Virtuix Omni One Review: Does This VR Treadmill Step in the Right Direction?

After several months of intensive testing, regular updates, and numerous gaming sessions, the Omni One VR system has left a substantial impression. It's an ambitious piece of hardware aiming to deliver a complete virtual reality experience right out of the box, an endeavor that Virtuix has unquestionably achieved.

Unlike many competitors, the Omni One doesn't just offer a treadmill or a headset. Rather, it's a fully integrated VR platform, offering a tip-to-tail experience with a headset, controllers, treadmill and a curated library of games specifically tailored to maximize the system's unique capabilities. But does the Omni One genuinely deliver everything you need for immersive VR gaming? First, let’s dive into the hardware:

Specifications:

• MSRP: $3,495.00 USD Directly From Virtuix

• Supported User Height: 4'4" to 6'4"

• Supported User Weight: Up to 250 lbs

• Vest Size: Up to 46" waist

• Headset Model: Customized Pico 4 Enterprise

• Headset CPU: Qualcomm XR2, 8 cores, 64-bit, 2.84GHz

• Headset RAM: 8 GB DDR5, 6400MHz

• Headset Storage: 256GB

• Headset Resolution: 2160 x 2160 per eye, 1200 PPI

• Headset Optics: 105° field of view, pancake lenses

• Headset Battery: 5300 mAh capacity, 2+ hours

• Controllers: 6DoF haptic controllers with 20 sensors

• Tracking: Eye and face tracking, 6DoF controller tracking

• Interaction: Inside-out tracking, full-color passthrough

• Treadmill Size: 48" (L) x 60" (W) x 48" (H)

• Treadmill Weight: 150 lbs

The hardware undoubtedly impresses. While this isn't the gold standard for visuals, it's no slouch either. The modified Pico 4 headset reduces the screen door effect that you may get with some of the older sets, but you won't find anything industry leading in terms of visuals or performance on the headset's hardware end.  The headset has volume buttons, a comfort strap, and an on and off button.

The fit is decent enough, but it is hard to get a great position of the set without it resting on the bridge of my nose a little. It's not the most comfortable of the headsets I've worn, but it's not the least comfortable, and when fitted properly, there is minimal light bleed coming from any cracks around the under side of the set. Despite being a custom Pico 4 headset, it's still a Pico 4 headset, meaning you can find accessories to make the experience more comfortable, and an air circulation anti-fog fan is high on my list, as fogging can happen quickly when you're running around on the Omni One.

The controls that come with the Omni One feel pretty standard, save for this diagonal plastic arc that streches over the top. What I liked the most about the controllers were that they feel exceptionally light. After some time I barely felt like I was holding them, which is important because when you're holding your arms up, firing a virtual weapon for dozens of minutes, any added weight can start to feel like you've got paint cans tied to your wrists. What Virtuix is doing with the Omni One encapsulates the experience, and it extends beyond hardware into the actual gameplay and integrated platform where the Omni One truly shines.

Walk with me, virtually

VR treadmills take some intense effort to get used to. Even if you're a VR veteran, the experience of having to move your body constantly to make use of the system as it was intended is really a paradigm shift that stationary gamers will have to get used to. During my sessions, I found myself effortlessly dodging projectiles, ducking under obstacles, and smoothly maneuvering through complex environments, but it didn't start out that way. With this being my second VR treadmill, I'm likely more primed than most for the Omni One experience. Suffice to say comfort plays an important role when you're talking about gaming for an hour or more. 

One way that Virtuix attempts to aid in comfort for long gaming sessions is the inclusion of slip-on shoe covers rather than forcing players to buy new treadmill specific shoes. The shoe covers allow you to wear whatever shoes you feel comfortable in, and have an anti-slip sole that can be flipped up when you're ready to slide on the gaming surface. I also attempted to utilize the covers without shoes and only using socks, and it made things very uncomfortable, so using your most comfortable pair of shoes will be important for long term comfort. The hard plastic sole on the covers does eventually get felt through even my most comfortable shoes, especially when taking long strides on the large concave walking surface. That means that your comfort will vary. 

