bHaptics Review: TactSuit X16 and X40

bHaptics has become a well-established name in the virtual reality world. bHaptics manufactures full-body haptic accessories, such as a haptic vest, haptic gloves, and haptic shoes. These devices provide haptic feedback (vibration), making it feel as if you're 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 will discuss the pros and cons of these vests to see if they can elevate your virtual reality experience.

• 16 Haptic feedback points
• Up to 22 hours of playtime
• 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

• 40 Haptic feedback points
• Up to 18 hours of playtime
• 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

The bHaptics X16 and bHaptics X40 vests are successors to the first bHaptics vest (with 20 haptic points) launched in 2017. In essence, this vest worked the same as the latest versions of bHaptics, but there is now a clear difference in quality. While the first vest felt like a lightweight jacket, the new bHaptics vests feel like a premium product. When you put on the bHaptics X16 or X40 vest, you instantly feel like some kind of iron man in the virtual world. The vest is made of a more robust material, and the entire vest has a matte finish, giving it a luxurious look.

At the back of the vest, you'll find the battery. It's nicely concealed in the overall design. In earlier versions of the bHaptics vests, the battery was easy to detach and possibly replace if it was defective, but in the new vests, the battery is neatly concealed in the vest itself. It is not possible to detach the battery yourself. On one hand, this could be inconvenient (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 come loose or be defective. When the new bHaptics vests came out, some users experienced the problem that the battery turned on very quickly, for example, when the vest was lying on its back. But this problem has been solved by equipping the vests with a slightly modified on/off button. The battery is located a little deeper in the vest so it cannot be quickly touched.

Perhaps the most important aspect of a VR accessory is the comfort during use. The accessory can be very good, but if it's not comfortable, you're not going to use it. bHaptics kept this in mind. Both the bHaptics X16 and X40 vests are very comfortable to wear. The two vests differ in the number of haptic motors and in the length of the vest. The bHaptics X16 vest has (as the name suggests) 16 motors, while the X40 vest has 40. Therefore, with the bHaptics X40 vest, you'll feel more precise feedback vibration when playing games. For example, you feel exactly where you were hit during a shooting game, while with the X16, you feel "approximately" the spot where you were hit. Additionally, the X16 vest is shorter than the X40 vest. This means that the bHaptics X16 vest can be used by children and can be used comfortably while sitting.

bHaptics vests are popular for a reason. Besides excellent hardware and use of materials, the software makes it incredibly easy to use the vests. Even for people who have no previous experience with virtual reality, the bHaptics X16 and X40 vests can be used easily. 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 to a mobile phone. Download the bHaptics TactSuit application, and you can easily connect the vests via a Bluetooth connection to your smartphone. This is also fun if you want to show the bHaptics vest to someone, without having to start an entire game.

In the first versions of bHaptics, the range of games compatible with the vests was minimal. This was one of the biggest disadvantages of using a haptic vest. Fortunately, this has changed. More and more games are standard compatible with bHaptics. Popular VR games like Onward, Pavlov VR, and Tower Tag are natively supported with bHaptics hardware. This means that all you need to do is turn on the vest and start the game, and you can start playing immediately. And for games that are not natively supported? Fortunately, there's a solution for that too! With the audio-to-haptics solution, it's possible to receive haptic feedback based on the sound of a game. For example, it's possible to play Beat Saber or another rhythmic game with a haptic vest on.

You can find the complete overview of bHaptics supported games here here.

bHaptics products can be connected to different VR headsets and other devices without any problems. As mentioned earlier in this review, you connect the vest via a Bluetooth connection to a PC or smartphone. This makes it easy to use bHaptics products on different platforms, such as Steam, Oculus, or with an Android device. It doesn't matter whether you're using an Oculus Quest 2, a Valve Index, or something else. However, to use the audio-to-haptics, you need to connect the vest to the VR headset via an audio jack cable.

Are you 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 VR experience). The bHaptics X16 vest is recommended if you like to use the vest while sitting, while the bHaptics X40 vest is better used standing.

What's especially important to us is that bHaptics products can be used by everyone. These are definitely not products that require technical knowledge. Everyone can use bHaptics products without any problems! And that is the absolute strength of bHaptics!