Japanese tech company Shiftall is pioneering a new venture by developing an ultra-compact virtual reality (VR) headset, catering specifically to enthusiasts willing to invest in elevating their PC-based VR experiences. Despite the compact package, the MeganeX Superlight headset successfully delivers on its promise of optical advancements that should be standard fare for any headset. While expensive, the overall potential of the headset is promising, assuming the corporation can address a few key issues before reaching the finish line.
Obtainable for pre-order in Japan, United States, EU & UK, the $1,900 MeganeX Superlight from Shiftall is purportedly set to begin transport between February and March of subsequent 12 months. You’ll have the opportunity to attempt a comprehensive analysis of specifications right away.
This tethered headset is specifically designed for integration with the SteamVR ecosystem. Here’s how Shiftall will promote their headset: without the SteamVR monitoring beacons and controllers, you’ll need to use your own or spend an additional $580 on a bundle.
This week, I had the opportunity to review a prototype model of the MeganeX Superlight headset, which left me impressed by its exceptional quality and value for money. The device’s sleek design and innovative features make it a promising addition to the world of gaming peripherals, despite its hefty price tag.
According to Shiftall CEO Takuma Iwasa, the company’s flagship headset is specifically designed for hardcore Virtual Reality enthusiasts who typically spend extended periods immersed in their virtual worlds. With a personal declaration exceeding 3,000 hours in the field, it’s evident that he possesses a profound comprehension of the needs of such a client.
It was this requirement that prompted the corporation to pursue developing a portable PC-based virtual reality (VR) headset, designed to be lightweight and comfortable for extended use periods.
The flexibility of a VR headset’s adjustable elements allows for a tailored fit, accommodating diverse facial shapes and sizes, enhancing overall comfort and immersion. Ensuring the headset’s lenses are precisely positioned for your eyes is crucial for optimizing visual clarity and indulgence.
As I finally got my hands on the MeganeX Superlight, I felt elated to discover it boasts an impressive array of optical adjustments that have long been a feature I’ve been eager to see standard on every headset: IPD, adjustable eye-relief, diopter correction, a flip-up visor, and even a lens adjustment.
The interpupillary distance (IPD), a standard feature in many headsets, refers to the measured space between the lenses. Ensuring a precise alignment of the interocular distance between lenses, corresponding to the natural gap between one’s eyes, is crucial for effortlessly fusing stereoscopic imagery and positioning the viewer’s eyes in the optimal “candy spot” where the lens exhibits its best optical performance.
On the MeganeX Superlight, precise interpupillary distance (IPD) adjustment is achieved by inputting your individual measurement into the software program on your PC, allowing the headset’s motorized lenses to automatically adjust to the desired position for a tailored and comfortable fit.
While eye relief is relatively rare to find when searching for VR headsets. The distance between the lens and your eye is called pupil distance. While accurately setting the focus is crucial for optimizing the field of view and precisely positioning the lens’s sweet spot, The candy spot is a result of the camera’s focus not being solely on a single point, but rather on an area known as the “eye-box” – technically speaking.
The MeganeX Superlight boasts a cleverly designed mount that enables seamless adjustment of eye relief, allowing users to effortlessly manipulate the headset’s distance from their eyes via two easily accessible pads that can be pinched to adjust focus.
While diopters are indeed a rare occurrence, their scarcity pales in comparison to the extreme rarity of eye relief. This setting modifies the primary focal point of the lens to accommodate an individual’s visual acuity needs. Rather than relying on sporting glasses, customers can adjust their diopter to enjoy a crystal-clear view.
On each lens of Shiftall’s headset, a discreet dial is located near the edge, serving as a precise means to adjust the diopter correction for individual eyes. Although the Shiftall headset doesn’t offer automated pricing, the setup process does involve a calibration screen designed to simplify the experience.
While advancements in headsets enable seamless passthrough views via external cameras, there’s still no substitute for a direct and unobstructed view with one’s own eyes. The MeganeX Superlight’s headstrap features a subtle yet effective design element: a soft, slightly spring-loaded plunger on the visor mount that allows for effortless flipping between up and down positions. This clever mechanism enables quick glances at the surface world before returning to the immersive experience beneath the waves.
Additionally, one notable variation I’ve observed is the inclusion of a neutral lens angle adjustment on select firms’ headsets, allowing for precision adjustments to optimize visual acuity.
