The Oculus Rift S is the newer and better version of our favorite Oculus Rift. Released on 21 May 2019, this headset did create a lot of buzz alongside with another standalone headset Oculus Quest, which was released on the same date.
The Rift S definitely has better specs and features which we would look into in detail later in the review but overall, it is better than the previous Rift.
Something that really makes the Rift S different from its predecessor is the fact that it has very fewer wires in comparison to the Rift.
As there are no external cameras with the Rift S, the numbers of wires that you need to deal with have reduced drastically.
So, if you do not already own a VR headset, then the real question that comes in your mind is if the Rift S is as good as the previous Rift or not and if you should invest in it.
For Oculus Rift users, the question that would haunt you is if you need to get the new Rift S and how really different are the two headsets.
WIthout wasting any more time let’s answer these questions…
Table of Contents
Design of the Headset
The Design of the Oculus Rift S headset is not that far from the Oculus Rift, however, on the new Rift S headset, you do see some cameras on the headset that help in tracking.
The Rift S headset has a headband on the top of the headset that you can adjust using a knob at the back. This is the design that you have on the PlayStation VR.
This makes an even weight distribution of the VR headset while you wear it making it more comfortable than the predecessor Oculus Rift.
The headset also has a Lenovo logo on one side as Oculus has partnered with Lenovo for manufacturing these headsets and hence you would see some significant changes on the design of the Rift S.
Another feature that is great about the Rift S is the Passthrough+ feature which means you can view the real world while wearing the headset and you do not have to remove it every time you want to interact with the real world environment.
This makes it a lot easier to just switch to the real world and deal with your tasks or maybe answer to a few messages and then switch right back into the VR game.
Display Resolution and Refresh Rate
The display resolution on the headset was amped to a fast-switch LCD screen with 2560×1440 resolution. There was less screen door effect as well which made the overall VR experience immersive.
The DIsplay is definitely better than the Rift and you can visibly see that once you sit down to compare the two. Moving on the refresh rate of the Rift S, well it is decreased to 80Hz.
Yes, this is true and it was done so that the Rift S could accommodate more games as 90z was a high refresh rate for many game developers and with this lower range, it would be pretty easier for them to make games for the Rift.
Even though the refresh rate has been lowered, it is still good news in a way, as you can get more games now for the rift.
Tracking and Controllers
The Oculus Rift S has made a major improvement in the tracking section where there is no external camera installation required anymore.
The headset comes with inbuilt sensors that help in tracking your movements with the controller. This reduces a lot of wires from the system making it relatively wire free in comparison to the previous Oculus Rift.
The tracking feels better as you do not have to deal with a lot of entangled wires. The controllers and the tracking are pretty good on the Rift S as it was in the Rift, so there is not much to complain in the section.
The Gameplay on the Oculus Rift S
The games on the Oculus Rift and the Oculus Rift S are pretty much the same. Both the headsets are going to share the same titles, although there would now be a few more games released along with the release of the Quest and the Rift S.
So, most of the VR games that are going to be compatible with teh Rift S, are definitely compatible with the Rift and the Quest with a few exceptions.
The online store for all the three headsets is the same so you can hop onto the same platform and get the games.
The gaming library is huge for the Rift S and you are definitely not going to be disappointed with the quality of VR experience that this headset has to offer.
What about your old Oculus Rift?
The old Oculus Rift is going to get a software update so that you can play all the games that are released henceforth on the Rift S.
So, is the update needed? It depends. If you want to get a better VR experience then you can chuck aside the old Oculus Rift and go with the Oculus Rift S but if you are not willing to spend the extra cash then you can continue using the old Rift as it is not going to create issues.
For someone who is looking to buy a PC VR headset, they are going to get only the Rift S as an option as the old Oculus Rift is being discontinued.
Conclusion
So, what do we think about the updates? According to me the updates on the headset is pretty good and if you are looking for an amazing quality PC VR headset then the Rift S is something that would be impressive to you.
When compared to the Rift, it is definitely better and you are going to see a lot of difference when it comes to mobility with the headset and the controllers.
There are a lot of things that you are going to love about the headset from the comfort level to the quality of VR experience.
Some of you might even be interested in VR headsets to just watch porn and all I can say to them is that they have set their priorities straight, LOL.
ON a serious note, watching porn on this headset is amazing as well since the VR quality is so amazing and realistic. For more on VR Porn on the Rift S, do read this blog post on our website.
So, overall is the Rift S better than the previous Oculus Rift- OFCOURSE.
Do you need to throw away your old Rift and get the new Rift S- NO
You can still use the older Rift as Facebook is going to give you guys a software update which would help Rift and Rift S users operate the headset from the same platform.
So, what do you think about the new Oculus Rift S? Let us know in the comments below!
If you have any experiences with both the Rift and the Rift S then do share it with us in the comments as it would immensely help our readers.
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