Asus Windows Mixed Reality Headset is set to solve the biggest problem with VR HMDs

Virtual reality and mixed reality headsets are set to become the biggest hit in tech this year, with prices dropping, and quality soaring. Unfortunately, existing VR headsets still have drawbacks that are bound to turn users away, mostly related to comfort and definition, and most importantly, the cost of PC hardware designated to run with it.

Asus has recently released its Windows Mixed Reality Headset, a promising device that is set to open VR and AR to potential customers previously turned off by existing headsets.

Headset’s overhead

While prices for popular HMD like Oculus Rift have dropped considerably, the cost of experiencing VR and Mixed Reality is still high, as most applications require expensive and powerful hardware to run smoothly. Building a VR-ready PC can cost a little less, but the expertise requirement to assemble it can be significant, and out of depth of the average user. VR-ready PCs on the other hand, come with full specs, but high price tags, often unattainable by many users. This situation pulls the VR landscape dangerously close to niche territory: a very bad place to be for a technology with so much potential.

According to Asus, the WMRH is compatible with a much wider range of devices than Oculus Rift or HTC Vive, described by the company as “affordable PCs”, and it caters to Windows 10 users with over 20,000 Windows apps, and 2000 Steam VR titles.

All-day comfort

One of the biggest issues with most traditional headsets, is comfort. Prolonged use of headsets like Oculus Rift, require adequate ventilation, as perspiration can cause the headset’s lenses to fog up, and turn the headset into a sauna for your face. Asus has partially solved this problem, by building the headset to be less than 400 grams heavy, and with a visor that can be easily lifted, to allow the user to take more frequent breaks, and breathe easier. Also the majority of the weight is towards the back of the headset, rather than the front.

Less VR-sickness

VR-sickness occurs more frequently when experiencing VR at lower resolutions, and with some flickering. As the brain tries to make sense of what the eyes see, the nervous system notices the discrepancy, in a similar way as what happens to the body while being intoxicated by alcoholic beverages, and induces dizziness and nausea.

Asus’ new headset features 3K resolution, at 2880 x 1440, with a refresh rate of 90Hz. The powerful resolution of this device drastically reduces the likelihood of getting sick, by allowing to play games at a much higher definition.

Pricing for this new device has not been revealed yet, as for most products unveiled at this year’s CES.

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