VR Flight Sim Guy Reviews the Somnium VR1

If you’re passionate about VR and eager to get the latest updates on the upcoming Somnium VR1 headset, you’ve likely come across the recent reviews by ‘VR Flight Sim Guy‘. This YouTube channel stands out as a leading voice in the realm of VR exploration. Fueled by a love for both VR technology and aviation, VR Flight Sim Guy blends these passions to provide thoughtful reviews and experiences that captivate enthusiasts globally.

VR Flight Sim Guy is a dedicated YouTuber who has always had a passion for VR technology. He believes that VR provides an unparalleled opportunity to immerse oneself in environments that would otherwise be inaccessible in real life. Combining this passion with his interest in flying, both in the real world and through flight simulators, VR Flight Sim Guy offers a unique perspective on the transformative power of VR. His channel invites viewers to join him on an incredible journey into the exciting new world of VR, promising immersive experiences and authentic insights.

VR Flight Sim Guy, who goes by the name of Steve in the non VR world, was one of the VR YouTubers Somnium Space had invited to its Prague offices in December last year. He and the others YouTubers got a full open tour of Somnium’s R&D facilities and were essentially shown everything. At that time the YouTubers tested Somnium’s manually assembled models, including manually assembled optical stacks.

In early April, Steve got his hands on a headset that was closer to the final production model, though it wasn’t the final iteration just yet. According to Steve, many improvements had been made since December 2023, and they were all for the better. Check out his full review below.

Clarity and Brightness

It wasn’t his only review of the VR1. Steve has turned his attention to the Somnium VR1 on more than one occasion, and we can confidently proclaim that he is truly blown away by its specs. One of the standout features of the Somnium VR1, as also highlighted by Steve, is its exceptional clarity and brightness. The headset offers crystal-clear visuals that enhance the immersive experience, allowing users to dive into virtual worlds with stunning detail and vivid colors. According to Steve, other headsets appear dim in comparison.

Field of View

Another impressive feature of the Somnium VR1 is its field of view (FOV), which spans more than 120 degrees. In ideal cases the horizontal FOV can be pushed to 130 degrees and even beyond. The vertical FOV sits at around 105 degrees. This expansive field of view contributes to a more immersive and realistic VR experience, making users feel truly present in the virtual environment

Sweet Spot

One of the aspects in which the Somnium VR1 excels as well is the greater sweet spot compared to many other headsets. The “sweet spot” in the context of VR headsets refers to a specific area within the headset’s lenses where the image appears the clearest and sharpest. When users wear VR headsets, they look through lenses that magnify the virtual image displayed on the screen. However, due to the curvature of the lenses and the nature of optics, the clarity of the image may vary across different parts of the lens surface.

In the sweet spot, the user’s eyes are aligned with the optical axis of the lenses, resulting in minimal distortion, blurring, or aberrations. And Steve is impressed with the VR1’s performance in this regard.

I could put the headset on wrong and still have a sharp image

Reliability and Ease of Use

Another aspect that Steve, aka VR Flight Sim Guy, particularly loves about the Somnium VR1 is its reliability. The headset just works, every single time, ensuring a seamless and hassle-free VR experience. This reliability is crucial, especially for enthusiasts who want to focus on enjoying the content without technical glitches or interruptions. It is an amazing feat from Somnium Space to achieve such a high level of reliability and ease of use in a non-final model. Steve even mentions he has never experienced something like this with any of the headsets that he has tested.

In all fairness, this has been the most stable headset I have ever used

Adding to the hassle free use are the programmable shortcut buttons at the top of the headset. Steve uses it to toggle pass-through mode. And as the pass-through is very sharp, he can see and read everything on his monitor, keyboard, phone, which is a very useful feature indeed.

It is something I got so used to that I really do miss it straight away when I go back to any other headset

Conclusion

The Somnium VR1 has certainly left a lasting impression on VR Flight Sim Guy, who has praised its clarity, brightness, wide field of view, and overall reliability. With his reviews in mind, it really looks like the Somnium VR1 is setting a new standard for immersive experiences, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in virtual reality.

So make sure to follow VR Flight Sim Guy, whether you’re a seasoned VR enthusiast or new to the world of virtual reality. His insights and experiences offer valuable perspectives on the latest VR technology and its potential to transform our digital lives. Grab a chair, make yourself a brew, and join VR Flight Sim Guy on this exciting journey into the future of VR!

And while you are at it, for those seeking in-depth analyses and headset reviews, Artur Sychov’s (founder and CEO of Somnium Space) YouTube channel, Artur’s Tech Tales, may be of interest as well.