The Vision Pro introduced a new product segment to the entire world. For the first time, mixed-reality headsets are available for the general public — that is, if you have more than three grand to spare. Now, the race is on to create a more affordable headset. Today, Play for Dream is crossing that finish line with the world’s first competitor to Apple’s headset.

Compared to more traditional virtual-reality headsets, a mixed-reality headset combines the virtual world with the real world. As such, the segment can realize a lot of uses for a person’s day-to-day life including watching movies and doing office work.

With its new device, Play for Dream is building on the segment even more. The company, founded in Shanghai, has years of experience in virtual-reality headsets. Now, spatial computing is the name of the game.

Introducing the Play for Dream MR

The Play for Dream MR augments the world around you with a flurry of technologies. The first device to rock the Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2, the headset brings spatial computing to a whole new level. Underneath, it has 11 high-performance cameras, 7 sensors, and 22 LEDs. A 32-megapixel camera can shoot immersive memories for future perusal. It also has 1TB of internal storage.

Plus, even when seen through a camera, the real world is just as crisp. The headset comes with two 4K Micro OLED screens, totaling its capabilities to 8K resolution. Both will deliver images at 3882ppi and 45ppd. IMAX and DTS are also lending their technologies to the headset for the most immersive media viewing experience.

For comfort, the Play for Dream MR is around 21 percent thinner than the company’s other headsets. It has also been engineered to put minimal pressure around the user’s head.

Oh, and it’s a lot cheaper than the Vision Pro. It’s only set for a US$ 1,X99 tag. (Play for Dream is still hiding the third digit ahead of its projected launch later this year.)

What can it do?

The Play for Dream MR is more than just a collection of different technologies. It can put in the work.

Obviously, the most prominent use for the headset is for entertainment. It can project a 1000-inch screen right in front of you. Even during transit, you can watch in style. Plus, the headset can simulate another location. Instead of projecting a screen out in the real world, you can watch a whole movie under a simulated night sky.

Users can also take and watch immersive videos with the headset. These videos can make you feel as if you’re reliving memories from the past.

Another natural use of the headset is gaming. Besides how immersive the display is, the two controllers are ergonomically designed for comfort. Whether you’re playing a fighting or a sports game, the Play for Dream MR introduces a more immersive way to play.

Finally, the headset can do basic office work. By projecting screens on the screen, users can continue their work even while using the headset.

Taking it for a spin

During the headset’s reveal in Singapore, Play for Dream brought out a prototype for me to try. The first thing I noticed was how comfortable it fits on my face. Unlike other headsets, it doesn’t feel clunky. Though seeing the world through a camera is jarring at first, my eyes quickly adjusted to the augmented reality. Latency wasn’t an issue, either. The screen showed what was in front of me in real time.

The first demonstration involved an immersive video set at a convention with several cosplayers. The feature instantly transported me away from the demo room. The resolution was crisp, enhancing the immersion further.

They also showed how the headset can project a huge screen in front of me. Although the sample video (a trailer for Avatar: The Way of Water) had less resolution, I’m still interested to see how the headset can handle videos in 4K and 8K resolution.

The second thing they showed was how the Play for Dream MR can project virtual objects as if they were right in front of me. The sample showed a virtual aquarium set right into the room’s wall. It also showed jellyfish floating around the room. In terms of use, it’s difficult to see what it can be used for, but it was great technology, nonetheless.

Also, the demo showed off how the headset plays games. I played a short fighting game and a table tennis match. The fight game, pitting me against a series of tall robots, was fun. It got me moving, and it’s obviously fun to beat up a bunch of tall hustlers.

The table tennis game was a bit harder, though. It was difficult to measure how hard to hit the ball. Regardless, it was still immersive to have a virtual board in front of me.

Finally, the demonstration showed off the headset’s office capabilities. Even without a monitor, it can project multiple screens for me to focus on. I had two when I tried it, but I imagine it can handle more. It’s perfect if you don’t have space for a multi-monitor setup.

The verdict

Especially because of its price tag, I always though that the Vision Pro was a product reserved only for dedicated early adopters. We’re still far away from Apple’s dream of replacing a smartphone with a mixed-reality headset.

That said, the Play for Dream MR shows a lot of promise. It’s a lot more affordable and can offer much of the same capabilities as the Vision Pro. While there’s still room for improvement, this is a first salvo in an eventual race for mixed-reality headsets.