The Bigscreen Beyond is miraculous. I was waiting for the first hardware Large screen, a company known primarily for its VR movie-watching app, is simply a noble effort. You know, a brave attempt by a newcomer to make a splash in the niche world of virtual reality, something that deserves golf applause and little else. They say the hardware is hard for a reason; How can a small software company take on titans like Valve and Meta?
Despite everything against it (and not without some first-year stumbles), Bigscreen Beyond stands out. It’s less of a headset like the original Oculus Rift and more like an oversized pair of glasses that can still immerse you. As a result, it is the most comfortable VR solution I have ever tried. It also has some of the sharpest displays I’ve ever seen, thanks to next-generation Micro-OLED panels (Meta, meanwhile, has turned to cheaper LCD screens for the Quest 3).
Somehow, a small VR app company created a really compelling update to the Valve Index, which is still one of the best VR headsets out there. That deserves more than golf applause.
All that being said, Bigscreen Beyond is also not something I can recommend to most people. After all, the average gamer doesn’t need a Ferrari. While Meta is aiming for the masses with the $299 Quest 2 and $499 Quest 3, the $999 Bigscreen Beyond is aimed squarely at Valve Index owners and VR enthusiasts who demand more comfort and better displays. It is intended for a niche of the niche. The Beyond is even harder to justify if you’re getting into high-end VR for the first time, as it requires two SteamVR base stations ($300 for a pair) and Valve Index controllers ($279). A $1,578 setup isn’t exactly the best introduction to VR.
Nothing about the Hereafter is easy. That makes it more suitable for people who are already used to the inconveniences and indignities of PC virtual reality. When ordering, you will need to create a 3D scan of your face via a mobile website. That process took me about five minutes, but requires an iPhone; Android users will have to borrow one or sneakily scan their faces at an Apple Store.
Once your face is scanned, Bigscreen 3D prints an eyepiece pad designed specifically for you. That process also determines the interpupillary distance, or IPD, of the headphone lenses. Instead of being adjustable like some competitors, Bigscreen has 18 (!) different Beyond models to fit IPDs between 55 millimeters and 72 mm. The company says that being so rigid regarding the size of the IPDs allows it to reduce weight; I can only imagine the logistical nightmare this creates. (That extreme personalization also means it will be difficult to share the Afterlife with others.)
I admit, I was surprised at how well it turned out the first time I tried Beyond. I barely felt like I was wearing anything, as the weight was evenly distributed across my face. There was no pressure around my eyes or on the bridge of my nose, problems I expected from heavy VR headsets. There was also no light leakage, something that can easily kill immersion, and the earpads attach easily to the headphones using magnets.
According to Bigscreen founder and CEO Darshan Shankar, the company has developed a unique, skin-safe foam material for the face cushion. It can be washed with soap and water, making it potentially more hygienic than sweat-absorbing pads on other headphones. Shankar says he has been using a foam pad for several years and, surprisingly, doesn’t try to protect it while he travels. However, if he needs a replacement, he can order one from Bigscreen for $49.
Given how small it is, the Beyond also doesn’t have room for glasses like the Quest 3. Instead, prescription glasses wearers will have to order custom lenses from the company. I can’t say much about the ordering process – Bigscreen just sent me prescription lenses along with my review unit – but it will involve entering your prescription along with your order. (Snagging lenses for Quest 3 from Zenni Optical is no different than ordering a regular pair of glasses.) Beyond’s lenses magnetically attach to your screens effortlessly and are also easy to remove for cleaning.
You can tell that Bigscreen Beyond is unlike any other VR headset on the market with just one glance. Imagine cutting off the top and bottom of the valve index, leaving only the screens. It looks suitably futuristic, with clear plastic along the front and some LEDs to let you know when it’s on. It also weighs only 127 grams (0.28 pounds), a little more than a deck of cards. For comparison, the Valve Index weighs 1.8 pounds, while the Quest 3 weighs 1.1 pounds. The Beyond ships with a back head strap, which was tight enough to stay secured on my head, but there’s also a top strap in the box for those who need it.
If you look closely at Bigscreen’s promotional photos for Beyond, you might notice something missing: headphones. It doesn’t include any built-in speakers of its own, so you’ll have to find your own solution. I was able to fit the Arctis Nova Pro headphones on top of the Beyond, but that defeats the purpose of having such a lightweight headset. I finally paired my AirPod Pros with my Windows PC, something I never do otherwise, and it worked fine. Big screen release plans later this year, but for now, Beyond buyers should have wireless headphones on hand.
It’s clear that Bigscreen managed to create a unique headset, but how well does it handle virtual reality? Simply put, it’s much better than I expected from the company’s first attempt at hardware. Their Micro-OLED displays are bright and feature much higher contrast than the LCD panels on the Quest 3. They’re also noticeably sharper than those on the Index. The Beyond offers 2560 by 2560 pixels per eye, while the Valve headset offers 1440 by 1600 pixels per eye.
This difference was particularly marked when reproducing Half-life: Alyx, a game I already spent dozens of hours immersed in while testing the Index years ago. On the big screen Beyond, I felt more like I was entering Alyx’s dystopian world. I could barely feel the headphones on my face and everything seemed more realistic. I found it much easier to read small text in newspapers scattered about the game, something that required a lot of squinting at the Index.
True to Bigscreen’s original mission, the Beyond is also a fantastic headset for watching Netflix, YouTube, or a handful of 3D movies. It’s not as relaxing as my home theater since I’m stuck in an office chair strapped to my computer, but it’s certainly the best PC VR headset I’ve found for watching media. However, I find it difficult to choose between Beyond and Quest 3. The Bigscreen headphones have much better optics, but I can’t lie down on the couch or bed while using them. Meta probably wins when it comes to pure convenience.
As good as the Beyond displays are, they still occasionally show reflections and artifacts like any other VR headset. Shankar says it’s a symptom of the Beyond’s pancake lenses: the Quest 3 and Quest Pro also have similar reflections. Older headphones like the Index often exhibited "rays of god" in bright scenes, which usually appeared as an additional glow. I can live with visual imperfections during genuine VR experiences, but they distract me while watching movies, which look much more pristine on a big-screen TV and home theater projector.
Ironically, Bigscreen managed to create a VR headset that’s better for gaming than watching media. But if you’re stuck in an apartment with no room for a large TV, or want to recreate the experience of sitting front row at a movie theater using the Bigscreen app, Beyond still offers a decent sense of immersion. It’s like going to the movies with a broken projector: you learn to live with it just to see something on a huge screen.
I’ll reiterate: most people should not buy Bigscreen Beyond. The Meta Quest 3 is there! (And the Quest 2 is even cheaper!) But if you’re a VR fan looking for something lighter, brighter, and sharper than the Valve Index, it’s a really compelling upgrade… as long as you don’t mind. amount to shell out another $999.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/bigscreen-beyond-review-gunning-for-vr-throne-valve-index-190004793.html?src=rss
