Powis ViewR Review - Best budget VR headset
Virtual Reality has become more popular in the last couple of years although it hasn’t even reached it’s peak yet. They are just starting to become available to consumers and there are hundreds of them out there. Google Cardboard is probably the most known company, however their products are made out of 100% cardboard and are not that durable. Other VR headsets are made out of plastic but they can be a bit expensive.
A company called Powis has made their own version of Google Cardboard which is made with cardboard, but is wrapped in a material. At the front they’ve got their logo and it says it’s made in the USA so we can expect it to be high quality. The logo is on a flap where you put your phone in. It’s attached with a piece of velcro which can be easily opened. In here you will find two stickers. One that says works with Google Cardboard and the other is a QR code where you can it the Cardboard app. They’ve got a circle cutout with their logo and website in the middle as well. In between the two pieces of cardboard there is some foam which helps keep them keep their shape and not bend. At the top we have a small button where it interacts with the screen. It pushes out this small foot which simulates a finger press. Some VR headsets have magnetic button which doesn’t work with iOS devices and it can also ruin the inside of your phone.
Onto the most important part of the headset. This is where your head goes to look into VR. It has rubber around the edges to make it a more comfortable experience when using it. There are two lens where you look into.
So to actually experience VR, your phone goes in here like I said before you have to start the app before you put it in. The Powis VieweR can hold any smartphone, Android, iOS or Windows if the screen’s between 4 and 6.5 inches. Once your phone is in there it will use the gyroscopes in it to simulate a 3D image.
My favourite feature has to be the lenses. Other headsets have fixed lenses where you can’t focus it ensure the best viewing experience. This is the thing that makes it different from others. it has lenses that can screw in and out so you can focus it to your eyes and how you like it. It took me a while to find the perfect focus, but once I had it right it looked very clear. This will be very helpful for people who are shortsighted or longsighted.
This was my first experience with a VR headset and the Powis ViewR made it a really nice one. I didn’t expect VR to be this exciting. So far I’ve used 5 different apps, but there are a tonne on the Google Play Store or App Store.
The only issue I would have with it would be light coming through the sides. I used this with my Nexus 5 and the screen is 4.9 inches. I’m not sure if it was the screen size or if it was in the wrong position. My phone also overheated when I used it but this is not the headset’s fault. I’m not sure if it won’t on newer devices but it also runs out of battery really fast. It would’ve also been nice to see an optional head strap to add because your arms do get tired after using it for around 5 minutes, but for the price you are definitely getting your money’s worth.
I’ve been using this for about two weeks now and I’ve had a lot of fun using it and showing it to family and friends. For the price of only $30 I would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants a VR headset.
Go to powiscustom.com to purchase your own Powis ViewR headset.
Watch the video review here!
