DeePoon M2 Virtual Reality Headset

 Virtual reality headsets from China are on the rise and at the beginning of 2016 the first full-fledged VR glasses similar to the Oculus Rift or HTC Vive were released by smaller, as yet relatively unknown, Chinese manufacturers. The DeePoon M2 will be released in June 2016 and will be one of the first VR headsets that can be used in combination with a PC, but also has sufficiently powerful hardware to run VR apps and VR games natively on the device. At a good €600, the M2 from DeePoon is not a VR headset that you just buy, but if you compare the features with current “branded VR”, the price is again extremely reasonable. We'll take a closer look at what the VR headset has to offer in a short preview.

Deepoon M2 Preview

The DeePoon M2 is currently still looking for its equal. Compared to conventional virtual reality headsets, which only act as a screen, the DeePoon M2 has full hardware equipment, similar to a current high-end smartphone. This means that the glasses can be used without a connection to a PC. Usually a PC provides the computing power or serves as a playback device.

DeePoon M2 - Powerful hardware

Equipped with a Samsung Exynos 7420 processor, which is one of the fastest and most current mobile SoCs (System on Chip), this VR headset has the same processor that was already installed in the Samsung Galaxy S6. The Exynos 7420 is an octa-core processor that clocks at 4x2.1GHz and 4x1.5GHz. The included GPU is a Mali T-760@MP8. The processor also has 3GB of RAM (LPDDR4) and 32GB of internal memory (eMMC 5.0). A WiFi module and a Bluetooth module are also available, and the DeePoon M2 can be used without a power connection via the integrated 3000mAh battery. The VR headset is controlled via an Android adapted for virtual reality. It is currently not known whether this is Android 5.1 or 6.0.

Unfortunately, it is also not known whether the M2 has an HDMI input. Especially those who want to use the glasses in conjunction with the PC, for example to play computer-intensive PC games on them, cannot avoid a direct connection between graphics card and VR glasses. WiFi transmission via Trinus VR or RiftCat would be possible, but the delay time would spoil any gaming fun.

DeePoon M2 - Super AMOLED display

However, there are definitely good approaches to the well thought-out, actual DeePoon M2. The headset has a 5.7 inch Super AMOLED display from Samsung with a resolution of 2560x1440 pixels. The luminance is between 96 and 144 cd/m². The field of view is 96°, the refresh rate is 75Hz. In addition, a distance sensor, a temperature sensor, a gyroscope, an acceleration sensor and a magnetometer were integrated. The lenses are made of PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate), the focal length is 23.5 - 32mm and the lens diameter is 38.6mm.

 The M2 is currently still in pre-sale. The release date is June 2016. There are currently no reviews of the DeePoon M2. As soon as there is new information about these China VR glasses, I will of course update this article.