As adoption of extended reality headsets and augmented reality glasses continues to accelerate across the consumer and enterprise spaces, demand for accessories is growing too. Solutions like the bHaptics Tactsuit x40 might seem like a novelty to some, but the popularity of these tools is increasing.
After all, what better way to take your “immersive” experience to the next level than to add a new sense – like the sense of touch – into the mix?
The bHaptics Tactsuit claims to be the most advanced “haptic feedback vest” on the market. This made-for-meta device is primarily aimed at consumers who want to upgrade their VR gaming rigs. However, there’s potential for suits like this in the enterprise space, too—particularly when it comes to creating powerful training experiences for law enforcement and military professionals.
I took a closer look at the bHaptics Tactsuit x40 to see if it delivers on its ambitious promise of revolutionizing extended reality.
Quick Verdict Pros and Cons
The bHaptics Tactsuit x40 is an impressive haptic feedback vest. It has 40 high-accuracy haptic feedback points capable of replicating tactile sensations corresponding with in-app events. For those in search of a high-quality haptic vest, whether for training or gaming purposes, this product has many benefits, from its premium design to its cross-platform support.
However, there are some downsides, too. Like many competing bodysuits and vests, this product is heavy, and not great for long-term wear. It’s also pretty expensive, meaning it probably won’t appeal to most everyday consumers.
Pros:
- 40 high-accuracy feedback points
- Fantastic 18-hour battery life
- Excellent directional accuracy
- Compatible with hundreds of games and apps
- Cross-platform support
- Detachable and washable lining
Cons:
- Expensive pricing for a VR accessory
- Heavy, uncomfortable design
- Limited scope for full-body immersion
The bHaptics Tactsuit x40: Overview and Specs
The Tactsuit x40 isn’t the first haptic device introduced by bHaptics. This XR technology company has created haptic accessories for your feet, the TactGlove for your hands, and even straps that can convey tactile sensations into your arms.
There’s even another (slightly more affordable) vest available from bHaptics – the Tactsuit x16 – although it only supports up to 16 feedback points. The Tactsuit x40 is basically an upgraded, more powerful version of that earlier vest, promising deeper immersion and greater directional accuracy.
Like the Tactsuit x16, the x40 is a “made for Meta” accessory, so its guaranteed to work seamlessly with headsets like the Meta Quest 3. It’s also compatible with most smartphones, tablets, and computers, so you can “plug” your vest into your system to access more apps and experiences.
The Tech Specs
- 40 ERM motors (20 back side, 20 frontside)
- 7kg weight
- One-size-fits-all design (25”-50”)
- Rechargeable Li-Ion battery
- 12 hours of battery life on a full charge
- Adjustable shoulder straps
- Dual Bluetooth and audio jack connectivity
- USB-C charging
- Wireless connectivity
- Cross-platform support
- Detachable and washable mesh lining
- Compatible with bHaptics accessories
bHaptics Tactsuit x40: Design and Comfort
I’ve only really tried a handful of haptic vests and bodysuits so far, but most of them seem to suffer from the same issues with comfort. Even highly customizable options, like the Woojer Vest 3, are exhausting to wear after a while. The bHaptics Tactsuit x40 has the same problem.
First, it’s extremely heavy—around 1.7kg—which means you start to feel a lot of pressure around your shoulders and back after a while. Plus, it’s worth noting that although this vest comes with “adjustable” shoulder snap buttons, it’s still one-size-fits-all. You’re not going to get a truly “tailored” fit, and the vest can shift around while you’re moving, causing chafing.
On the plus side, the vest is made from highly breathable materials, and it doesn’t cover your entire body, so you shouldn’t get too sweaty too quickly. The motors on the front and back can generate a little heat after a while, so it’s worth ensuring you’re in a ventilated room if you’re wearing this vest.
Another good news is that this suit has a removable, washable lining. That might not seem like a big deal, but when you’re sweating it out in high-octane military training sessions, the ability to “wash” the inside of your vest comes in handy.
The Haptic Experience
Compared to earlier products, like the Tactsuit x16, the x40 delivers a more powerful haptic experience. The 40 feedback points are placed throughout the vest, delivering a highly sophisticated experience. The vest even excels at “directional” accuracy.