I can confidently say that compared to other treadmill VR setups, the Omni One provides notably smoother and more natural movements due to the larger walking surface. VR Treadmills also take up a lot of room so that you can play properly. You need about a 6 foot radius when you're standing in the center of the machine. This goes for any VR treadmill you'd end up getting, the larger walking surface doesn't change the amount of room you need to play, because the space is mostly limited to your arm reach rather than the size of the device. In fact, despite the larger play surface, the Omni One feels like you can get a way with slightly less space compared to devices like the KarVR C2, because the back harness doesn't let you overextend your reach be leaning too far forward.

More importantly, the Omni One's unique back harness design complements a more natural walking experience.  At first, the harness felt somewhat cumbersome, even heavy at times. Virtuix has several safeguards at play here, including a feature that can lock the system so it can't turn, while also limiting the height the back harness can rise.  For new VR enthusiasts seeing this as their first treadmill, all of these safety features equate to the learning curve of using the system. I quickly adjusted to it, eventually forgetting it was there as it became second nature to strap the harness on and duck slightly to release the height harness lock.

The harness placement and the spine of the system also significantly enhanced my comfort and confidence. Virtuix's largest competitor uses a decidedly hands off approach with a simple waist harness to keep you tethered to the system. At times it can feel as though there's an unruly child with their hands wrapped around your waist holding you back when you're moving. The Omni One harness has a starkly different feel, inspiring confidence of movement,  particularly during backward movements or quick directional changes. It supports a natural lean when running forward, allowing me to genuinely build (virtual) momentum. 

Front, back, side-to-side

Walking backwards, on the other hand, is a completely different story. Again, this is where the Omni One has a clear advantage, but there are certain types of movement that are just awkward to do on VR treadmills. Trust is the entire basis behind the freewheeling movement that the Omni One can inspire at times. When walking backwards on a VR treadmill you have to believe that the harness will catch you, because the requirement for movement is leaning into your desired direction. With a waist harness—good luck. Walking backwards with a waist harness feels more like a trust fall than a movement you'd execute at will. With the Omni One, however, the harness is directly against your back, so you don't have to be reminded that there's something pressing against you. It's always there, and that gave me enough confidence to make the back-lean routine. 

However, not everything about the Omni One feels entirely intuitive. Strafing or lateral movement proved a significant challenge. We typically take strafing for granted in most games, as it's effortless with traditional controllers. But on Omni One’s concave treadmill platform, lateral movement frequently resulted in awkward shuffles rather than fluid steps. Despite repeated practice, I never truly mastered strafing, consistently feeling restricted and occasionally frustrated. The concave design, essential for comfortable forward movement, inherently limits lateral precision, a noticeable drawback during tactical combat situations. In the best of cases I could run diagonally, while my head kept an enemy in sight, but I wasn't circling them as much as running at them at an angle. 

In the worst of cases, I was standing still, using one leg to tap and slide in the direction I wanted to strafe which probably looked like I was a horse kicking once for no and two for yes. Strangely enough this was the best way to get lateral percision, and I only really needed to do that when I was just out of reach of something, and didn't want to turn my whole body to walk over to it. 

Another issue that new players will need to be aware of is that the freedom of movement can be a problem at times. The Omni One has a tension setting on the spine, allowing you to choose how much resistance you have within your movement. Even on the high settings, you can slip (because you're supposed to slip on the walking surface), but if you lose your footing, you can fall, which is not something that the waist harness allows for on competitor units. I did drop to my knees once while playing, and while the surface does allow for some shock absorption, it isn't a soft surface. Still, a VR treadmill is far less dangerous compared to playing via roomscale without one.

