We weighed the Rift at 470g with its cable disconnected, exactly matching Oculus' specification. Its body measures just 6.75 inches wide (or 8.5 inches, counting the headphones) and 3.5 inches tall (add half an inch for the face gasket). The Rift is actually a fairly small device. You'll simply have to run an additional cord to connect it the Rift does not include a pass-through audio jack. So, the Rift's integrated sound system disengages from the head strap with some help from an included tool if you'd rather substitute in another audio device. The company knows that some customers will want to use their own headphones (or gaming headset). Oculus encourages developers to optimize for the integrated headphones, though you're not explicitly limited to them. Spring tension helps keep them snug against your head. The headphones are attached to the head strap, utilizing pivot, swivel and height adjustments to rest right where you want them. It's no small feat that Oculus designed the headphones to work with a broad range of head shapes, but still provide every wearer with an uncompromised experience, all without sacrificing comfort. These open-back headphones have been tuned to work specifically with Rift games, and Oculus provides developers with an SDK for the audio system.
Oculus installs its own digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and microphone inside the headset, and the company provides a pair of integrated headphones attached to each Rift. Thus, Oculus had to develop specialized audio components to give developers the tools they needed for adding believable sound to their creations. VR immerses you in another world, but that world isn’t believable if the audio cues aren't realistic. In virtual reality, sound is just as important as the visual aspects. Oculus also developed a high-quality audio system for the Rift. Plastic, IR-transparent fabric, glass, foam rubber Proprietary headset connector (HDMI/USB 3.0) Microphone, integrated supra-aural 3D spatial audio headphones (removable) IPD (58-72 mm), lens-to-eye distance (adjustable with optional glasses spacer)Ħ DOF Constellation camera optical 360-degree IR LED tracking The entire inner structure is covered by this material.ĭual low-persistence AMOLED (PenTile subpixel matrix) Oculus uses a stretchy material with properties similar to Spandex inside of the Rift, helping it breathe (moisture vapor passes through it) and conform to adjustments you make. However, he expressed interest in an Oculus for kids once there was more confidence in the health and safety side of VR. In an interview with Code, Oculus CEO Brendan Iribe drew a parallel with Facebook's similar age requirement, saying that represented a good place to start. This bottom end of that scale won't account for young children, which is one of the reasons Oculus suggests an age rating of 13+. Oculus enables an IPD range between 58mm and 72mm to cover most adult faces (the average is 64mm). This is similar to a pair of binoculars, but more complex in that the lenses and displays move together with the adjustment. The Rift includes an interpupillary distance (IPD) adjustment dial that lets you specify the correct distance between lenses, calibrated to your eyes. In a 2014 interview with Gamasutra, Oculus CTO John Carmack said that 90Hz is the magic number where 95 to 99 percent of people don't notice the refresh rate in VR anymore, though it sounds like there is good reason to push for even higher rates in the future.
These screens have a native resolution of 1080x1200 (totaling 2160x1200 between them) and a 90Hz refresh rate. Inside the Rift, we find two low-persistence AMOLED displays developed by Samsung. For more on what went into wrapping the Rift in this material, check out Oculus' Uncompromising Obsession With Hardware. The soft fabric surface used for the outside feels vaguely similar to a fine denim material. It also gives the HMD a pleasing aesthetic design. Oculus says this fabric helps keep condensation build-up to a minimum. The entire headset (except for the front plate), inside and out, is wrapped in a special fabric that conforms to the odd-shaped surface of the HMD. The hardware loosely resembles a pair of ski goggles, in that you wear it over your eyes and it straps to your head.