Woojer haptic wearable Vest 3 evaluation – one step nearer to true VR immersion

REVIEW – As I began scripting this evaluation, I did the maths and realized I’ve been taking part in digital actuality video games for practically a decade now (beginning with the Oculus Rift developer package 2 in 2014). Even with that early {hardware} there have been wonderful moments which are etched in my reminiscence, like when my cockpit was taking pictures sparks and smoke in Elite Harmful and I involuntarily sniffed the air to see what it smelled like. These moments are fleeting although, more often than not I’ve all the time been fairly conscious that I’m in a VR sport and never fairly totally immersed, although it’s nonetheless lots of enjoyable to play. When the supply to evaluation the Woojer haptic wearable Vest 3 got here in, I rapidly volunteered to see if vibrating haptics throughout gameplay would add extra immersion or if it could simply be a gimmicky buzzing vest. 

What’s it?

The Woojer haptic wearable Vest 3 is a wearable vest that interprets low frequency audio out of your video games (or music or every other audio) into haptic vibrations that you simply really feel in your chest and again. Consider the tiny buzzing motor in your telephone or smartwatch, after which amplify that by an element of 10 and you’ve got a tough thought of what it’s doing. The Vest 3 is right for a VR gaming setup (both with PC VR gaming, Meta Quest VR, or Ps VR), however it could additionally work nice in quite a lot of different situations the place you’d need to really really feel your music with out resorting to a room-shaking subwoofer.

What’s included?

• Woojer Collection 3 Vest
• USB PD charger
• USB-C cable
• 3.5mm headphone cable

Tech specs

Design and options

The Woojer haptic wearable Vest 3 seems to be roughly like a visitors security vest, however thicker. Clasps and buckles mixed with adjustable straps imply it may well match many physique shapes (they are saying roughly from measurement M – XXL). I’m often sporting males’s XL shirts, and there’s room to go larger as soon as I’ve it adjusted for me. I acquired a white Vest 3 which matches my Meta Quest 3 properly, whereas there’s additionally a black colorway accessible in the event you desire that (it seems to be just like the black one has some good purple accents as nicely). 

A management panel with bodily buttons makes adjusting your quantity and haptic ranges simple whereas in-game, whereas LED lights show ranges and data whereas the vest is on. A big energy button turns the machine on and off, surprisingly. On the underside of this management panel are a pair of three.5 mm jacks – one to connect with your machine (although you can even join through Bluetooth if most popular), and the opposite to connect with wired headphones or earbuds. The Vest 3 sports activities an honest headphone amplifier built-in, I examined each headphones and wired earbuds and the sound is nice and loud by each. 

Across the again is the place I presume the battery is housed, and a USB-C port for charging is positioned (with a big purple sticker pointing it out). 

There’s additionally a USB-C port in entrance, however that is for audio enter solely, ensure you solely plug the ability cable into the again. 

Lastly, my evaluation unit got here with a washable liner to forestall sweaty again odors from getting on the vest (very appreciated). 

Meeting, Set up, Setup

First, you’ll need to cost the Woojer haptic wearable Vest 3. A big purple sticker warns you the place to plug within the charger on the again, and so they have warnings within the guide as nicely to not use different non-PD-20V chargers to cost it. Stated guide additionally has simple to know setup directions and a QR code to seize their app. The app is non-compulsory for a wired headphone setup, however if you wish to use Bluetooth you’ll want it to pair issues to and with the vest. I attempted to arrange the app on my Pixel 9 Professional however it refused to seek out and hook up with the Vest 3, then I attempted on an iPhone and that labored:

Above are three screenshots, exhibiting the pairing display screen, then the primary management interface, and at last the Bluetooth headphones pairing possibility. You may tweak the haptics to reply in another way for various frequencies (like an equalizer for audio system). Quantity ranges and depth could be managed right here too. It was simple to tweak issues and hook up with Bluetooth headphones, although I later switched to wired to cut back the latency whereas gaming. 

Efficiency

I attempted the Woojer haptic wearable Vest 3 out with shooter video games, music rhythm video games, and the very enjoyable new Batman: Arkham Shadow sport on the Meta Quest 3. I had initially deliberate on capturing some mixed-reality video to associate with this evaluation, however as I used to be testing out the vest I spotted that it’s very onerous to visually present what the vest is doing, so I’ll do my finest to explain it. 

With default settings and haptic depth to a stage 5, I began by merely listening to some music, and the feeling is much like sitting in a automotive with an overpowered subwoofer. Every bass drum hit feels prefer it’s thumping you in a approach that you simply solely get in any other case by giant highly effective audio system. Evidently, I used to be excited to check out motion and shooter video games after that!

In taking pictures and combating video games, most gunshots and melee blows are accompanied by louder bass sounds. With the Vest 3 on, you are feeling these pictures or blows as a thump in your complete higher physique. In some situations, I might even really feel the course of the shot/blow when the haptics hit tougher on only one aspect of my physique. 

I had an absolute blast taking part in quite a lot of video games, although once I switched to rhythm video games like Beat Saber and Pistol Whip that depend on exact timing that goes together with music, I spotted the Bluetooth earbuds I used to be utilizing have been undoubtedly a bit behind what my eyes have been seeing, which made a majority of these video games far more tough. I dug up some wired headphones, and the distinction was quick. The sound was higher even on outdated OEM earbuds (the sort you used to get with Samsung telephones 5+ years in the past) than with my larger finish Bluetooth earbuds, and the audio latency was gone. This meant that the haptics and the sound itself was completely synced to the onscreen motion, and I proceeded to completely take pleasure in my take a look at periods. 

In case you’re taking part in a sport with a music soundtrack going within the background, Woojer recommends turning it down or off to extend the immersion issue. That is good recommendation, taking part in Half Life: Alyx was simply fixed haptic vibration till I turned off the music. What you lose in atmospheric music you acquire in bodily sensations linked to in-game audio.

What I like concerning the Woojer haptic wearable Vest 3

• Very robust haptic motors that may be tamed and tuned with the controls and app
• In a position to connect with each your gaming machine and headphones/earbuds concurrently through Bluetooth
• Provides a ton of immersion to motion, music, and exercise video games when used with VR

What must be improved?

• Even after tuning, Bluetooth headphones aren’t totally in sync in video games – you’ll need to go together with wired headphones or earbuds for finest audio efficiency
• Want it supported USB-C audio units: I’ve gaming earbuds that use a USB-C connection for very low latency gameplay however these didn’t work with the Vest 3 (USB-C audio in is supported from the gaming machine, however not out to different units).

Remaining ideas

As my evaluation interval with the Woojer haptic wearable Vest 3 involves an in depth, I’ve already begun 3D printing a hook to hold up the vest for simple entry. I’ll undoubtedly be grabbing it together with my Quest 3 as I play VR video games sooner or later. Whereas it isn’t a silver bullet for excellent VR immersion, I consider it extra like including a high-end subwoofer to your VR setup’s sound system. In some video games it actually does offer you a pleasant jolt: I practically screamed out loud when an sudden zombie in Arizona Sunshine clawed me from behind and I felt the blow once I wasn’t anticipating it. I might see this vest being a fantastic add-on for folks spending lots of time in VR taking pictures/combating/exercise video games that need extra immersion, or for the school dorm/condo dweller that misses the thump of subwoofers however doesn’t need to anger each neighbor in each course whereas they play video games or take pleasure in different media. 

Worth: $399.99
The place to purchase: Woojer
Supply: The pattern of this product was offered without cost by Woojer. Woojer didn’t have a last say on the evaluation and didn’t preview the evaluation earlier than it was printed.