KIWI design H4 Boost Halo Battery Strap for Meta Quest 3 / 3S

design
There are a few design theories kicking around when it comes to Quest 3 head straps. The stock approach from Meta is about as basic as it gets, Razer tried to improve the same soft concept with its Adjustable Head Strap System, and KIWI design topped the lot with the rigid elite-style K4 Boost. All of them shared a base method though, clamping the Meta Quest 3 to your face by pulling the facial interface tight against you.
The new KIWI design H4 Boost Halo Battery Strap tries a fresh approach, taking the pressure off your face and shifting the load from around your eyes to the top of your head. The H4 Boost features a pair of generously cushioned rings, one that grabs the back of your head while the other wraps your forehead. Both are pleasantly thick and covered in a soft PU leather that is both comfortable and easily wipeable. Build and finish quality is great across the board, even the simple top strap is impressive – super flexible with loads of adjustment potential thanks to its full velcro design.

The rest of the headstrap is pretty similar to the KIWI design K4 Boost with rigid side arms wrapping around into a reasonably compact rear unit that houses a 5300mAh battery. While they attach perfectly to the main body of the Quest 3, unfortunately the H4 Boost arms aren’t quite as neat a solution as other KIWI design straps as the power cable remains exposed here rather than being integrated into the strap like on the K4. It’s a minor thing and the cable is short enough to not really get in the way, it’s just a shame to see things regress.
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Thankfully the excitingly named ‘stealth knob’ does carry over from other KIWI design straps and is equally as effective here. Instead of sticking out the back of the rear unit, the dial lives inside the housing which makes it considerably more comfortable to use when sitting or lying down. It’s not ideal in this position, I’d still prefer the much softer and slimmer Razer Adjustable Head Strap System for that kind of play, but it’s the best solution for this style of strap.
performance
I’m a big fan of the more traditional KIWI design K4 headstrap, it’s been my daily driver for months, so I was curious to see what changes I felt when switching to the halo-style H4 Boost. Truth be told, I didn’t personally find a huge amount of difference. While the underlying concept may have changed, once it was on it all felt familiar.

While the KIWI design H4 Boost does shift a majority of the squeeze from around your eyes up onto your forehead, it’s more a case of moving that pressure around rather than doing away with it. In fact, I actually felt the need to wear the H4 a little tighter than the K4 in order to get the same secure feeling. At this point the facial interface was still held tightly against my face anyway, somewhat negating the apparent benefits of the halo strap. It’s still a comfortable headstrap and worlds away from the stock option, it’s just not a gamechanger compared to other offerings.
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One area the KIWI design H4 Boost does excel though is customisation and there are a number of ways to personalise the fit. The rear stealth knob allows for quick and easy adjustment of the overall sizing and I found it far simpler to dial in a comfortable fit here than with the stock strap. It’s also much faster to swap between different users so great for pass-and-play situations, though the way it fits means it’s perhaps not as good a choice for smaller heads. You’ll also find a depth adjustment on the side, a welcome addition for glasses-wearers I’d imagine, and a small front dial for tweaking the vertical position.

It’s not all about comfort though, the KIWI design H4 Boost also solves the Quest 3’s second major weakness – the 5300mAh battery nearly doubles the total playtime. I can’t imagine going back to just the onboard battery after using a battery strap, the added flexibility it brings is priceless. The H4 Boost also has an extra party trick, unlike a lot of other third-party battery straps it offers simultaneous charging of both the internal and external battery. You’ll need to provide your own 45W or greater charger, but once you give it enough juice the H4 Boost is smart enough to share it around – neat.
summed up
KIWI design is quickly becoming one of the most trusted names in VR accessories, and for good reason. Like the K4 Boost and G4 Pro Grips, the H4 Boost Halo Strap is a high quality Meta Quest 3 add-on that delivers on its promises. Added comfort? Check. Extra playtime? Check.
The unique halo strap design is an interesting change and while it does little wrong, I didn’t find it offered much benefit over the standard K4 Boost. It’s great to see brands continuing to innovate and try new things however and I’m sure there’s more to come in this area. Whether you opt for the KIWI design H4 or more traditional K4 Boost you’ll be making major gains over the stock strap, so for me it’s not a case of whether you should get one, it’s simply which one to get.