DPVR E3B
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| DPVR E3B | |
|---|---|
| Basic Info | |
| VR/AR | Virtual Reality |
| Type | Head-mounted display |
| Subtype | PC-Powered VR |
| Developer | DPVR |
| Manufacturer | DPVR |
| Announcement Date | 28 March 2017[1] |
| Release Date | 2017 |
| Price | RMB 2,299 (China launch price of the E3 Basic Edition, March 2017)[1]; $250 (discontinued) |
| Versions | E3 Basic (model E3-B) |
| Requires | Windows PC with one HDMI port and two USB ports[2] |
| Display | |
| Display | Single 5.7-inch Samsung AMOLED binocular |
| Resolution | 1280x1440 per-eye (2560 x 1440 panel) |
| Refresh Rate | 72 Hz |
| Image | |
| Field of View | 110° horizontal, 60° vertical |
| Horizontal FoV | 110° |
| Vertical FoV | 60° |
| Optics | |
| Optics | Fresnel lenses |
| Ocularity | Binocular |
| IPD Range | 54-74 mm (listed by DPVR as adaptive) |
| Tracking | |
| Tracking | 3DoF (rotational only); no positional tracking |
| Audio | |
| Audio | 3.5 mm headphone connection |
| Connectivity | |
| Connectivity | 3-in-1 cable to PC |
| Ports | HDMI 1.4b x1, USB 2.0 x2, 3.5 mm audio cable |
| Device | |
| Dimensions | 266 mm x 194.5 mm x 96 mm |
| Weight | 297 g (headset only, without headband and cables) |
| Sensors | Gravity sensor, compass, gyroscope |
| Input | PC gamepad (no controllers included) |
DPVR E3B is a virtual reality head-mounted display released in 2017. It is the Basic edition of the E3, a PC-tethered headset made by the Chinese company DPVR (formerly Deepoon), and DPVR's user manual gives its model number as E3-B.[2] The headset connects to a Windows computer over HDMI and USB, uses a single 5.7-inch Samsung AMOLED panel with a combined resolution of 2560 x 1440, and tracks head rotation only, with three degrees of freedom and no positional tracking.[2][3]
DPVR launched the E3 in Beijing on 28 March 2017. The Basic Edition, sold without the company's Polaris laser positioning system, was priced at RMB 2,299 in China, while a package with Polaris cost RMB 4,999.[1] The headset works with SteamVR through DPVR's own PC software, DPVR Assistant.[4]
Announcement and release
Deepoon VR presented the E3 at a launch event in Beijing on 28 March 2017. The company's press release described two versions: the E3 Basic Edition without a positioning system at RMB 2,299, and a Package Edition with the Polaris positioning system at RMB 4,999. Pre-orders opened on the Chinese e-commerce platform JD.com.[1] The technology site ifanr reported that pre-sales of the E3 Basic Edition started the same day through crowdfunding on JD.com.[5] According to Leiphone, the crowdfunding pre-sale price was RMB 1,999, the first crowdfunded E3 units shipped without Polaris, and the Polaris wireless kit was expected to go on sale in the second quarter of 2017.[6]
Leiphone also reported that the company announced its new English brand name, DPVR, at the same event.[6] The English release was issued under the name Deepoon VR.[1]
Place in the E3 range
DPVR's 2018 website listed three E3 models: the E3-B, the E3-C and the E3-P.[4] They shared the same 110° field of view, Fresnel lens, 16 ms latency figure, sensor set and port layout, but differed in display, weight and tracking.[4][7][8]
| Model | Display | Weight (headset only) | Tracking |
|---|---|---|---|
| E3-B | Samsung 5.7-inch AMOLED, 2560 x 1440[4] | 297 g[4] | Rotational only[3] |
| E3-C | Fast-LCD, 2560 x 1440[7] | 305 g[7] | Rotational only[3] |
| E3-P | Samsung 5.7-inch AMOLED, 2560 x 1440[8] | 315 g[8] | Polaris laser positioning, 5 m x 5 m room-scale area (manufacturer figure)[8] |
DPVR's support page also covers the DPVR E3 4K.[3] Its current E3 series page lists the E3C, E3 4K and E3S; the E3B is no longer listed there.[9]
Design and hardware
Display and optics
