Review: ZyberVR Quest 3 Controller Grips Cover
With ZyberVR’s accessories becoming my accessories of choice on my Meta Quest 3, when they reached out about their controller grips I was interested in finding out could these become my grips of choice. I have now put them through testing, what did I think?
Release Date: July 21st 2024
Brand: ZyberVR
Price: £14.99
Reviewed On: Meta Quest 3
* Product Provided For Review *
What’s In The Box?
Inside of the box you get new controller battery compartment covers (with space for the batteries to be removed/replaced cut out of them), two knuckle style grips, two silicone covers and four replacement plastic strips for easy removal of the batteries, and as per usual the instructions.
Attaching To The Controllers
Firstly remove the battery covers, the battery and the current wrist strap from your controllers. Insert the metal connector from your knuckle strap where the wrist strap was connected, attach the new battery covers and insert the battery. Then pass the knuckle strap through the hole at the top of the silicone cover, put your controller in the cover, close the battery door and pass the bottom of the strap through the metal ring at the bottom of the controller. This took me about five-minutes to have them all in place and ready to use.
Benefits
Since first using the Valve Index controllers I have always wanted companies to start using the knuckle sort of grips, this is why I am happy companies like ZyberVR make accessories for Meta products as it makes it possible. The main benefit from these sort of straps is the extra grip and comfort they offer. On top of this they also offer some immersion benefits, as you are able to open your hands and remove your grip without the controllers dropping to hang around your wrists.
With the way the ZyberVR ones attach to the controller with the metal ring replacing the wrist strap, unless you make a make-shift wrist strap it is not possible to have that extra support if the strap some how opens. However, I have not had any issues with it opening through my time playing games and shaking my hands rapidly as part of the testing.
Testing The Product
As mentioned above my first test for the grips was just shaking and moving my hands rapidly to make sure the Velcro on the grips performed well and in this testing the grips kept a sturdy hold on my hands and did not come apart. From here I went on the play some games to make sure they don’t effect the tracking of the controller, the comfort and they still had no issues coming undone.
Again I wanted to test this over different types of games, ones with more rapid hand movements and then standard games for the extra comfort and tracking testing. I started off with the more rapid movement games and played Smash Drums VR, Attack on Titan VR: Unbreakable, Ultimate Swing Golf and Outta Hand, as these are different types of hand movements. When playing these games the controllers kept their grip perfectly, did not feel they were going to come off or undone at any point, were very comfy to use with the silicone cover and had zero tracking issues.
With not having any issues games with a hand movement based games, I did not have any concerns with the more standard games, of which I played PowerWash Simulator VR, Silent Slayer, Kid Pilot (PC) and Red Matter – again the more improved comfort and tracking were great in these games. My final test was to see if they cause any sort of issues with occlusion when playing shooters, and through my simple test in the Meta Home and crossing the controllers and while playing Zero Caliber 2, I had no issues with occlusion.
The one issue I found with the grips was not in the performance of the grips, but more a compatibility issue – this issue is not only applicable to ZyberVR, but all of these sort of grips. The issue is, they remove a feature of their Charging Dock, which is the ability to use the controller charging on the dock. Unless you remove them every time the batteries need charging put the battery cover with the changing connector pins back on.
The Verdict
ZyberVR Quest 3 Controller Grips Cover have brought another option for knuckle style grips for the Quest 3, which is by far the best option for both comfort and immersion in my opinion. Through my time using them the comfort is clear winner, with the need the have your hand constantly wrapped around the controllers being removed. With the performance of the actual grips when playing games with rapid hand movements passing with flying colors as well, there is no concerns of not having the extra support around your wrists. With my only issue really being, having to remove them to use a feature I loved on the Charging Dock, which is the ability to charge the controllers after use by simply placing them in the controller cups. Removing them just to charge the batteries does become a bit of an inconvenience and could be reason I chose not to use them – hopefully we might get some that can still use this feature moving forward, as they are a great and well made accessory.