When you’ve spent a lot of money on a piece of tech, it’s only natural that you want to do everything you can to ensure that your investment is protected. This is particularly the case with more portable devices that don’t tend to have the permanent homes that your consoles have.
I’ll admit that until recently, I’ve made do with storing my Meta Quest up on a high shelf where the dog isn’t going to knock it off, only bringing it down to use or charge. I have a carry case, but with anything more than the headset and controllers, things get a little crowded, so I’m always worried that it’s going to get damaged. Not to mention, it kind of seems a shame to keep it hidden away when not in use.
There are plenty of stands out there, some pretty basic and some more sophisticated. The KIWI Design RGB Vertical Stand falls more into the latter category, and it has the added bonus of being Made for Meta certified, so you can trust the quality.
One of the first things that stood out for me was that this headset stand boasts a one-for-all design, which means that it’s designed to hold any accessories you might have that go with your headset. There’s also the fact that, with its RGB design, it looks pretty cool too.
Design and Build
As you might surmise from its name, the RGB Vertical stand boasts a vertical design; that means there is no contact with the lenses, which reduces the risk of scratching. The stand itself comes in five pieces. There’s a non-slip base that gives the piece a sturdy foundation, then there’s the main support that forms the bulk of the stand. The RGB platform slots into the main support – this is where you’ll house your headset and controllers – and then the head strap support and headphone hanger fit onto the top. There’s also a two-part magnetic charging port, with one piece slotting into the stand and the other into the headset.
Everything fits together easily enough. You just need to apply a little force to make sure everything is in place, but after that, it all feels pretty sturdy. Since it’s a vertical stand, it saves space, and it looks sleek enough to complement your gaming setup, especially when you make use of the RGB lights. With a press of a button, you can cycle through sixteen presets to suit your mood or room aesthetic. It all looks very cool.
Functionality
One of the Vertical Stand’s main jobs is to display your headset and keep your controllers, cables and extras organised, but that’s not all it does. It also charges, which is an improvement on their original VR Stand, making use of a strong magnetic USB-C connector for a quick but secure connection.
It performed well in my charging tests – a little slower than the standard charger but not frustratingly slow. I’d say it probably took around 3-3.5 hours for a full charge, which isn’t too bad. My main issue was the design itself, specifically the location of the charger. It’s perfectly suited to charging the Quest itself, but since the charger is at the side rather than the back, and it’s a short cable, it’s not going to reach, so you’ll have to charge them separately. This issue has been mitigated by the SPC Battery Head Straps available for the Quest 2 and 3, but it’s something to be aware of if you own one of the standard battery head Straps from Kiwi Design, or another manufacturer.
Of course, this isn’t going to be a problem unless you have a battery head strap, but it’s worth keeping in mind if you do, or if you’re thinking about purchasing one later down the line.
Final Thoughts
All in all, the Vertical Stand from KIWI Designs not only works well but looks good too, and it takes up less space than a horizontal stand. If you have a Meta Quest, it’s an indispensable addition to your gaming setup, but it’s worth checking the compatibility of your battery strap if you have one.