bhaptics Review: TactSuit X16 and X40

bhaptics is now an established name in the Virtual Reality world. bhaptics produces full-body haptics accessories, such as a haptic vest, haptic gloves and haptic shoes. These devices give a haptic feedback (vibration) that makes it feel as if you are physically present in the virtual world. The latest products from bhaptics, the TactSuit X16 and TactSuit X40, are the most comprehensive haptic products available at the moment. In this Review, we'll go over the pros and cons of these vests to see if they can take your Virtual Reality experience to the next level.

Specifications

TactSuit X16

• 16 Haptic feedback points
• Up to 22 hours of play time
• Connection via Bluetooth 4.0 / 3.5mm audio jack
• Length: 50 cm (closed), 53 cm (open)
• Charging via USB Type-C cable (2.5 hours charging time)
• Weight: 0.95 kg

TactSuit X40

• 40 Haptic feedback points
• Up to 18 hours of play time
• Connection via Bluetooth 4.0 / 3.5mm audio jack
• Length: 57 cm (closed), 61 cm (open)
• Charging via USB Type-C cable (5 hours charging time)
• Weight: 1.7 kg

Design

The bhaptics X16 and bhaptics X40 vest are the successors of the first bhaptics vest that appeared in 2017 (with 20 haptic points). In fact, this vest worked the same as the latest versions of bhaptics, but there is now a clear difference in quality. Where the first appearance felt like a lightweight jacket, the new bhaptics vests really feel like a premium product. When you put on the bhaptics X16 or X40 vest, you immediately feel like a kind of iron man in the virtual world. The vest is made of a firmer material and the entire vest has a matte finish. This gives the vest a luxurious look.

At the back of the vest you will find the battery. This is nicely concealed in the overall design. In previous versions of the bhaptics vests, the battery was easy to disconnect and possibly replace in the event of a defect, but with the new vests the battery is neatly concealed in the vest itself. It is therefore not possible to disconnect the battery yourself. On the one hand, this can be inconvenient (for example, a separate or extra battery is not available), but on the other hand, the battery is now so well concealed that you experience fewer problems with cables that could possibly become loose or defective. When the new vests from bhaptics came out, some users experienced the problem that the battery turned on very quickly, for example when the vest was on their back. But this problem has now been solved by equipping the vests with with a slightly modified on/off button. The battery is located slightly deeper in the vest so that it can be touched quickly.

wearing comfort

Perhaps the most important thing about a VR accessory is comfort during use. The accessory can still be so good; if you don't like it then don't use it. bhaptics has therefore kept this in mind. Both the bhaptics X16 and the X40 vest are both very comfortable to wear. In the two vests, a distinction can be made in the number of haptic motors and in the length of the vest. The bhaptics X16 vest (as the name suggests) has 16 engines, while the X40 vest has 40. with the bhaptics X40 vest, therefore, you will feel a more accurate feedback vibration when playing games. For example, you feel exactly where you were hit while playing a shooting game, while you with feel the X16 "approximately" where you were hit. In addition, the X16 vest is somewhat shorter than the X40 vest. This has the advantage that the bhaptics X16 vest can be used by children, but also that the bhaptics X16 vest can be used seated without any problems.

playing experience

The vests from bhaptics are so popular for a reason. In addition to excellent hardware and use of materials, the software also makes it incredibly easy to use the vests. Even people who have no previous experience with Virtual Reality can easily use the bhaptics X16 and X40 vest. The bhaptics vests are connected via a bluetooth connection. If you want to quickly test the vest for the first time, the bhaptics vest can also be connected via a mobile phone. Download the bhaptics TactSuit application and you can easily connect the vests via a bluetooth connection with your smartphone. Also nice when you want to show the bhaptics vest to someone, without having to start up an entire game.

In the first versions of bhaptics, the range of games that were compatible with was minimal. This was one of the biggest drawbacks of using a haptic vest. Fortunately, this is now different. There are more and more games where bhaptics can be used by default. Popular VR games such as Onward, Pavlov VR and Tower Tag are natively supported with hardware of bhaptics. This means all you need to do is put on the vest and fire up the game, and you can start playing with right away. And for the games that are not natively supported? Fortunately, there is a solution for that too! with the audio-to-haptics solution, it is possible to receive haptic feedback based on the sound of a game. For example, it is possible to play Beat Saber or another rhythmic game with wearing a haptic vest.

The complete overview of bhaptics supported games can be found here find.

Multi-platform support

The products of bhaptics can connect with various VR headsets and other devices without any problems. As indicated earlier in this Review, you connect the vest via a bluetooth connection with to a PC or smartphone. This makes it possible to easily use the products of bhaptics on different platforms, such as Steam, Oculus or with an Android device. So it doesn't matter whether you're using an Oculus Quest 2, a Valve Index, or something else. Please note, to use the audio-to-haptics you must have the vest connected via an audio jack cable with to the VR headset.

Conclusion

Looking for a haptic vest to take your VR experience to the next level? Then bhaptics is the right choice. The hardware feels good and sturdy, and the software is also easy to use (even without experience with VR). The bhaptics X16 vest is recommended if you would like to use the vest while sitting, while the bhaptics X40 vest is better to use standing.

What is particularly important to us with is that bhaptics's products can be used by everyone. They are absolutely not products that require technical knowledge. Anyone can use bhaptics's products without any problems! And that is the absolute power of bHaptics!