Mixed feelings
Medion has joined Microsoft in the quest to make VR more affordable… but this isn’t the cuddliest of face-huggers
€449 / stuff.tv/erazervr ■ Microsoft is trying to make VR cheaper with mixed reality – and Medion is here to help. Just note that, as with the Acer unit we reviewed last month, there isn’t really anything ‘mixed’ about it: for the moment you’ll only be exploring virtual worlds, not blending the real and the digital.
■ Medion’s MR headset is built to Microsoft’s exact specs – meaning that, looks aside, there’s not much to set it apart. There’s one hang-up, though: it’s not comfortable to wear for long sessions.
■ This kit is as bare-bones as they get, with just the headset, controllers and cables in the box, so you’ll need your own headphones. On the plus side, because there are no sensors to plug in – thanks to the headset’s built-in cameras – setup is easy.
■ The pair of 1440x1440 screens have a slight resolution boost over Oculus Rift and HTC Vive, but as they use LCD rather than OLED panels, the contrast can’t compete. Deep blacks instead look grey, taking you out of the immersion.
■ Exploring Microsoft’s Cliff House environment is easy, with the controllers warping you between spots and launching VR apps. Valve’s menu-based Steamvr interface is better, but support for MR headsets like this is still in early access.
Tech specs
Display 1440x1440 LCD x2 Sensors Accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer, proximity sensor Field of view 105º Connectivity Bluetooth, USB, HDMI, 3.5mm audio out Batteries AA x4 (inc controller) Dimensions 185x102x95mm, 380g Tom Morgan
Leading lights The chunky controllers feature a glowing ring of LED lights to track their position. They work brilliantly, with accurate tracking and smooth movement. But they need to be kept in sight of the camera to be visible in VR.
(Micro)soft launch There aren’t many VR apps or games currently available for mixed reality. Beyond a few standout titles like Superhot VR, most of the apps in the store are simple videos or minute-long virtual experiences.