Globular Cluster F3-S Review: Zero-Pressure Flip Cover for the GC F3

Disclosure: The review unit was sent to me for free by Globular Cluster. I use affiliate links always when they are available. If you buy through one of them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Quick verdict

The Globular Cluster F3-S is a magnetic silicon light blocker that attaches to Globular Cluster’s standard F3 facial interface magnetic base. I call it a zero-pressure facial interface because almost nothing pushes against your face. The lenses sit directly against the foam, not your skin, so there are no marks and almost no sweat.

It is my favorite way to use the Quest right now. The only times I do not use it are very fast games where the halo strap alone is not stable enough, and when I need a haptic device on my face (bHaptis Vison) because the F3-S does not work with one.

Pros

• Almost zero pressure on the face — no marks, no sweat
• Full FOV
• Magnetic attachment
• Pairs excellently with the fan in Bobovr S3 Pro

Cons

• Requires the standard GC F3 first or at least magnetic base which increases price
• Not suitable for very fast games where the strap alone is unstable
• Light leaks can occasionally happen at the forehead gap (brief, unpredictable)

What is the F3-S?

The F3-S is not a new facial interface. It is a magnetic light blocker that snaps onto the base of the standard Globular Cluster F3 facial interface. Flip it up and the lenses are exposed for maximum FOV.

I call it a zero-pressure facial interface because nothing pushes against face. With a normal facial interface, the sponge always makes some pressure. I can push the headset right up to my eyelashes and feel the lenses, not the facial interface.

Magnets hold the cover in place. Flip it up or down with your fingers.

No face marks, no sweat

This is the main benefit. I can spend as many hours as I want and when I stop playing, I have no marks on my face — nothing. Except for the nose area, where the foam cover touches my skin. I had to cut that part myself because it was too tight and made it impossible to breathe. After cutting it, it was fine.

The sweat reduction is also real. With a normal facial interface, sweat builds up between the interface and your face. With the F3-S, there is almost no touching area between the silicone and your face, so sweat does not pool.

The foam surface has minimal contact with the face, preventing sweat buildup.

Full FOV

With this light blocker I can have FOV as big as without using any facial interface. I can push the headset right against my face and feel the lenses on my eyelashes. Most halo straps let you slide the headset farther or closer from your face, which changes the lens distance. Even on straps that cannot slide, adjusting the halo position higher or lower changes the distance.

Compatibility

The F3-S requires two things:

1. Globular Cluster magnetic base which is sold is sold with the standard F3 facial interface. If you do not own it yet, you can buy just F3-S with the F3 Base bundle (F3-S + magnetic base).
2. A halo-style strap. This includes Bobovr S3, M3 Pro, Kiwi Design H4, Annapro A3, or any other strap with a halo construction. Elite straps and the stock strap will not work.

In my tests, the F3-S paired excellently with the Bobovr S3 Pro. Air goes from the front down through the gap between the forehead and the strap, so the face does not heat up. I do not sweat at all in such setup.

The F3-S pairs well with the Bobovr S3 Pro — air circulates naturally.

How to test if it is for you

Before buying, try this test: put on your halo strap without any facial interface and see if it is comfortable. If it holds on your head without falling down etc. If everything will be okay, with the F3-S will be even better for VR games.

If it is not comfortable without a facial interface (headset moves a lot and wants to fall off), the F3-S is not for you. Try adjusting the halo higher or lower to find a comfortable position. If nothing works, don’t buy F3-S because it will be similar with it.

When it is not great

The F3-S is not ideal for:

• Very fast games. When I play something like Eleven Table Tennis on high difficulty and have to run around a lot, the halo strap is not stable enough on my head without a facial interface. With the F3-S it is the same — the strap alone cannot hold the headset in place.
• Long upward viewing. When I play shooters and look up at enemies above me for a long time, gravity pulls the headset down on my face. If the headset was already close to my face, the prescription lenses push against my eyebrows and it becomes uncomfortable. Normally I just slide the headset farther from my face, but not every strap allows that.

Light leaks at the forehead

There is a space between the forehead and the F3-S interface, and sometimes light leaks through. It is hard to predict when it happens. Most of the time there is enough space that no light gets in — I can even put a finger in the gap without seeing light. But sometimes there is a brief flash, only for about half a second, and then it goes away when I move my head.

When the halo is very high, light leaks are more likely. It also depends on whether your headset sits more down or up on the strap. This is not a dealbreaker for me — the flashes are brief and I do not care enough to avoid using the F3-S.

A small gap between the cover and forehead can occasionally let light through.

The normal GC F3 has been upgraded

Since my video, Globular Cluster upgraded the standard F3. They changed the gasket to a thinner version (some people complained the old one was too thick) and the biggest change was in the elite version. The old elite version had so much fabric that it covered the proximity sensor and made the forehead sweat more than necessary. The new version looks like a normal facial interface — just bigger — and the design is much better.

I can now fully recommend the normal GC F3v2 for people with elite straps. If you have an elite strap, you still cannot use the F3-S (it is only for halo straps), but the normal F3v2 is now genuinely excellent.

Should you buy it?

Buy the F3-S if you already own the GC F3, use a halo strap, and want zero pressure on your face with no marks or sweat. At $9.99 during the promotion, it is a cheap and practical improvement.

Skip it if you only ever want one mode (full FOV or full comfort), do not have the GC F3, use an elite strap or stock strap, or play very fast games where the strap alone is not stable enough.

Watch my original Globular Cluster F3-S video review

Where to buy

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