Play it again Omni

Thankfully, most of the Omni One experiences minimize the need for extensive strafing, which falls more on the games themselves rather than Virtuix and their hardware. This is where VIrtuix's curation efforts really come into play. While I did peruse the SteamVR library, with Omni One allowing for interconnectivity via Steam Link and integrating the use of other VR Headsets (like my Meta Quest 3), the real star, and the reason why an all-in-one system like this is enticing, is because the experiences, while limited, just work without all the fuss of calibrating and keybinding. 

I found several games that were particular standouts. The first game that really immersed me in the world was GenoType. The exceptional story-based RPG emphasizes precise hand gestures and agile body movements, perfectly showcasing the strengths of the Omni One. Engaging in intense alien battles, unlocking new abilities, and wielding varied weapons was a seamless and exhilarating experience, highlighting the system’s impressive capabilities for immersive storytelling and gameplay. Hubris was another sci-fi RPG that I really took to as well.

The immersion feels more like you're experiencing a theme park ride more than a game, with these experiences built with newbie VR gamers in mind. Hubris starts you out by keeping the encounters simple, and one of my favorite things about the Omni One system, is how easy it is to simply pause what you're doing by taking off your headset. The movement system will automatically lock, and when you're ready to pick it up again, you can slap that unlock button and put the headset back on, picking up exactly where you left off. 

Additionally, the Omni Store adds significant value by offering a carefully curated library of games tailored specifically for the Omni One’s unique mechanics. This semi-closed ecosystem guarantees consistent quality, complete with reviews from other Omni One gamers. Furthermore, compatibility with Steam VR expands possibilities even further, opening up access to a broader selection of games beyond the Omni Store’s offerings, but keep in mind that it's nowhere near the same plug and play feel you get from utilizing the integrated store within the Pico headset. In addition Steam Link can cause some additional latency, which didn't play well with my rare, but very real motion sickness in certain VR scenarios. 

VR enthusiasts wanted

The Omni One is an impressive, ambitious all-in-one VR solution, delivering exceptional immersion through advanced hardware, unrivaled freedom of forward movement, and great visuals with a modern custom headset. Its carefully curated game library further enhances its appeal, providing genuinely tailored experiences that leverage the system’s strengths. Despite having used the system for several months, Virtuix has put together this strange cocktail that speaks to beginners but is built for VR enthusiasts. 

The Omni One is an all-inclusive package meant to give you everything you need to hit the ground running in a virtual world. While you can connect it to your current headset and a SteamVR library, it really shines as its own ecosystem, which means if you've been a VR fanboy for many years, and want to experience the Omni One in all its glory, you'll want to rebuild a library of titles you purchase off of the Virtuix store. That also may put you in a predicament as the Virtuix store is limited on what they offer right now, so you may not have your favorite game on the list as of yet. 

Personally I've was holding out hope that VR MMORPG Ilysia which is advertised as upcoming on their website would make its debut before this review went live, but that's not something that has materialized as of yet. Luckily, there are plenty of experiences to have, and Virtuix runs community nights where you'll get to experience them with other players. Virtuix also plays up the extensive movement capabilities, tracking your steps and time spent in game, which undoubtedly is a fantastic addition for players looking to get in exercise while playing their favorite game. 

As much fun as it is to run and gun, the Omni One does lack an easy way to take a break while still staying hooked up to the system. Alternative platforms do have seats that you can buy, and you can integrate and flip these down while playing to take a break. For the Omni One, I do have to pop off the headset and jump off the platform to take a break. No seat also means seated games, like flying a starship or driving a car, won't be done on the treadmill if you're looking for immersion.

While lateral movements remain a notable weakness, and the freedom of movement means slipping could land you with your knees on the walking surface, the Omni One still offers a compelling VR experience that significantly broadens the niche of VR treadmills. It's an accessible entry point for newcomers while providing sufficient depth for seasoned enthusiasts, making it a strong contender to a VR landscape that is still finding its footing.

[Disclaimer: The Omni One was provided by Virtuix for the purpose of a review]