If you’re in a training simulator and an explosion happens somewhere in the distance, you should get a good sense for where it’s coming from. The reason I think vests like this one are considered more of a “novelty” than a must-have VR accessory, is their use cases are pretty limited.
I can definitely see the value of a vest like this for immersive gaming experiences, and there’s some scope for using it for training scenarios too, as I mentioned above. However, without the addition of extra haptic solutions, like gloves and arm bands, the sense of immersion is pretty limited.
The good news is that you can combine the bHaptics Tactsuit x16 with other accessories from the companies, like its gloves or arm straps, but you’ll end up spending quite a lot on a full kit. The vest alone already costs around $529, and every bonus accessory will set you back another $100-$200 on average. Still, at least the option for full-body immersion is there.
bHaptics Tactsuit x40: Ease of Use
If I had to give the bHaptics Tactsuit x40 Tactsuit an award for something it does particularly well, It would probably be for ease of use. This is an extremely user-friendly feedback vest that really takes no time to set up and start using. You get simple instructions included in the box, to guide you through the process of connecting your vest to your headset and other devices.
You can even easily link your vest with smartphones, tablets, or computers, and link it wirelessly to the other haptic accessories you might be using. Once you have your vest connected to everything, you can also customize your feedback settings, using the bHaptics Player app. There are various options for adjusting the “intensity” of haptic vibrations, based on your preferences.
Intensity options range all the way from 0% up to 400%, so if you really want to “feel” everything that’s happening in a game, you can turn the dial up at any point. Although I’d be cautious about going too high with your settings too fast if you suffer from VR sickness, as the stronger vibrations can be a little disorienting at times.
Software Options, Power and Battery Life
Since it’s a “made for Meta” product, the bHaptics Tactsuit is compatible with a wide range of games and apps available through the Horizon OS platform. Specially, bHaptics says there are more than 276 games you can choose from, with 400 unique haptic patterns created for the suit. However, nothing is stopping you from connecting this vest to other proprietary solutions too.
You can even connect your vest straight to an existing device, like a smartphone, and use it to upgrade your experience when you’re listening to music or watching movies. Just keep in mind, while the wireless connectivity is excellent, there may be a slight delay at times.
From a power perspective, the Tactsuit x40 comes with a powerful built-in battery, which sits on the back of the vest to improve weight distribution. Notably, in previous vests, this battery was removable, but that’s not the case here. This means you can’t switch to a spare battery if you run out of power, or easily replace the battery if it suffers from any defects.
On the plus side, you do get an impressive battery life of up to 12 hours from a single charge – depending on the software you’re using. Plus, you can easily recharge the vest with a USB-C cable – although doing so can take up to five hours.
The Potential of the bHaptics Tactsuit x40 Vest
I mentioned above that a potential downside of this haptic vest is that it’s primarily designed for consumers. Unlike some of their competitors, the bHaptics team hasn’t tried to create a specific solution for enterprise training purposes here.
However, I can still see the potential for this vest in the enterprise landscape. For certain training scenarios, particularly in military and law enforcement settings, this type of accessory could be great for developing new skills and muscle memories. But bHaptics would have to consider making it easier for companies to build their own app experiences for the suit.
Currently, you can connect the vest to a range of devices, and potentially load up different experiences, but there aren’t any specific instructions you can follow to help you if you’re creating proprietary training experiences. I think that’s a bit of a shame, particularly considering bHaptics offers so many other accessories you can combine with the vest for full-body immersion.
bHaptics Tactsuit x40 Review: The Verdict
There are a lot of things to like about the Tactsuit x40. It’s a very versatile vest that can easily connect with a wide range of devices, accessories, and headsets. The quality of the materials used throughout the suit is excellent, too—although the comfort factor isn’t perfect.
Thanks to the 40 built-in motors, you also get fantastic battery life and a truly powerful immersive experience. However, this accessory has many downsides. Aside from being relatively uncomfortable, this vest is extremely expensive. Prices start at $529 before you add on any extra accessories you might want to use.
Additionally, despite its “potential” for versatility, the bHaptics Tactsuit x40 still doesn’t lend itself to many enterprise use cases right now.
I think this product will definitely appeal to some hardcore gamers and XR consumers, but I can’t see it becoming the ultimate enterprise VR accessory any time soon.
