Foveated streaming and a dedicated wireless link are simple to locate if you understand where to seek.
The Galaxy XR has established itself as my preferred device for multitasking. Although the headset appears to be aimed more at entertainment such as watching immersive MLB or NBA games, the Olympics, and beyond, I’ve discovered that I frequently return to it to utilize my favorite Android applications and experiences in a larger, more comfortable manner than my phone or tablets can present.
But what if you’re looking to expand beyond that? There are several ways to stream a desktop PC to the Galaxy XR, but the two “official” methods are somewhat limiting. Samsung’s official app necessitates a GalaxyBook laptop — I don’t know anyone who possesses one of those — and the official Android XR PC Connect app is unexpectedly slow and laggy.
That leaves the renowned third-party streaming application, Virtual Desktop, as the only viable alternative. This app has been available since 2016 and has advanced alongside the rise of wireless headsets. It can cater to straightforward “2D streaming” of your desktop and standard games or applications, but it truly excels when you launch a PC VR game through SteamVR, particularly with an impressive new feature that complements the Galaxy XR’s hardware beautifully.
How does Steam Frame streaming differ?
Valve’s Steam Frame is essentially a Steam Deck you can wear. While that alone is quite an enticing concept, Valve distinctly emphasizes PC VR games. Instead of relying on your home’s wireless network, Valve provides a USB stick that establishes a dedicated wireless network exclusively for the headset. This not only helps eliminate bottlenecks that lead to lower streaming quality but also facilitates foveated streaming.
If you’re like most people, that term may be unfamiliar, but you’ll want to learn about it due to its capabilities. Foveated streaming works in conjunction with the eye-tracking features of the Steam Frame and maintains the highest quality streaming directly in your line of sight, while everything else remains at a lower quality (since your peripheral vision doesn’t see it distinctly) to conserve bandwidth.
While it seemed like Valve could be the first company to introduce a headset with this functionality, it turns out Guy Godin, the renowned developer behind Virtual Desktop, just released a significant update for his app, enhancing your current headset with Steam Frame-like streaming.
Transforming the Galaxy XR into a Steam Frame
If you possess a Samsung Galaxy XR, Meta Quest Pro, or another headset with eye-tracking capabilities, Virtual Desktop is about to become the most valuable tool you can acquire for your headset. I had the opportunity to test a beta version of the new feature on my Galaxy XR this week and was astonished by the clarity it delivers. The update is now accessible to all Virtual Desktop users as of version 1.34.16.
Surprisingly, it’s not only the visual quality that improves with foveated streaming. Even though the center of vision streams at a higher quality than you’ve probably experienced from your headset, the entire stream uses less overall bandwidth than standard streaming quality. This means your PC VR games streamed from Steam or another platform will operate more smoothly, look sharper, and will even place less strain on your home network.
To enable it, begin a Virtual Desktop session with your PC, then press the menu button on the left controller, or perform a pinch gesture with your left hand to open the Virtual Desktop menu. Click on the Streaming menu on the left, then tick the checkbox next to Foveated Streaming.
From this point forward, everything is managed automatically, though you can adjust the bitrate and graphic quality in the app if you wish to exert more control over the settings. This will be functional on any headset with eye tracking across all platforms where Virtual Desktop is available, which is fantastic news for all VR headset enthusiasts.
Now for enhanced wireless streaming
If you reside in a multi-family building, such as an apartment complex or a condo, or if you have numerous devices consuming bandwidth on your home network, you might notice that wireless streaming quality is often subpar. This is where a specialized wireless router can prove valuable in establishing a low-latency network between your PC and VR headset.
You could opt for a Steam Frame upon its eventual release and utilize the wireless adapter, but I have a better solution available right now, and it costs less than 1/10th the expected price of the Steam Frame: the PrismXR Puppis S1.
The company offers two versions. An entry-level model, the Puppis S1 Lite, delivers an AX1500 Wi-Fi 6 connection for $50, while an enhanced model that grants an AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 connection is priced at $80. The less expensive model requires a wired Ethernet connection to your PC, while the pricier model provides a USB connection and additional wireless functionality.
I employed the original model a few years ago and generally wasn’t