Cherry Mobile VR Hands-on, First Impressions

Just about a week ago, we spotted online that Cherry Mobile is offering their own full VR headset. And by that, we mean a VR headset that’s not just made of cardboard or temporary construction but with solid plastic complete with an adjustable strap and a Bluetooth remote. It’s not in the league of HTC Vive or Oculus Rift, so don’t expect much. Read on for our initial impressions of the Cherry Mobile VR.

Upon first glance, the VR headset resembles the Samsung Galaxy Gear with its black and white tones. The translucent cover is also a similar characteristic both the VR headset have. Although, there are no buttons — may it be physical or capacitive — on Cherry’s VR headset.

The headset has adequate cushioning when being used. The padding surrounding the goggles are soft and have good texture thanks to the leather used. There’s also an opening for the nose, so long-term wear shouldn’t be a problem.

Build-wise, the headset is commendable. The glossy white body is definitely better than knock-offs in the market. The included strap is also easy to adjust plus the lenses have simple adjustment controls for focus and alignment,

To compensate for the lack of on-board controls on the headset itself, Cherry threw in a Bluetooth remote control. It’s got a joystick, A-B-C-D buttons, an “@” button, and the power key. There’s also a pair of trigger buttons conveniently placed on top, perfect for handheld gaming. The label on the battery slot says it accepts AA batteries but it’s actually AAA.

Unlike the headset, the remote feels really cheap and it’s like it will not last for long, especially during gameplay. But, we’ll not get ahead of ourselves and give the remote a chance.

To use the VR headset, just place your smartphone (4.5? to 6.5? display) in the designated slot and lock it in by simply closing the cover. There’s a sponge inside to keep your phone in place but it’s not an assurance that your phone is completely stable.

For just Php 1,200USD 20INR 1,734EUR 19CNY 149, it’s a decent upgrade from cardboard but still quite expensive for something that’s just made of plastic, a couple of spherical glasses, and a bundled flimsy Bluetooth remote.

Any suggested VR games in the Play Store we should check out? Hit the comment section below. We’ll be playing with the Cherry Mobile VR headset and come up with a review for it, let’s just find spare AAA batteries we can use.