The Oculus Rift S was revealed to much fanfare at GDC 2019. Boasting improved optics, a streamlined design and inside-out tracking, the Oculus Rift S looks to be the next step in virtual reality. It ditches external sensors to provide a simpler virtual reality experience, and when combined with a comfortable design and an affordable price tag, the Oculus Rift S could take the title of best VR headset when it launches this Spring.
Here’s all there is to know about the Oculus Rift S so far, including the release date window, pricing and the headline features of the headset.
When will the Oculus Rift S be released?
As revealed by the company at GDC 2019, the Oculus Rift S is set to be released this Spring. There’s no solid release date in place just yet, but we can look at the release of the Oculus Go to get an idea of the company’s release pattern. That too was slated for a Spring launch, and eventually appeared on 1 May 2018. Could the Oculus Rift S be released in May 2019? It’s certainly a possibility.
We’ll update this section as soon as we receive release date confirmation from Oculus, so check back soon for the latest details.
How much will the Oculus Rift S cost?
The good news is that the Oculus Rift S will cost the same as the current Oculus Rift; $399 in the US. While UK pricing is yet to be confirmed, we’re fairly confident that this will translate to £399 – the same price as the first-gen headset in the UK. What’s not clear at this time is whether Oculus will cease to sell the first-gen Oculus Rift or whether it’ll drop the price even further to put VR into the hands of more people. We’re hoping for the latter, but only time will tell.
Oculus hasn’t opened pre-orders for the Oculus Rift S just yet, but those interested in ordering one as soon as it becomes available can sign up to a mailing list on the Oculus website.
What does the Oculus Rift S offer?
Unlike HTC’s recent update to the HTC Vive, the Vive Pro, the Oculus Rift S truly looks like the next step in virtual reality. First up, the display has had a serious upgrade; it boasts an improved overall resolution of 2460 x 1440, equating to 1280 x 1440 per eye, which should provide a sharper, clearer experience when playing amazing Oculus Rift games and help make text more readable in VR – one of the main complaints of first-gen headsets, alongside SDE (screen door effect).
But while SDE issues plagued the original Oculus Rift, Oculus claims that the Oculus Rift S doesn’t suffer from the same issue. While we’re yet to go eyes-on and confirm this for ourselves, the Oculus Go is proof that the company can produce high-res displays that negate SDE and provide an all-round improvement to the virtual reality experience.
Something interesting to note is that the Oculus Rift S has a lower refresh rate than its predecessor; 80Hz, compared to 90Hz. It’s also heavier than the original headset, though Oculus isn’t saying by how much just yet.
The Oculus Rift S is equipped with five sensors for inside-out tracking, allowing you to navigate the virtual world without the need for external sensors. It’s called Oculus Insight and it uses a combination of computer vision algorithms to capture, trace and navigate the physical space around you in real-time.
It’s the same tech that’s baked into the standalone Oculus Quest headset, also out this Spring, and looks to simplify the VR experience. Let’s be honest, it was always a bit of a headache setting up the sensors before jumping into the virtual world! Ditching the sensors meant Oculus had to build inside-out tracking into the Oculus Touch controllers, so first-gen owners can wave goodbye to using them with the Rift S.
It’s not just the tech that has been upgraded either. Oculus partnered with Lenovo on the design of the Rift S, utilising the company’s experience in the VR and AR space to create a headset with a Halo headband for better weight distribution and improved light blocking, providing a more comfortable VR experience. Even the cable system has been simplified, with only a single cable running from the headset to the PC.
That clean look is in part thanks to the use of an integrated audio system that allows you to hear both the virtual world and your surroundings, ideal for social VR experiences. If you want a more immersive experience, you can plug a pair of wired headphones into the 3.5mm headphone jack or wirelessly connect headphones to your PC.
It looks to be a true improvement on the Oculus Rift, that’s for sure. We’ll keep an eye out for new details and will update this section accordingly, so check back soon for the latest details.
Oculus Rift S specs
- Recommended environments: Almost any lit indoor environment
- Weight: “A little more than Rift”
- Tracking: Inside-out 6DOF head and hand tracking thanks to Oculus Insight technology
- Display Type: Single fast-switch LCD with digital IPD adjustment
- Display resolution: 1280 x 1440 per eye (2560 x 1440 in total)
- Display refresh rate: 80Hz
- Cable length: 5 meters
