looking into.

Comparison Table

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What Is the Hype I FX Virtual Reality Headset?

This budget headset is designed to deliver a better experience than the price might suggest. Every Hype I FX Virtual Reality Headset review consistently ranks it among the best headsets you can get for under $100.

Product Specs

painting using VR

image source: Unsplash

The Hype headset is made so you can pop your mobile phone straight in and go. The headset has magnification that allows you to see things in cinematic view, and you’re able to fully adjust the focal point and pupil distance. This means you can center what you’re looking at in a way that is comfortable for you and your eyes.

The device comes in either black or white, and it will fit smartphones up to six inches tall and 3.875 inches wide. The head straps adjust so it will fit nearly anyone’s head. The Hype works with both Apple and Android devices, so long as they are small enough to fit in the device, and you can also simultaneously use headphones for an even more immersive experience.

Use this headset to watch videos, play games, or in conjunction with some of the many apps that work with the Hype, including Sprint Runner, VR Horror, and Google Street View, among others. According to most Hype I FX Virtual Reality Headset reviews, there are few issues with compatibility.

Hype I FX Virtual Reality Headset Review Pricing

You can pick up a Hype headset for a bit less than $ on Amazon, and you may be able to find it for a similar price at a big box store. This is one of the cheaper headsets on the market.

How It Compares

The Hype is just one of many virtual reality headsets available right now, and new designs come out every year. Everyone is looking for something different when it comes to virtual reality, so we’ve picked three other headsets to compare and contrast. We’ve taken a look at how easy each is to use, the features each headset comes with, the quality of design, and a brief pros and cons list based on how real users love (or hate) each device. In addition to the Hype I FX, we look at these three sets:

  • Pansonite 3D VR Glasses
  • Samsung Gear VR
  • Oculus Rift

Hype I FX Virtual Reality Headset

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Ease of Use

This headset is a little clunky though that shouldn’t be a surprise given the price. Users report that it is a bit hard to set up, including getting it to fit over glasses, securing the phone in the headset, and getting the head straps to stay in place.

Once the initial set-up is done, however, the device is easy to use. Simply download the app for your Android or Apple device from the respective app store and start using.

Features

Any Hype I FX Virtual Reality Headset review must admit that there are quite a few features packed into this inexpensive headset. It’s compatible with different platforms, has a fully adjustable headset, and comes with two points of focus adjustments to make sure you can see comfortably.

Design Quality

Design quality is really where the Hype I FX falls down. However, bear in mind that the price is just about $12. For that price, the quality is about what you would expect. Users report that it is flimsy and doesn’t come with easy-to-access buttons to help you use it intuitively.

Warranty

The Hype I FX headset comes with a one-year limited warranty.

PROS

  • Very inexpensive
  • Fully adjustable headset
  • Works with Apple or Android devices

CONS

  • Can be difficult to set up
  • Flimsy
  • Some users experienced focus issues

Pansonite 3D VR Glasses

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The Pansonite falls into the medium price range for VR headsets. This comfortable headset offers adjustable focal and pupil distances and an ergonomic design to promote a natural viewing experience.

The headband is specifically designed to relieve pressure on the bridge of your nose and is adjustable enough to fit most people. The Pansonite works with Windows, Android, and Apple devices and can accommodate anything up to a six-inch screen.

The headset comes with built-in headphones that provide robust 3D audio effects, and the front cover can be removed once you put your phone in, allowing you to enjoy your virtual reality experience while your phone stays cool.

Ease of Use

This device is very easy to use in one way. The phone slips right in, the straps adjust easily, and the capacitive touch button allows you to receive haptic feedback while easily and intuitively controlling your phone: either in VR mode or as a phone.

Where it fails under ease of use is in the instruction manual, which is nearly unreadable. It was clearly not written by a native speaker of English, and it can be difficult to figure out some of the deeper features.

Features

Especially considering the price, this is a fully featured device. The adjustable focus means that nearly anyone can use it without their glasses, including those with myopia up to 500 degrees or astigmatism up to 200 degrees.

The high-quality lenses reduce eye strain, and a good capacity for light transmission means you won’t get that feeling of vertigo that some headsets cause.

Design Quality

Most headsets that offer this kind of quality cost far more. This headset lasts a long time, is compatible with most devices, and comes with a robust warranty.

Warranty

When you buy this headset, you get a two-year, money-back guarantee and a three-year warranty.

