AirVR puts an entire iPad Mini in front of your eyes for immersive virtual reality

By Andy Boxall September 17, 2014

Air VR iPad Mini — Image used with permission by copyright holder

The AirVR is the latest Kickstarter project involving a virtual reality headset, except this time, it’s one that uses a separate device to create a virtual world in front of your eyes. Backers will need to own either the Apple iPad Mini, or the newly announced iPhone 6 Plus to use the AirVR, which works in a similar way to Samsung’s new Gear VR. Samsung introduced the Galaxy Note 4 controlled headset at the IFA tech show in Berlin.

Should the AirVR project be successful, you’ll get a custom designed headset into which you slip your device of choice. That’s right, if you have an iPad Mini, then it’ll be mounted a few inches from your face. That’s a 310 gram, 8-inch plus device strapped to your head, plus the 190 gram weight of the AirVR itself. If your neck doesn’t look like a tree trunk now, it will after using the AirVR for a while. The iPhone 6 Plus is obviously the better choice, being smaller and lighter, and it’s more in-line with how Samsung’s Gear VR operates.

Related: Three unanswered questions which will decide the Gear VR’s fate

However, while the thought of wearing an iPad Mini on our face puts us off the AirVR, a scan of the campaign page reveals some interesting features and quirks. Because the screen won’t be accessible once it’s inside the AirVR, a set of controls have been added to the headset. Called the TouchStrip, the contextually aware buttons are used to operate the AirVR, and an SDK means they can be adapted for use in a variety of apps too. Games can be played using any Made For iPhone Bluetooth controller, or virtual controller apps will launch so you can use your smartphone instead. Three apps will be available straight away, ready for viewing photos, 360-degree panoramas, and 3D movies.

Because the AirVR is a headset, rather than an entire virtual reality machine, the price is very reasonable. It’s $50 for either the iPad Mini or iPhone 6 Plus headset, and at the time of writing there’s still time to get your order in for December delivery. If you miss out, you’ll have to wait until February next year, at which time pre-orders should be live on AirVR’s own website.

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Andy is a Senior Writer at Digital Trends, where he concentrates on mobile technology, a subject he has written about for…

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