Welcome to the Incredible Oculus Rift S VR HMD!
The Oculus Rift S is a second generation of headset with many great improvements over the original models. The lenses have improved a great deal along with he ergonomics of the headband plus inclusion of speakers in the headband. It is very easy to forget you even have on with its light weight.
The inside out tracking is evolution now removing the need for external tracking stations. Its a real plus and works flawlessly in my recent experience with the unit.
My initial experience has been mixed on the install and teething issues in my first week of owning the Rift S.
There are some issues I have had which with PC’s may be just be relevant to me but I’ll discuss the good, the bad and the fantastic so please read on and I’ll lay it on a plate for you.
Rift S Specs.
The Oculus Rift S has gone with an LCD 2560*1440 Fast switching panel running at 80 Hz which is a 10 Hz drop from the previous version. The screen delivers superior screen resolution as well as reduced screen door effect. The lenses are new and newly totally remove the god ray issue. I have yet to see any in my own unit. The field of view is pretty good at 115 degrees. I have found it easy to not even notice its not a full 180 decrees when flying DCS or X Plane 11.
Sound is delivered from speakers in the arms of the unit as well as the optional 3.5 mm jack for your own headphones. This is seen as a step backward from a full ear piece but I have to say so far its not been an issue personally.
The system uses Oculus Insight an inside out tracking system with 5 cameras tracking the headsets movement instead of external base stations as per the CV1. Oculus Insight also tracks your hand controllers location in 3D space. The units seems to work very well. There are instances where its possible for the unit to lose the hand controllers then it makes a best guess till it locates them again. You would need to be waving your arms around a lot to lose tracking but its possible. I have yet to have any issues personally.
Computer Requirements! High End or Not?
Your going to need a good computer or laptop to enjoy the Oculus Rift S full virtual reality experience. Lets be honest the minimum specs are only just going to do it so depending on budget you may have to consider carefully your upgrade path.
My recommendation would be at least what I have and Better if you can. My own rig is a B450 MOB – 16 Gig DDR4 – Ryzen 5 2600 – GTX 1060 6Gb.
I enjoy flight sims which are already very taxing on most systems and core speed makes a big difference. I can run both DCS and X Plane 11 at good FPS settings but I am finding the graphical quality to FPS performance with this system is yet to be at a balance I am happy with.
I have the cockpit looking pretty good in VR but the distance quality is yet to get to something I see other YouTubers attaining so I may yet need to get a better processor. The other option is overclocking as my 2600 gets 3.85 Ghz on boost at the moment. I am really unsure if this is the answer as having seen a 50% improvement in FPS with an upgrade to the newer generation 2600 being achieved in X Plane 11 from Michael at X Force PC which is closely aligned with the creator of X Plane Austin Meyers.
So be of no illusion, you need a beast of a set up to really sing in VR. Smooth frames bring a realistic feel of movement and for me at least I have not experienced any nausea while playing. I hope this allows you to compare against your own system while considering if your going to take the amazing plunge into VR today.
Rift S Setup Experience is Great!
The Rift S Setup is relatively simple following the basic instructions you install the Rift S software which must be downloaded. The setup can take a while and it ensures your cables are plugged in, ensures your hardware has the latest release and mine required an update.
The next step is it pairs the two controllers then you get a pass through black and white view of your surroundings from the front camera. This allows you to define a play space and a floor height calibration. It will warn you if your playing a game standing up if your about to walk into something outside your defined play area.
You do get a 5 meter cable from your PC so you have good freedom. The cable does not go to the back of the headset as it is clipped to just behind your left ear. It does dangle down onto your shoulder which can remove the immersion value at times.
I have found in my first week of owning the Rift S is that it has failed to load and be fully ready when my PC has been turned on. This could be something with my system config but its annoying fiddling trying to get the software to recognize its plugged in correctly.
Rift S Controllers.
The Rift S hand controllers are a lot of fun to use and I am still learning all their functionality. They both have a front trigger as well as a side button plus three buttons on the top and a joystick which can also be pushed in for further functionality.
These are tracked by the headset and powered by a single A/A battery. The hand controllers are tracked by the Oculus S camera system which works very well.
In game the the controllers appear as hands that can be used to manipulate and grab objects which is quite novel as a new user. In other instances they appear just as they are and the buttons shoot a green laser light to where you are pointing and you can manipulate or select things in game as well as on menu’s.
The functionality varies in my experience and is quite a lot of fun. There is a little tactile feedback when grabbing some objects so if you get an S you will have fun just learning what you can do with these units.
Rift S Headphones & Microphone.
