Kiwi Design Battery Head Strap for Quest 3 | REVIEW

I absolutely adore the Meta Quest 3, but it does have two issues that become more obvious the longer you spend with it: the battery life and the comfort of the head strap. With the Kiwi Design Battery Head Strap, you get a brilliant solution to both of those problems and at a very affordable price (especially when compared to the official Meta alternative).

Check out the Kiwi Design Battery Head Strap for Quest 3 down below:

First and foremost, at time of writing you can purchase the Kiwi Design Battery Head Strap for just £34 on the official website, which is an absolute steal. The official alternative from Meta (the Meta Quest 3 Elite Strap with Battery) costs £129.99, so you’re saving close to £100 by going for Kiwi Design’s product. This might lead you to believe that you’re getting an inferior or cheaply designed product with the Kiwi Design Battery Head Strap, but honestly? It’s fantastic, not only as a value for money purchase, but as a comfortable head strap that makes playing on the Meta Quest 3 a more enjoyable experience.

Unlike the standard elasticated Meta Quest 3 head strap, the Kiwi Design Battery Head Strap has extendable plastic side straps that are supported by a ring that sits at the back of the head. The ring can then be used to adjust the tightness of the straps, ensuring you can get a snug and comfortable fit that suits all head types (and I’m saying this as someone with a BIG head). This makes the weight of the headset less arduous for users, with it better distributed and supported to ensure you don’t feel the strain over longer play sessions. Furthermore, the ring is lined with memory foam padding to ensure you have maximum comfort when using the head strap, as is the upper strap that users are able to freely adjust.

I’ve been wearing the head strap across plenty of long play sessions and have found it a real treat to use. Whether playing something that requires little movement such as Walkabout Mini Golf, something more strenuous such as FitXR, or when simply relaxing and watching some VR videos, it offers a very comfortable fit that sits soundly in place. I felt a lot of discomfort due to the strain of using the standard Meta Quest 3 head strap over longer play sessions, but that has been completely alleviated with the Kiwi Design Battery Head Strap. Oh, and that memory foam padding I mentioned? I actually found that it made the head strap feel nicer than the Elite Strap.

“It’s considerably more comfortable than the head strap that comes with the Meta Quest 3 thanks to the better weight distribution, the memory foam padding, and easily adjustable straps, and, if I’m being honest, I preferred it over Meta’s official Elite Strap.”

There are a couple of other points that I feel are worth mentioning, such as the fact that it is a lot more comfortable for users with long hair. When family members with longer hair had used the Meta Quest 3, they had often complained that the strap would pull it – especially when putting it on for the first time or adjusting the strap for their head size. There were no issues with this when using the Kiwi Design Battery Head Strap though, with it instead slipping on and adjusted with ease. It’s also worth noting that it fits nicely on a child’s head, and whilst I will happily acknowledge that extended play of VR headsets isn’t recommended for youngsters, my daughter found that the Kiwi Design Battery Head Strap made her Epic Roller Coasters experience much more enjoyable.

And, as simple of an improvement it might be, simply taking the headset on and off quickly was more convenient with the Kiwi Design Battery Head Strap, whilst not having the headset actively pulling against my face felt SO much better. I know, I know, it might not sound like a big deal, but it was nice not to have to worry about re-adjusting the elastic straps for comfort or having to walk around with a big mark on my face after playing where the headset was being pulled tightly against it. It’s a sturdy piece of kit too, with it clear that a lot of quality when into its design and production to ensure the head strap will cope with constant use… and if not? The 24-month warranty offered gives you peace of mind and shows the confidence the team at Kiwi Design have in their product.

However, there is one negative thing I noticed with the design: some over-ear headphones might not sit properly on top of the Kiwi Design Battery Head Strap. In fairness, this problem might not affect everyone (I tried three over-ear headphones and only one didn’t fit properly), but it’s something worth bearing in mind if you have a headphone preference. The easiest option is to wear bud headphones or simply use the Meta Quest 3’s built-in speakers, but those who swear by their over-ear headphones might want to check that they are likely to fit properly beforehand.

Check out the Kiwi Design Battery Head Strap for Quest 3 down below:

It earns plenty of plaudits for its comfort then, but how about the battery? Players can plug the USB-C wire from the strap directly into the Meta Quest 3’s charging port when playing, with the battery then charging the headset during the session. It isn’t a fast charge (it’ll mostly maintain the charge that you’re currently on or rise it by a small percentage), but it’s certainly effective and will easily double your playtime depending on the app that you’re using.

The only downside is that you can’t see how much charge that the battery pack has remaining when using the headset like you can with Meta’s Elite Strap with Battery, with the Kiwi Design Battery Head Strap instead having an LED-indicator on the back showing the remaining charge. If I’m being honest, this wasn’t really a problem when playing because you can see on the battery indicator if it isn’t charging, but it’s something that those who have used both head straps might notice.

You can find out more about the Kiwi Design Battery Head Strap for Quest 3 and other Kiwi Design products on their official website through this link.