The E3B uses a Samsung 5.7-inch AMOLED panel with a resolution of 2560 x 1440, which DPVR calls "Quad HD".[2] This works out to 1280 x 1440 pixels per eye.[10] DPVR's product page stated a pixel response time of 0.23 ms for the AMOLED panel, compared with 10 ms for LCD, and said this reduced blur during movement.[4] The launch press release said the E3 was the first DPVR headset to use Fresnel lenses, which the company adopted to reduce the visible pixel grid (the screen door effect) and glare.[1] The field of view is 110°.[2]
DPVR lists the interpupillary distance range as 54-74 mm and describes it as adaptive.[2] In his review, Max Glenister wrote that the IPD did not seem to be adjustable and measured it at about 65 mm.[10]
Body and fit
According to the manual, the headset measures 266 x 194.5 x 96 mm and weighs 297 g.[2] The weight excludes the headband and cables.[4] The strap adjusts to head size through a built-in elastic structure, and a removable back foam cushion is supplied for smaller or larger heads.[2] The headset can be worn over glasses.[2][3]
The box contains the headset, a 3-in-1 cable, an audio cable, a back foam cushion, a lens cloth and the printed documentation. The face foam and the cables can be replaced by the user.[2] Glenister noted that the headset has no buttons or controls, only venting holes underneath and an indicator light on the front that shows when it is active.[10]
Sensors and tracking
The headset contains a gravity sensor, a compass and a gyroscope.[2] It tracks rotation only. DPVR's support FAQ states that the E3-B and E3-C do not support spatial positioning interaction, and the product page noted that some games required the positioning version of the E3.[3][4] DPVR lists latency as 16 ms.[4] Glenister described the E3 as suited to seated or stationary experiences and called its rotational tracking great, with very little drift.[10]
Connections and PC requirements
The E3B connects through one HDMI 1.4b port, two USB 2.0 ports and a 3.5 mm audio cable.[2] DPVR's support page says the HDMI connection must come from a discrete graphics card, and that a USB hub or an external power supply for the headset can be used if the computer lacks enough USB ports.[3] The launch press release stated that cables were offered in lengths from 3 to 5 meters.[1]
The manual gives separate recommendations for games and for video playback:[2]
| Use | CPU | Graphics | RAM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Games | Intel i5-4590 or AMD FX 8350 equivalent or greater | Nvidia GeForce GTX 970 or AMD Radeon R9 290 equivalent or greater | 4 GB or more |
| Video (PC with separate graphics card) | Intel i3 equivalent or greater | Nvidia GT 730 1G equivalent or greater | 4 GB or more |
| Video (integrated graphics desktop) | Intel i5-6500 equivalent or greater | Intel HD 530 equivalent or greater | 4 GB or more |
Supported operating systems are 64-bit Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8.1 and Windows 10.[2]
Software and features
The headset needs DPVR's PC software, DPVR Assistant, which checks the connection status and installs firmware upgrades.[2] Glenister, whose review calls the software DPNAssistant, reported that it had to stay running for the headset to work with SteamVR, and that it also offered a game list, a video player for 3D and 360-degree video, magnetometer calibration and brightness settings.[10] DPVR's FAQ states that the E3-B works with SteamVR games and supports only DPVR mode, unlike the E3-C, which can also switch to DK1 and DK2 modes.[3] As of September 2026, DPVR still offers its 3DoF PC VR Assistant download for the E3-B alongside the E3-C, E3 4K and E4C.[3]
The launch press release said the E3 supported SteamVR with more than 800 games, plus content from DPVR's own platforms, which the company said held more than 10,000 3D and VR films and videos.[1]
Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Display | Single AMOLED binocular; Samsung 5.7-inch AMOLED panel[2] |
| Resolution | 1280x1440 per-eye (2560 x 1440 panel)[2] |
| Refresh Rate | 72 Hz |
| Field of View | 110° horizontal, 60° vertical (DPVR lists 110°)[2] |
| Lenses | Fresnel[4] |
| IPD Range | 54-74 mm (listed by DPVR as adaptive)[2] |
| Latency | 16 ms (manufacturer figure)[4] |
| Sensors | Gravity sensor, compass, gyroscope[2] |
| Tracking | 3 degrees of freedom (rotational only)[3] |
| Interfaces | HDMI 1.4b x1, USB 2.0 x2, 3.5 mm audio cable[2] |
| Dimensions | 266 mm x 194.5 mm x 96 mm[2] |
| Weight | 297 g (headband and cables not included)[4] |
| Price | RMB 2,299 (China launch price, Basic Edition)[1]; $250 (discontinued) |
Reception
At the launch event, ifanr's Liu Han found the E3 noticeably lighter than the HTC Vive, whose headset weighs about 550 g, but somewhat heavier than Google's Daydream View.[5]
Max Glenister reviewed the E3 Basic Edition in August 2017 using a unit supplied by the retailer Geekbuying. He called it a good viewer for 3D and 360-degree video and passive VR experiences, and compared the experience to mobile VR but with a very high resolution screen. His criticisms were a tight fit around the nose, light leaking in at the sides, an IPD that did not seem to be adjustable, confusing software downloads and a price he considered too high after the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive had each received a $200 price cut. Because the headset has no positional tracking, he noted that it cannot run room-scale games, but the seated SteamVR games he tested worked well, and he suggested using a gamepad such as an Xbox 360 controller.[10]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 "China's DPVR Launches New PC Helmet E3". PR Newswire. Deepoon VR. 2017-03-29. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/chinas-dpvr-launches-new-pc-helmet-e3-300431159.html. Retrieved 2026-09-27.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 2.19 2.20 2.21 "DPVR E3 Basic User Manual, Version 1.1". DPVR. http://static.dpvr.com/en/E3-B_manual_EN_v1.1-20171121.pdf. Retrieved 2026-09-27.
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 "DPVR Headset Technical Support & Software Downloads". DPVR. https://www.dpvr.com/en/vr-headset-support/. Retrieved 2026-09-27.
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 "E3B - DPVR". DPVR (archived by the Internet Archive). Shanghai Lexiang Technology Co., Ltd.. 2018-01-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20180120231001/http://www.dpvr.net/e3b.html. Retrieved 2026-09-27.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 刘罕 (Liu Han) (2017-03-28). "大朋 VR 发布 E3 VR 设备，轻量化机身配备双目激光空间定位技术". ifanr (in Chinese). https://www.ifanr.com/810085. Retrieved 2026-09-27.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 刘芳平 (Liu Fangping) (2017-03-31). "大朋推出新款 PC VR 头盔 E3，陈朝阳解答什么是双目激光". Leiphone (in Chinese). https://m.leiphone.com/category/arvr/aPjID9JotDiSP4tI.html. Retrieved 2026-09-27.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 "E3C - DPVR". DPVR (archived by the Internet Archive). 2018-01-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20180120231006/http://www.dpvr.net/e3c.html. Retrieved 2026-09-27.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 "E3P - DPVR". DPVR (archived by the Internet Archive). 2018-01-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20180120205819/http://www.dpvr.net/e3p.html. Retrieved 2026-09-27.
- ↑ "DPVR E3 PC Tethered Virtual Reality Headset Range". DPVR. https://www.dpvr.com/en/vr-headset-products/e3-virtual-reality-headset-for-pc/. Retrieved 2026-09-27.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 Max Glenister (2017-08-22). "The Deepoon DPVR E3 Virtual Reality Headset". Max Glenister (blog). https://blog.omgmog.net/post/deepoon-dpvr-e3-virtual-reality-headset/. Retrieved 2026-09-27.