Skip to main content

Noon VR: Another smartphone-based VR headset enters the fray

NOON VR Official Introduction
When it comes to standalone virtual reality headsets, the Valve HTC Vive and Oculus Rift are the first two that come to mind for most people. A bit less talked about are the more affordable smartphone-based headsets, and in that space Google Cardboard and Samsung’s Gear VR are the big players. However, Seoul, South Korea-based NextCore Corporation is looking to enter that crowded market with the introduction of its Noon VR headset, featuring a competitive $89 price tag.
Recommended Videos

For VR programs, the team behind Noon VR is partnering with Koom VR, a VR distribution service. Users can use this service to share their own VR creations and download and watch the work of others. The app is available on both iOS and Android, which offers the service and accompanying headset to a wide range of smartphone owners. The content is video-based, and currently there are approximately 1,000 pieces of content available.

NoonVR1
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The app can be controlled in a number of ways including head movements, finger tap gestures, and eye gaze tracking, which means users have plenty of options for working within the app and choosing the VR experience that suits their tastes.

Apple and Android devices between 4.7 and 5.5 inches will fit into the headset. This means phones like the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, Samsung Galaxy S6 and plenty of other devices will slot right in and work.

Some other notable features of the actual hardware include vents for keeping fog out, a velcro strap that goes around and above the user’s head for stability, and a 95-degree viewing angle that creators promise will not cause eye strain. Once the phone is locked in with the elastic band docking system, there’s a plastic cover that goes over it to keep dust out while the device is in use.

NoonFeatures
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The headset is available right now from Amazon for the aforementioned $89 price. It’s entering a growing and very competitive market, so it will be interesting to see how it works its way into the space as we venture forward into the VR era.

Dave LeClair
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Dave LeClair has been writing about tech and gaming since 2007. He's covered events, hosted podcasts, created videos, and…
The Vision Pro is about to become a legit VR gaming headset
The Vision Pro being used by someone with controllers.

Although there are games available on the Vision Pro, there's always been one missing element: controllers. The reliance on only eye tracking and hand gestures limits a lot of what games can be played. That's especially true for games that are being ported over from other headsets -- or just for more complicated games in general.

But now, Surreal Touch has announced that it's working on 6DoF controllers built for the Apple Vision Pro. The controllers each come with two buttons and a joystick, coming in two color options: glossy Pearl White or frosted Stellar Grey. Surreal Touch claims the controllers have "omnidirectional sensing" and a "proprietary spatial computing algorithm" that Surreal Touch has developed internally -- which it claims will result in the "ultimate precision and latency."

Read more
The creator of the Oculus Rift is working on a mysterious new VR headset
Oculus Rift CV1

If you don’t recognize the name Oculus, it’s the company that kicked off the modern VR era. Facebook (now Meta) was so impressed by the Oculus Rift developer kit and sudden revival of interest in VR that it acquired the company in 2014. Now Oculus founder Palmer Luckey is back with plans for another VR headset.

While Luckey shared no specific details or even the name of the device, the announcement will no doubt create a buzz in the industry. The X (formerly Twitter) post came as a reply to VR analyst Brad Lynch’s reaction to Luckey’s X post about the ModRetro Chromatic, an upgraded reinterpretation of the wildly popular GameBoy Color handheld console.

Read more
The best VR games
A screenshot of VR game Half-Life Alyx.

The VR space is still somewhat niche compared to traditional console and PC gaming but has advanced very quickly from its early experiments.

We're seeing headsets in their third iterations now with some seriously impressive tech powering them and equally stunning games. Even though it is a smaller market, the library of games is arguably stronger and more creative than any other platform. With the exception of PlayStation VR2 for now, there are few exclusive games for any individual headset, and most games made for earlier headsets are fully compatible with the newest versions. If you need some new experiences to get immersed in or show off what the future of gaming could look like, here are the best VR games on the market.

Read more