Strap in with MSI’s VR One gaming-PC-in-a-backpack, now available for pre-order

By Jayce Wagner November 10, 2016

msi vr one shipping soon backpack — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Micro-Star International’s gigantic virtual reality backpack is available for purchase if you’re in the market for the biggest wearable computer you can possibly buy. The backpack, called the VR One, allows players to make use of an Oculus Rift or an HTC Vive without being tethered to a laptop or desktop. Instead, you will just be tethered to a massive, eight-pound backpack computer, whirring away right behind your head.

The VR One starts at about $2,000 and goes up from there depending on the specs. To be fair, it is an impressive gaming PC, packing an Intel Core i7-6820HK processor, 16GB of RAM, and an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 graphics card. You will be able to get some serious performance out of the VR One, but not for long stretches at a time.

	MSI VR One Image used with permission by copyright holder
Size	15.9 x 11.5 x 2.4 inches
Weight	8 pounds
Operating System	Windows 10
Storage	256GB or 512GB
CPU	Intel Core i7-6820HK quad-core
RAM	16GB of DDR4-2500 RAM
Graphics	Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 or Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070
Connectivity	HDMI 2.0, mini DisplayPort, Thunderbolt 3, four USB 3.0 ports
Battery	Up to 90 minutes
Price	Starts at $2,000
Availability	Shipping November 30

Not only will the nearly 10 pounds of computer equipment on your back likely be less than comfortable to wear for extended periods of time, you’re only going to get about 90 minutes of battery life. You will be able to hot swap batteries if you bought a few extras and you have a pit crew nearby, but the added hassle seems to contradict the whole point of the rig — to provide a seamless, immersive, and untethered VR experience.

The MSI VR One comes with two batteries, and is available for purchase in the U.S., Europe, Japan, Australia, China, and Taiwan, according to Liliputing. The all-in-one backpack PC will start shipping on November 30.

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Former Digital Trends Contributor

A staff writer for the Computing section, Jayce covers a little bit of everything -- hardware, gaming, and occasionally VR.

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