PROS

  • Excellent price for quality
  • Very good warranty
  • Compatible with most major devices
  • Easy to use
  • Comfortable and adjustable
  • Can be used without eyeglasses

CONS

  • Some users report unfinished edges can be sharp
  • Cannot easily be used with glasses
  • Instructions are difficult to understand

Samsung Gear VR

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Next up for comparison in our Hype I FX Virtual Reality Headset review is the Samsung Gear VR. While this obviously only works with Samsung phones, if you do have a Samsung this is a great choice.

The Samsung Gear can use apps designed for Oculus Rift, unlike most headsets, and the high-quality screen is immersive and fun. For an extra cost, you can add a handheld controller that will let you feel even more deeply drawn in.

This is a favorite headset for people wanting to watch blockbuster movies, and Samsung’s own Milk VR provides you with some amazing documentaries, world tours, and up close encounters with everything from cars to the moon. In fact, access to Milk VR is one of the biggest perks of owning this headset.

Ease of Use

This is a very easy device to use. The instructions are clear, it’s simple to adjust it to what you’d like, and you won’t have any problem getting it to work, provided you have the right phone.

Features

The star of the show for Samsung is Milk VR, which gets a daily update with brand-new, 360-degree experience videos. You can also stream thousands of movies that have been optimized for the device and use games that otherwise only work on the Oculus Rift.

The biggest downside is the view. You won’t get the crisp, sharp visuals on this device that you will with a more expensive headset.

Design Quality

This is not a high-quality device, but be sure to bear the price in mind when you consider the quality. The controls are hard to use unless you buy the separate handheld controller. The device is a bit flimsy, and overheating can be a problem.

Warranty

Considering the price, a one-year limited warranty on both the device and the batteries is pretty reasonable.

PROS

  • Compatible with Oculus Rift games
  • Comes with access to Samsung Milk VR
  • Inexpensive

CONS

  • Flimsy
  • Video quality only average
  • Uncomfortable to wear for long periods.

Oculus Rift

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Even a Hype I FX Virtual Reality Headset review wouldn’t be complete without a nod to the Oculus Rift, perhaps the most famous virtual reality headset on the market and the one to beat in terms of features.

This is widely considered the best virtual reality headset money can buy. Facebook owns this device, and as you might expect it offers amazing VR experiences and some incredible compatible apps. The OLED panels make for crisp resolution, and the handheld controllers are designed so that you feel more as if you’re using your hands rather than a controller.

Combine that with the built-in surround sound experience and some of the best VR games in the business—like Resident Evil: Biohazard and Robo Recall–and it’s hard to beat the fun you can have with the Oculus Rift, though it comes at a price.

Ease of Use

This is made to be user-friendly and has the most state-of-the-art optics and displays you can currently get. You won’t have a problem setting this up or getting the most out of it.

Features

As you should expect at the price, this headset comes packed with features. It has amazing resolution and features a highly advanced and precise tracking system. With low latency, it follows you so accurately that it feels like you’re really there inside the experience.

Design Quality

Considering the price and the name behind this device, you expect quality, and overall, the Oculus Rift delivers. It lasts well, even with users keeping it on for multiple hours a day.

Warranty

The Oculus Rift has a surprisingly disappointing one-year warranty. Compared with the Pansonite’s three-year warranty, the one offered on the Oculus Right isn’t all that great.

PROS

  • Best VR experience on the market
  • Quality design
  • Easy to use and feature-rich

CONS

  • Poor warranty
  • Expensive

Conclusion

man using a vr

Image via Pixabay

When it comes to choosing a headset, it all depends on your personal preference and what you demand in the experience. If you want the best possible experience, the Oculus Rift is definitely the headset you’ll need to buy. It works beautifully and with everything.

However, we can’t all afford to drop a couple hundred dollars on a headset. If you want to break into the world of virtual reality, you can definitely do so at a lower price. The Pansonite virtual reality headset is much more affordable than the Oculus Rift, works reasonably well—especially considering the price—and has an excellent warranty.

In the end, this is a Hype I FX Virtual Reality Headset review. We will wrap up with our verdict on this inexpensive device. About all the Hype has going for it is the price, frankly. If you want a budget entrance to VR, we recommend the Hype over the Samsung simply because of the range of devices it supports. But in terms of quality and features, your money is likely best spent upgrading to the Pansonite.

For our Hype I FX Virtual Reality Headset review, we give the Hype 3 out of 5 stars.

Featured image source: Unsplash

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