These goggles could change your mind about cheap VR [Reviews]

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Mac users are missing out on VR.
Take your first step into VR with these inexpensive goggles.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple hasn’t shown much enthusiasm for diving into virtual reality in the past, but all signs are pointing to a renewed interest. With Tim Cook mentioning VR in the latest Apple earnings call, I got to thinking more about it — as I’ve never personally given it a go.

Being immersed in a 3-D world that tracks your head movements is becoming a mainstream reality. At the moment, VR is heading full-steam toward gamers in particular — the user is immersed in a virtual world where they can look around without the 16:9 constrictions of a standard TV or monitor.

So in this video I’m looking at a $30 VR headset and seeing how well it works. Or, if it just sucks. Check out the video after the break.

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The headset in question is the Elegiant 360 VR Headset, one of many on Amazon that all seem to be the same yet slightly rebranded. It costs $35 on Amazon, and I’ve got a $5 discount code (which can be found within the video).

The headset is essentially a bulky iPhone case, relying on your phone’s processors, gyroscopes and motion sensors to determine which direction you’re looking. Of course, the quality of the experience can vary depending on the specifications of your phone.

I tried out this headset on a few people, most of whom had never experienced VR at all, with varying effects. Some people loved it, looking around and taking it all in, whereas others weren’t impressed at all, complaining that the screen was fuzzy or too heavy.

But, for $30, it delivers on build-quality and function. It gets the job done. If you’ve tried Google Cardboard, and want to take the next step into VR without dropping $600 on the Oculus Rift, this could be the product for you. The Elegiant headset is a step up from Google Cardboard and is definitely fun to have around.

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Buy from: Amazon

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