Technology has not left any sector behind. From automation of work in businesses to the house-help robots, tech is around you everywhere. In the entertainment sector, people first shifted from books to movies and videos, which was an easier way of understanding for them. And now Virtual Reality is in the game.
Virtual Reality is basically a non-existential world in which you can enter. It is just like dreaming, but without sleeping. You can see a whole different world while sitting on your sofa. The movies you watch on screen are usually 2D and doesn’t feel real. But with virtual reality, this experience has been made more than real. This is done with the help of a VR Headset, which is a display that is head-mounted. It creates a stereoscopic 3D effect by splitting the screen of the display between the eyes. The headset provides a stereo sound and some kind of input tracking. With these, it is able to create a believable experience of a virtual world.
VR Headsets are not a new thing, but it is still an interesting concept. Especially for the gaming people. As it was always a dream of gamers to enter into a certain game. With virtual reality, this dream has come true. Also, today the main focus of VR headset producing companies is on the gaming experience. So, the models are made that way. There are many types of VR headsets available in the market. There are tethered headsets, these are to be connected to your PC with a physical wire. Then there are mobile headsets that require you to put your mobile in the headset and it turns into a VR device. And finally, there are standalone headsets which are a complete set in itself and does not require a phone or PC to be connected to it. With so many options available, confusion is very obvious. If you are planning to buy a new VR headset in 2020, here are some of the best options you can consider.
Table of Contents
Tethered VR Headsets
These headsets are to be connected to a PC or gaming console. The wires make it a little clumsy to handle, but it is anyway better than sticking to a 2D screen. Here are some of the best Tethered VR Headsets:
● Sony PlayStation VR
This headset provides an immersive VR experience when paired with PlayStation 4 and the PlayStation camera. This also works with games and apps that are not made for VR. It is cheaper than it’s competitors but is also less powerful. The only place it lags at is the motion sensors as it still has those old PlayStation motion wands. But there are many interesting games it supports and also, Sony is working on making several more.
● HTC Vive and HTC Vive Cosmos
The Vive headset from HTC comes with two motion controllers, which are more powerful than that of PlayStation’s. It also includes two base stations that can be used to create a "whole-room" VR area. With this, it creates a 10-foot cube area and is able to detect motions in it. So you do not have to sit in one place to play. HTC Vive Cosmos has a higher and better resolution than the HTC Vive. It also doesn’t require base stations as its camera is outward-facing and can track your movements. It’s motion controllers are also improved with a new design. While it is a pretty good upgrade to HTC Vive, it stands quite expensive with a cost of $699.
● Windows Mixed Reality
This one is a Windows 10 ready headset with ‘Mixed-Reality’. Cameras are used on the helmet which enables the integration of augmented reality in the headset and makes it ‘Mixed-Reality’ rather than ‘Virtual-Reality.’ These are made by Microsoft in partnership with headset manufacturers like Dell, Lenovo, HP and Acer. The headset has sound hardware and simple setup. There is nothing in the headset that makes it stand above its competitors, except for its resolution, which is 2,160 by 2,160 pixels per eye.
● Oculus Rift S
This is the first player in the VR game and it still stands strong. It is very easy to set up and comes with new and improved motion controllers. With these, it doesn’t require any external sensors. But you will need DisplayPort with this, as it does not have HDMI-port.
Mobile VR Headsets
These are the one in which you insert your mobile and get a full VR system without any hassle of wires. The best Mobile VR Headset in the market are:
● Nintendo Labo VR Kit
This is Nintendo’s fourth Labo package. Like the older ones, you need to make the headset, camera, blaster and controller from cardboard and then connect them together to play. This is not something to be used by professional game players but is an interesting concept for the kids who want to learn as it is a fun and engaging development kit.
● Google Daydream
It offers 3DOF VR experience in just $60 to $130. But you need to have a Google’s flagship phone to get this working. This includes a remote, to control your device. But it is not as good as those tethered headsets.
Standalone VR Headsets
These are a complete set in itself. You don’t need a flagship phone or gaming PC to connect this to. Some of the best Standalone VR Headsets are:
● Lenovo Mirage Solo With Daydream
It has a Snapdragon 835 processor, cameras that are outward-facing and only one 3DOF motion controller. The single controller limits the device’s capabilities and makes it incompatible with other standalone VR headsets.
● Oculus Go
It comes with an outdated Snapdragon 821 processor and 3DOF motion tracking, which accounts for its low price of $200. But it’s a good device to give virtual reality a try.
● HTC Vive Focus and HTC Vive Focus Pro
HTC has extended its VR headset range to Standalone with the Vive Focus series. It comes with room mapping and full-motion tracking. It was initially launched in China but later entered into North America. Vive Focus Pro will be its follow-up and it will have 6DOF motion sensors.
● Oculus Quest
This one has a Snapdragon 835 processor and an OLED screen. It also comes with two 6DOF full-motion tracking controllers. It costs almost twice as much as Oculus Go. But it is all worth it as it is standalone and comes with so many features. While some of them are easy to set up, the others provide a better VR experience. You can choose one of these VR headsets according to your budget and need.
