Somnium Connect 2024: What did VR influencers’ say about the VR1 production units?

If you didn’t know that the Somnium Connect 2024 event took place in Prague on July 12th, you must have been living under a rock. As we reported in this article, the event was a tremendous success, and we can vouch for it since we were there! It was undoubtedly one of the most anticipated events in the virtual reality and immersive tech scene. Attendees were treated to inspiring keynote speeches from industry leaders, including the day’s star, Artur Sychov, founder and CEO of Somnium Space. They also had the chance to try out a production unit of the VR1 headset.

The demand to try out the VR1 was immense. For this occasion, Somnium Space invited several special guests, including VR YouTubers and journalists, who eagerly participated and shared their impressions with their respective audiences.

Naturally, Somnium Space was very interested in their feedback, and they have now published a recap of the comments and reactions in this Medium post.

No VR headset will ever be perfect in every single aspect. It is simply unrealistic to expect that from any piece of technology. Just like you won’t find a perfect car, the goal is to assess how well the VR1 performs for its intended audience.

There seems to be a consensus among the special invitees—David Heaney (UploadVR editor and developer), Scott Hayden (editor at Road to VR), SkarredGhost (AR/VR developer and startup founder), and YouTubers Tyriel Wood, SadlyItsBradley, and VoodooDE—that the VR1 excels in several key areas.

In summary, the VR1 impresses with its image quality, clarity, and brightness. The quality of the passthrough cameras is also highly praised. When you add the extensive field of view (FoV) and the large sweet spot, it’s easy to see why the VR1 is generating excitement among VR enthusiasts. About the clarity and brightness, David Heaney wrote:

Given how much I use Apple Vision Pro and Meta Quest headsets these days, I was taken aback by just how bright Somnium VR1 can get

Scott Hayden said:

Another clear win is VR1’s display, which is very bright — a reported 210 nits and the highest I’ve seen in a production headset.

About the field of view David Heaney mentioned:

What I immediately noticed when putting Somnium VR1 on was that it indeed delivers the widest undistorted field of view of any consumer headset to date.

And regarding the passthrough, Tyriel Wood said the following:

The results [of passthrough] were absolutely fantastic as I could read every little thing on the knobs.

We’ve just listed a few of the quotes, but these sentiments are shared among the special invitees. There is no doubt that they all see the VR1 as an excellent headset for true enthusiasts and especially for those who engage in flight and racing simulation and are willing to invest in a premium setup.

SkarredGhosts said it like this:

…from what I saw, I think that Somnium VR1 is a great headset to be used in simulators. What counts in simulator games is especially a high resolution and a wide FOV, and Somnium VR1 delivers them very well. For enterprise uses, it is also important a high-definition passthrough and also that one is included in the package.

Some final words

It makes sense that most of the feedback centered around display and image quality, field of view, comfort, etc., especially because that’s what the demos were supposed to showcase.

However, focusing solely on the usual parameters wouldn’t do justice to the revolutionary nature of the VR1 in our opinion. While image clarity, brightness, field of view, and sweet spot are crucial—and we know that the Somnium VR1 excels in these areas—there are other factors to consider as well.

The experience with a new VR headset begins the moment you order it. How smooth is the ordering process? How is the product packaged? What’s the quality control like? How easy or difficult is it to set up and use? What’s the overall quality of the product? These are all areas where the true power of the Somnium VR1 will become evident as well we believe.

The VR1 is entirely built and assembled in the European Union, with top-notch quality controls. You’ll be amazed by the fantastic suitcase it’s shipped in. The headset’s configurability is unparalleled, and you’ll be super grateful for the four shortcut buttons on the top of the VR1. Its modularity is also brilliant, and there’s so much more to appreciate.

Yes, it is expensive. Frankly, we’d be skeptical if it weren’t. This is a product that reflects a love, and a vision for the future of VR, and is not driven by a hunger for market share at all cost.

About Somnium Space

Somnium Space is a blockchain-based virtual reality platform that allows users to create, experience, and monetize content and applications. The platform is committed to building a decentralized and immersive VR world that offers users a unique and engaging experience.