ASUS Releases $429 Windows Mixed Reality Headset

Interested consumers may now pre-order the ASUS Mixed Reality Headset from the online retailer B&H. This product offering from the Taiwanese tech company comes several months after Samsung and Acer released competing devices. The headset comes with two 2.89-inch LCD displays, with each display sports a resolution of 1440 by 1440 pixels, resulting in a total resolution of 2880 x 1440 pixels. Both of the displays have a brightness of 100 cd/m² and a 90Hz refresh rate, which, according to the manufacturer, should result in a smooth VR experience. The headset also offers a field of view of 95 degrees, putting the device on par with Acer’s VR offering, although it is considerably narrower than the 110-degree field of view offered by Samsung’s headset.

The device maker noted that unlike competing offerings, the ASUS Mixed Reality Headset does not require any external sensors. Instead, the device tracks the movements of the person through the two front-facing cameras built-in into the headset, as well as a number of internal sensors including a gyroscope, an accelerometer, and a magnetometer. Users may choose to utilize the two motion controllers as well, which are included with the headset, for a more fine-tuned control of the interface. People can set up the headset in less than 10 minutes, the manufacturer also mentioned, using the 13-foot cable included with the package that contains both a USB type-A and HDMI 2.0 plugs. By simply lifting the visor, the ASUS Mixed Reality Headset permits the user to quickly switch between the real and virtual worlds without the need to take off the headset. Moreover, the device only weighs 400 grams, in contrast to Samsung’s headset that weighs 645 grams, and most of the weight is placed on the forehead and the back of the skull for more comfortable VR experience, the tech company claims.

Last but not the least, the strap of the headset contains quick-drying materials and  anti-bacterial surfaces.  In order to utilize the headset, the user should have a compatible computer that runs the Fall Creators update of Windows 10. The hardware requirements, however, may differ on a per-application basis. Interested consumers may now pre-order the headset for $429, which is considerably more expensive than the products offered by Samsung and Acer.