Want VR…without a headset? This 3D monitor can do just that
But it’ll cost you a small fortune
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
Do you want to experience the immersion that comes with VR but can’t stand wearing a headset? Well, Dimenco’s simulated reality display might be exactly what you need.
First shown off atCES 2022, Dimenco’s SR Pro Display monitor uses a unique blend of lenticular lenses, image processing, and eye tracking to create a 3D image. Best of all, just like theNintendo 3DS, you don’t need a pair of glasses to see objects bursting out of the screen.
At Siggraph 2022 I had the chance to check out Dimenco’s SR display for myself and race a few laps in Project Cars 2.
Usually, when I get behind the wheel of a virtual car my real-life driving skills fade away. I horribly misjudge the racetrack’s turns and skid off the tarmac into the barriers surrounding my route. However, playing Project Cars 2 in 3D was a definite game changer.
It wasn’t suddenly transformed into the Lewis Hamilton of racing simulators, but my ability was greatly improved – in as much as I could finally complete a full loop without crashing once.
The proper sense of depth didn’t just help me race better, it made the driving experience look and feel much more real – in much the same way that VR’s immersion makes you believe you’ve been transported to another world.
That said, the experience was still a bit behind the immersion thebest VR headsetsafford. No matter how many times I wanted to grab the digital objects I couldn’t interact with anything without using a controller or mouse and keyboard, which thoroughly broke the immersive feeling.
Get the best Black Friday deals direct to your inbox, plus news, reviews, and more.
Sign up to be the first to know about unmissable Black Friday deals on top tech, plus get all your favorite TechRadar content.
Additionally, this display will cost a fair bit more than anOculus Quest 2– evenafter Meta’s device’s major price hike.
Dimenco’s current SR display comes in one configuration – a 32-inch screen with an8Kimage resolution – thatcosts $11,690 / € 9,990(around £8,400 / AU$14495).
To run it you’ll also need a decently well specified PC with a minimum of anInteli7 10th generation processor and anNvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Tigraphics card – though depending on what you intend to use this monitor for you might need a setup with a bit more power behind it.
Compared with theOculusQuest 2’s mere $400 / £400 / AU$630 asking price DImenco’s monitor doesn’t look like a proper alternative yet.
But over time we should see this tech become more affordable, and in turn, see SR monitors more popular gadgets – just like theQuest 2 which has seen massive salesthanks to its low price compared to its predecessors.
Hopefully, we won’t have to wait too long either.Sony’sSpatial Reality Display– which offers many of the same benefits as Dimenco’s display albeit with a much smaller screen – iscurrently just $4,000 (£3,300 / AU$5,700). That’s still not what we’d call budget-friendly, but the price is trending in the right direction.
After a more traditional monitor today that looks great and comes at a more reasonable price? Check out our pick for thebest monitorto buy right now.
Hamish is a Senior Staff Writer for TechRadar and you’ll see his name appearing on articles across nearly every topic on the site from smart home deals to speaker reviews to graphics card news and everything in between. He uses his broad range of knowledge to help explain the latest gadgets and if they’re a must-buy or a fad fueled by hype. Though his specialty is writing about everything going on in the world of virtual reality and augmented reality.
This Alienware Ultrawide QD-OLED display is my personal favorite gaming monitor, and it’s up to 24% off in this early Black Friday deal
MSI MPG 491CQP QD-OLED review: gorgeous gaming display for a great price
How to turn off Meta AI
