Apple’s Vision Pro has certainly pushed mixed reality (MR) headsets to the forefront, with the ability to project virtual reality elements onto real physical environments. Now, Shanghai’s Play For Dream (PFD) is offering Android users a version of Apple’s offering with arguably better hardware.
The new headset is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 chip with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage space. The internal screen has a resolution of 3,840 x 3,552 pixels per eye and uses Micro OLED technology, which promises better image quality.
The goggle’s Field of View (FOV) is an impressive 103 degrees, effectively covering most of your eyes’ natural view of sight. In other words, a more immersive experience.
During a recent hands-on demo in Singapore, I got my hands on the PFD MR headset. Putting it on, I felt it provided an incredibly immersive experience.
The images projected were crisp and lifelike, without the pixelation effect often seen in headsets with lower resolution. The video clips, captured by a dual-lens camera system, were so convincing that they transported you right into a virtual but realistic-looking world.
With such a wide FOV, it is no wonder that PFD is working with IMAX to offer streaming services soon. With the higher resolution and DTS sound system, such a headset promises to deliver an outstanding movie experience without requiring the space and hardware of an IMAX theatre.
The PFD headset’s mixed reality experience is also impressive. For example, it can project a virtual fish tank and TV on empty walls, and as you walk towards them, you start hearing the bubbling sound of the fish tank or the music on the TV. It gets progressively louder as you walk nearer, giving you a sense of realism.
Of course, a proper mixed-reality (MR) headset would only be complete with games. This is where PFD’s offering also shines.
The controllers are slicker without a ring of infrared LEDs for the system to track in 3D space, which makes them more compact and lighter. The goggles, measuring just 650g, are well-balanced on my head.
Unlike Sony’s Playstation VR2, which has a long wire connecting directly to the game console, the PFD headset allows unrestricted movement in agame’s virtual environment, enhancing the gaming experience. Despite using Wi-Fi, there is no visible lag when playing a virtual Ping Pong or a boxing game.
The PFD mixed reality headset is not just for entertainment, it is a versatile tool for work as well. With the ability to project multiple screens and map them to the real environment, you feel like you have two monitors right in front of you.
While similar to Apple’s Vision Pro, the PFD’s MR headset offers much more. The only minus is the headset’s softer speakers.
For a better experience, earphones that can project a virtual 3D aural environment will complete the package. The good news is that the headset allows you to put on your favourite pair.
MR content is also a concern if the headset is to be popular among consumers. PFD is partnering with IMAX, DTS, and SteamVR to provide more content in addition to its current crop of virtual reality games.
There are no official prices for Singapore for now, and it would be wise to wait for a more complete offering, including content, before making a purchase.
