You don’t need to break the bank to get Oculus Rift before you see what virtual reality looks like. You can get a Chinese-made VR headset for as low as $30 and if you can deal with the crudeness of Google Cardboard, you may be spending even less. There are loads of companies making VR headsets now for mobile devices and Homido is one of these. I got their VR headset about a month ago and this review highlights what’s good and what’s not so great about the device.
If you prefer not to read, here is the review video:
Homido VR headset has a good build quality and the phone holder looks solid. There’s little chance your device will fall off as the grip is tight. The VR headset can be used with any device with screen size between 4.7″ to 5.5″. I did try it on an iPhone 6s Plus and a Huawei Honor 6 Plus and it worked pretty fine.
The soft padding around the face mask makes it very comfortable and the included head strap that distributes the weight around the head helps in using it for a long time without much problem. Homido VR headset offers 100° FOV and the lens are pretty clear. If you’ve tried one of those cheap VR headsets, you should notice the difference.
Homido VR headset offers IPD adjustment with a wheel located at the top of the headset. The two knobs on the sides too adjusts the level of immersion, changing the distance between eyes and the lens. Unfortunately, you may still be unable to use this headset if you use glasses. However, it comes with a pair of two extra lens cones. One is for short-sightedness and the other is for long-sightedness. Changing them is pretty easy and I demonstrated this in the video.
Homido VR headset comes in a zippered carry case that makes to easy to carry around. A soft cloth is included to clean the lens if you have to.
Virtual reality with the headset is good and as mentioned, the lens are quite clear. The ventilation at the top of the headset prevents fogging up the lenses and there are no blurs while using it. If you’ve ever used Google Cardboard, the tunnel visions kills the immersive experience and the FOV is only 60°. Homido greatly improves on this even though the divider between the lens may still be seen. You wouldn’t mind if you’ve seen worse.
If you use a 5.5″ device with 1080p display, you may see pixelated images and this is probably why a 5.0″ device is recommended.
The absence of a magnetic control tool makes it compulsory to get a remote game controller. Most VR games and apps do not require this but it makes sense to have one on standby. Homido doesn’t provide this with the purchase, you have to buy it separately but other controllers will work just fine.
Homido Center is available for Android and iOS and this app lets you easily find interesting games and useful apps.
Verdict
Pros: Homido has a very good build quality and the phone holder looks solid. The adjustable IPD makes it a great choice and the included lens cones for short-sightedness and long-sightedness is a plus.
Cons: The lack of a magnetic control isn’t so good and seriously, a $80 purchase should include a controller.
Samsung Gear VR may be the best out there but since it only works with Samsung devices, this may be the the best alternative if you use an iPhone or an Android device. However, it’s still overpriced. It’s eligible for international shipping on Amazon and you can purchase here.