Chinese tech giant Xiaomi has recently launched its Mi VR Play headset in India. Although the headset was announced couple of months ago, but did not hit Indian shores. It has been priced at Rs. 999 and does have a better functionality than existing cardboard based VR headsets available in market. Looking at the high consumer interest and demand, we decided to review the Mi VR Play to check if it is really worth the hype or not.
Mi VR Play Box Contents
- Mi VR Play headset
- Three way strap
- QR Code to download the app
Mi VR Play Pros
- Affordable
- Lightweight
- Good compatibility
- Easy to use
Mi VR Play Cons
- No outlet for earphone wire
- Not properly enclosed
- Wear and tear with zip is possible over time
Mi VR Play Photo Gallery
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Mi VR Play Design and Build
The shell of the Mi VR Play is neither plastic nor cardboard; it is crafted using Lycra fabric, which does a fair job to keep it light which definitely makes it easier to wear for prolonged duration. There is a navigation button on top, which has a concentric circle texture. It weighs merely 209g which is very light considering the plastic VR headsets.
There are three adjustable straps to hold it against your face. There is one that is connected from the left edge to right, which keeps it fixed in front and the one from the top helps to hold it steady using your head. The quality of the straps is good, though you can experience wear and tear over the time with the Velcro and elastics.
It accommodates phones from 4.7 inch to 5.7 inch screen size, which is quite similar to the cardboard VR. It features a dual-zipper design, and it can be opened from the front to slot in the smartphone . Inside you will see a thick foam and rubber padding to keep the smartphone fixed at one position even when you are moving your head.
There are two openings on the front, which may be to pass the heat or for the camera. One strange thing is the absence of an outlet for headphone jack. I tried using one of the opening to pass the earphone wire and succeeded but it did not work with bigger phones.
If you wear glasses, you need not to worry as it gives enough room inside. The extra room may turn irritating if you have a small face, as it allows little light to enter from the side gaps. The quality of the lenses is also impressive, and also they are anti-reflective aspheric lenses.
Experience
Looking at the price of this VR headset, the anti-reflective lenses do a fair job. Where many of the budget VR headsets offer 100 degree field of view, Mi VR Play is limited to 75 degrees.
The VR experience is decent, much like the cardboard VR with some extra comfort. I used it with iPhone 7(4.7inch), LG V20 (5.7inch) and Redmi Note 3 (5.5inch). All the three phones were easily usable with it although my experience was not immersive. But that’s still good for the price.
Verdict
At Rs.999, the Xiaomi Mi VR Play is not something you can compare with Samsung’s Gear VR. At this budget, it competes against the basic set of VR headset so if you are looking for a hardcore VR experience then you should cut Mi VR Play off the list. It stands against Lenovo’s Ant VR at this price, and beats it by a margin of miles.
For its price, it offers the best quality of material and design. There are a couple of cons but that is covered up by other positive factors. It feels comfortable and lightweight, and the VR experience is none less than what you get from VR headsets that cost around Rs. 2K.
