What’s holding the world back from mass AR adoption? Is it the still admittedly rather cumbersome technology itself? The lack of readily available content? According to one company, the answer’s a little simpler – it’s price.
Because, when the most exciting development in AR is a device that’s not even out yet and is set to retail for $3,500, it’s always going to mean those of us without thousands of dollars of disposable income are left wondering; is this really for us? But what if I told you similar tech could be yours right now for under $100?
Introducing Zapbox
Aside from the short-lived global success of Pokémon Go (which was released over 7 years ago now), could anyone honestly state that AR has had a profound impact on pop culture without gritting their teeth? Probably not, but that doesn’t mean the technology is lacking in potential or that those who still believe in it lack ambition.
Zappar is a company that truly believe AR and mixed reality is the future of entertainment, education, and everything in between. For over a decade now they’ve been working towards brining the potential of mixed reality to the masses and their latest product, the Zapbox, represents the peak of this ambition.
The “world’s most affordable mixed reality headset” is a unique device powered by your smartphone that, when paired with the latest generation of iPhone, actually offers many of the same spatial video applications offered by the Apple Vision Pro. For literally 35 times cheaper.
The specs are not really relevant as it depends on the power of your smartphone but the real USP here (besides that price tag) is the fully-tracked Bluetooth controllers the kit ships with. In practice, these things feel almost as responsive as the devices included with the (significantly more expensive) Meta Quest 3 and while it would be unfair to compare the two (you can read my thoughts on the Meta Quest 3 right here), while the MQ3 represents a major expense for most of us, the Zapbox could quite feasible be seen as a stocking filler!
Zapbox in Use
Everything about the Zapbox seems to belie its meagre price point, with even the packaging giving off the impression of a sleek Samsung smartphone. Inside the box you’ll find a lightweight plastic headset, the aforementioned controllers and a set of “world anchor” cards, that make up for the lack of tracking technology you’ll typically find in more expensive sets.
Once you’ve downloaded the free Zapblocks app, placed the anchor cards on a flat surface and slotted your phone into the headset, you’re ready to go. To be honest, my initial impressions were mixed, though I was soon to learn this had far more to do with the app than the Zapbox itself.
Zapblocks, you see, is far from the ideal showcase for the technology. It’s a pretty simple, “Lego style” building block experience that most users will bore of in minutes. For younger users, it’s probably an ideal entry point into mixed reality but for seasoned creatives, it leaves a lot to be desired. Still, it’s an ideal space for getting to grips with the controllers, which are exceptionally precise, almost shockingly so.
Yes, it took me a while to configure the controls properly and yes, the screen flickering means it’s not as immersive as standalone solutions but on a purely practical level, once it’s setup and working it feels like an experience worth a LOT more than £80. We’re talking 60fps rendering (on my iPhone 14, at least), zero noticeable latency and a surprisingly comfortable headset.
Once I downloaded a few other apps, such as Zapbox Chess and House Party Pool, it all started to click into place and the potential of Zapbox clicked into place. What we have here is the ideal gateway drug into mixed reality and once Open Brush is made available for the platform (which I’m assured is coming soon), you’ll have an experience on your hands that’s legitimately almost comparable to the Meta Quest 3 in many respects. Indeed, many of the potential creative use cases I outlined in that very review could be applicable here, if not right now then at least in a few months.
A Good Start
What the Zapbox package, as it stands today, represents, is incredibly exciting potential. The team have a pretty ambitious roadmap for the future ironed out and once OpenBrush is fully realised on the platform, I’m convinced other developers will see the potential and throw their weight behind this thing. The fact it’s compatible with Unity also means it should be incredibly easy to program for, so I can’t wait to see what the next 12 months brings.
It’s never going to replace the Meta Quests and the HTC Vives of this world but frankly, it doesn’t want to. For any creative looking to explore the potential of mixed reality without shelling out over half a grand, this is it. The Zapbox represents a significant step in making mixed reality more accessible and affordable. It’s also environmentally conscious to boot, with a tree is planted in partnership with Eden Reforestation Projects for every unit sold.
So, if you’re looking for a decent Christmas gift for the other creatives in your life and you can’t quite legitimise shelling out for a “proper” headset. You’re welcome. Oh, and if you have an iPhone 15 with spatial video capabilities, let me know what it’s like in the comments below!