Oculus and Lenovo have made a move away from conventional headphones on this unit and have decided to inset speakers in the headband. This will be a love it or hate it for each person individually I am sure.
I personally like the sound and when the wife has something to say I can hear her. Yes it takes away a very small amount of the immersion but the ability to answer makes life a lot easier. If you choose there is a 3.5 mm socket for plug in earphones and there are some snap on headphones so as to cover your ear and give you back the small amount of immersion lost if that’s a personal concern.
The microphone is located under the main unit and is reported to work well during online gaming and when recording voice during game play.
Overall I like it and the sound quality has a positive experience for me personally.
The VR Experience is Undesribable!
Your VR adventures will also lead you to a number of virtual rooms to which you can relax and move furniture around, modify and make your own. Its possible with he controllers to pick up and move all the furniture in 3D space. You can use the controller to move around the world by using the beam you see jumping to that point. There are birds as well as waterfalls and much more to discover.
The virtual environment here in rooms and in games is absolute! Its so immersive that you just forget your in VR. I find myself putting trying to put controllers on the passenger seat of my Cessna 172 in X Plane 11 all the time. Its when it disappears through the seat i’m reminded. I have also put my arm up to rest it on the sill of the P-51D in DCS world more than a few times. The depth perception is just amazing. Everything is real size from a massive 747 to a small Cessna 172 all are real size. Flying the circuit at 1000 ft is as real as the approach to the runway and judging the flare point. This will help me get my landing mojo back.
If your looking for something truly amazing then VR is the answer I believe. Its only going to get better as new headsets come to market and PC power improves. You need to just do it! Really really great!
The in game immersion starts from the first second the screen comes into view and your looking at an endless world with a menu bar you operate with you hand controllers. Its truly something you have to do to really comprehend the enormity of the VR experience. Its possible to use the screen presented to you to manage your games, buy new ones and store them ready for another days action.
There is also a Desktop button which brings your PC desktop into view and then you can drag these enormous screens to wherever you like. They look like 100 inch screen TV’s hanging in the air. Pick them up and move them, turn them upside down or whatever you want. Its amazing and easy to do.
Managing your preferences and graphical settings here is just one of the may tasks you can manage in this virtual world.
Where to Buy a Oculus Rift S?
Now you have read my first impressions are you ready to take the plunge? There are many choices for VR headsets on the market and prices are varied considerably. The Oculus Rift S is the best priced 2nd generation headset on the market at time of writing.
There are other great choices as well like the PiMax and more so consider carefully both what you expect and what your PC will Handle!
Amazon.com is where I purchased my headset just a week ago and I have to say its been an amazing adventure so far. A few setup issues but overcoming all this but the positive far, far out ways the negatives.
VR releases and updates!
Just keeping up with new VR or Mixed reality products can be a full time job. The headsets below are a full range of the most recent and older ones available. Choose carefully and look at all their specs before making a decision.
The important factors to consider are field of view, this varies from around 100 degrees to 200 in the Pimax.
Resolution is also a big factor so check what your getting plus screen type. The OLED displays get a really great picture but this is not always the only factor. The quality of the lenses are a big factor on how clear the picture is as well. Here newer headsets should be better as technology improves.
Tacking is the next change with base stations used to track your head movement on the older models which give a lot more 3d environmental freedom with the newer VR headsets moving to inside out tracking, these have their own cameras inbuilt to track your head movement and hand controllers plus Bluetooth to communicate your commands.
Check out all the available models and visit AMAZON.com by clicking any of the links to do your own research. Good luck and enjoy the amazing experience which is VR!
Conclusion / Update.
Updating this Blog I note that the Oculus Rift S is no longer available for sale. The Reverb G 2 is certainly one of the latest value for money headsets at around $500 USD. Many more are now on the market with many of the newer units staying at around $900 plus up to the many thousands of dollars.
My own Rift S still serves me well and I use it nearly daily after nearly 5 years of happy ownership! I’d like a G2 now to be honest because I refuse to spend the big bucks on the newest units.
Author.
Brendon McAliece is a multi lingual-expat who brings over three decades of flight simulator/PC building experience as well as over two decades of real world jet fighter experience as a weapons/egress technician. He holds a sport pilot certificate giving him real world flying experience. Hi travels have taken him from Europe to the Middle East, Asia and his home of Australia. He has a passion for travel, languages, Flight simulation as well as Guitaring and Coffee. You can read more in his blogs below.
Learn more @
DreamingGuitar.com – DreamingCoffee.com – LetsFlyVFR.com
Asd an Amazon affiliate I may earn on qualifying sales.