While many virtual reality (VR) headsets feature a pivot point where the headstrap meets the device, the angle remains largely dependent on how the facial interface rests against an individual’s features.
By virtue of the MeganeX Superlight headset’s design, which allows it to dangle slightly from the brow, a subtle dial on the side of the mount enables users to fine-tune the angle of the headset – and consequently, the lenses – regardless of how the headstrap is adjusted.
Together, these enhancements enable a broader audience to enjoy an optimal and comfortable visual experience from the headset.
For those planning to invest nearly $2,000 in a headset boasting a compact design and an astonishing 13.6MP (3,552 × 3,840) micro-OLED display per-eye, they’ll undoubtedly require it to deliver on its promise of unparalleled visual fidelity.
The MeganeX Superlight’s visuals boast an impressively high level of clarity, with no discernible pixels, sub-pixels, or hint of screen-door effect observable during my testing period. The digital realm doesn’t just seem razor-sharp and robust thanks to its plethora of pixels; it also appears breathtakingly vivid owing to the rich colours and profound blacks displayed on the 10-bit screen.
While I’d appreciate additional hands-on experience to confirm, my initial recollection suggests that the MeganeX Superlight boasts a slightly broader field of view, a slightly larger sweet spot, and reduced glare compared to its closest rival, Bigscreen Plus.
From a decision-making perspective, it’s challenging to identify significant differences between VR content when there are limited examples of high-quality material that can showcase distinct graphical constancy. The comparison between Bigscreen Past’s 6.5MP (2,560 × 2,560) per-eye resolution and the MeganeX Superlight’s 13.6MP (3,552 × 3,840) per-eye resolution, both of which are exceptional, didn’t reveal a noticeable advance.
While it’s logical to assume that the MeganeX Superlight should excel where high-resolution performance is paramount, such as in flight simulators where long sightlines require precise rendering of distant objects or when using a digital desktop to read fine text with ease. What’s my goal? To drive the MeganeX Superlight effectively later on.
While higher resolution undoubtedly has its advantages, it’s undeniable that achieving native resolution for VR content necessitates pairing it with a high-performance PC.
The headset boasts a native resolution of 13.6 million pixels per eye, paired with a 90Hz refresh rate. This could potentially demand that your PC process an astonishing 2.5 million pixels per second (based on simplistic stereoscopic rendering assumptions).
For those without an NVIDIA 3080, 4080, or higher, justifying the $1,900 price tag of the MeganeX Superlight’s extra pixels becomes a challenging endeavour, particularly when considering the $1,000 Bigscreen Past as a comparable option.
While I initially marveled at the MeganeX Superlight’s impressive array of optical changes, beautiful design, and vivid colours, my reservations about this headset remain unchanged since those expressed regarding Bigscreen Past: the glaring omission of integrated audio remains a significant drawback. Some people prefer to wear their own headphones or earbuds over a headset, but I think many others favour the convenience of not having to worry about an extra item to put on.
Bigscreen Past has overcome this limitation by introducing a non-mandatory headband featuring integrated audio capabilities. Making availability optional allows those in need to access what they require, while individuals capable of self-sufficiency remain unfettered.
Shiftall is also planning to build a voluntary headband with onboard audio, but this feature won’t be available or even announced until the headset starts shipping early next year. Developing and releasing cutting-edge hardware is a daunting task, yet it’s truly inexcusable to omit an essential feature like an audio headstrap from the initial product lineup.
Despite using the headset for an extended period, a minor issue persisted: occasional pupil swim within the lens. When you smoothly track a subject without rapid eye movements, the scene can take on an unsettling quality as if reality is bending to accommodate this unusual visual perspective?
It’s not uncommon to encounter issues with poor lens calibration, particularly when working with prototype headsets that haven’t been manufactured using the latest tooling or calibration processes, potentially leading to difficulties.
While one might reasonably assume that the company could adjust its lens calibration before product release, ensuring accuracy is crucial. Before the headset’s release, I’ll definitely require another person to review it closely with me?
If Shiftall successfully enhances its pupil-tracking technology, the company will likely release a highly impressive virtual reality (VR) headset. The primary drawbacks include the cost and the absence of onboard audio capabilities. The innovative dual-layer padding and adjustable suspension system ensure the MeganeX Superlight remains a niche-market headset. As corporations uncover clusters of customers demanding their offerings, they will likely identify a devoted PC VR fan base willing to invest heavily to optimize their immersive experiences.
