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Oculus Go vs Lenovo Mirage Solo: Which Is Right for You?
The standalone VR revolution is underway. The first two companies to start battling out in this space are two titans of the industry; Google and Oculus. Both companies have identified the appeal of a self-contained, wireless, VR device. It gives freedom of movement, doesn’t require any costly extras, and can be tailored specifically for virtual reality. That’s precisely what both the Lenovo Mirage Solo and Oculus Go bring to the table, but which is better? As we’ll see, there are numerous similarities and differences, but the final choice depends on the type of experience you’re after.
| Oculus Go | Lenovo Mirage Solo | |
|---|---|---|
 |  | |
| RRP Price (USD) | 199 | 399 |
| RRP Price (GBP) | 199 | 349 |
| Display Resolution | 2560 x 1440 | 2560 x 1440 |
| Resolution Per Eye | 1280 x 1440 | 1280 x 1440 |
| Positional Tracking | No | Yes |
| Head Tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Display Type | LCD | LCD |
| Field of View | 110º | 110º |
| Headset Weight | 467 g | 645 g |
| Headset Type | Standalone | Standalone |
| Refresh Rate | 60 to 72 Hz | 75 Hz |
| Processor | Snapdragon 821 | Snapdragon 835 |
| Integrated Speakers | Yes | No |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer. | P-Sensor Gyroscope Accelerometer Magnetometer. |
| Controller(s) Included | Yes | Yes |
| Controller Type | 3 DoF Wireless Controller | 3 DOF Wireless Daydream Motion Controller |
| Operating System | Android | Android |
Oculus Go vs Lenovo Mirage Solo: Cost
There is quite a gulf in price between these two headsets. Despite that, both come in considerably cheaper than if you were to buy a headset that requires an expensive smartphone or powerful PC to power it. The Oculus Go boasts two different options; a version with 32GB of storage, and one with 64GB. The former costs $199/£199, while the latter is $249/£249. For the Lenovo Mirage Solo, there is only a 64GB option, which will set you back £349/$399. That’s a fairly significant difference, and those who are more budget-conscious will definitely see the appeal of the Go.
Check out the best prices for both of these headsets:
Oculus Go vs Lenovo Mirage Solo: Features
Aside from the motion tracking, many of the other features are the same. Processing power is very similar, both come paired with a 3DoF wireless controller, and their battery life is comparable.
So, what is it that justifies this large difference in price? Perhaps the most noteworthy feature that impacts the pricing is the Mirage Solo’s 6 degrees of freedom (6DoF) tracking. There are two cameras on the front of the device, which mean that your head movements are tracking in all directions, as are your forward and backward movements. Conversely, the Oculus Go only has 3DoF tracking, which means only head rotations are tracked. VR aficionados will know that 6DoF gives far more immersion, which is why the Lenovo costs so much.
Aside from the motion tracking, many of the other features are the same. Processing power is very similar, both come paired with a 3DoF wireless controller, and their battery life is comparable. Each uses a different operating system, however, with the Go using the Oculus store and the Mirage Solo using Google’s Daydream platform.
Oculus Go vs Lenovo Mirage Solo: Design
VR headsets tend to follow a fairly established design principle. That’s mostly a symptom of where the technology is right now. The only two headsets to really break from the trend are the fabric-clad Google Daydream View, and the sci-fi inspired Magic Leap One. Both the Go and the Mirage Solo use similar white plastic designs, although there are some differences on the finer details. The Go prefers adjustable fabric straps to secure the headset, while the Mirage Solo uses a plastic head mount. Neither is uncomfortable to wear, but the Go is marginally more comfortable for longer sessions; it’s lighter and fits more snugly.
One important factor to consider is the amount of light that enters the bottom of the headset. This can be one of the biggest immersion-breakers on any VR device. The Mirage Solo, thanks to the tighter fit around the nose, is slightly better at keeping light out than the Go.
Oculus Go vs Lenovo Mirage Solo: Content
Aside from the price, one of the most significant differences in these headsets is the amount of content that is available on each platform. The Oculus store has a vast selection of apps and games. Although the quality differs considerably across these applications, there’s an undeniably great range. Sadly, the Daydream platform doesn’t quite match up to this. It’s especially noticeable when it comes to content that takes advantage of the Mirage Solo’s 6DoF feature. The WorldSense technology, as it is known, should set the headset apart from its competitors. Unfortunately, few developers have taken advantage of this feature, which means that meaningful content is hard to come by.
It’s clear that the Lenovo Mirage Solo has huge potential, and is technologically more advanced than the Oculus Go. However, as it stands, there isn’t the content available to back it up, meaning it’s hard to justify the price difference.
Oculus Go vs Lenovo Mirage Solo: Which is Better?
As we’ve seen, these are headsets that stand out from the crowd in the fact that they’re both standalone VR devices. Despite this, the differences are enough to set them apart from each other. The Oculus Go is more affordable and has a greater range of meaningful apps and games, while the Lenovo Mirage Solo has better features and immersion. The Solo’s 6DoF has a lot of potential. However, neither compares to a high-end headset in terms of quality. For that reason, the Oculus Go remains the better choice for newcomers to virtual reality. It’s cheaper, has more content, and has a slightly better design. The Mirage Solo is a fantastic concept, but right now it’s not being utilised.
