Are you looking out for the best VR Headset for PC? Well, in this post we have handpicked a list of the best VR headsets with detailed review. So let’s dive in.
VR headset gives you an amazing experience when you are playing VR enabled games. The 3D environment perception blows your mind while playing games.
List of the Best VR Headset for PC & Gaming
- Oculus Rift S VR Headset
- Valve Index VR Headset
- Oculus Quest 2 VR Headset
- HTC Vive Cosmos Elite
- Samsung Odyssey+ VR Headset
1. Oculus Rift S VR Headset
There are systematic visuals available and no external tracking stations are there; this is why one should buy this. It is having the PC runner up software and headsets can work nicely. It has the disadvantages of refreshing rate and it has a frequency in crashing purposes.
Attached along this is a USB about 3.0 Port which has a connection of about the Display Port with the PC. There are room-scale experiences that work best here. It can be connected to Oculus Quest but having a dynamic and detailed experience while we use it will know.
This is made in such a manner where you will feel quite comfortable to wear it, using the Robust games library and there is also the resolution which is improved and has a good quality. It reduces the rate from 90Hz to 80Hz. There is a wired system in which the screen door effect is there with a clear picture and is also having the ultralight effect.
The sound system is found amazing here and there are high-resolution displays too which are wired here. It has a problem that it gets sweaty more often and quickly as compared with the other headsets. The cable is also not good as it is having the disadvantages of being kinked.
— Pros
- Rift S’s physical outlook is more attractive.
- The “halo”-style head strap of the Rift S places comfort first and foremost.
- Moreover, the headset provides more space for glasses users – sidestepping certain problems that would arise when wearing glasses below the original Rift.
- It’s accessible on the basis of a lower launching price.
— Cons
- It possesses a short battery life.
- Heavier than the original Oculus Rift.
- The use of DisplayPort makes it incompatible for use in a laptop.
2. Valve Index VR Headset
This is having the best features and gives you a premium experience on PC. The display which is there is Amoled. The resolution is around 2880*1600. The refreshing rate of this is about 120Hz but if there is an experimental mode done that is 144Hz. The view is about 130 degrees provided. There are index controllers also for this.
A great connection is established about the Displayport and also about USB. Here the USB is about 2.0 and also 3.0. The features in the value index stand best that are used in class hardware, it’s quite comfortable to wear and virtually no SDE is there.
One cannot detect the screen; it’s that much more fine and accurate. There is the material used nicely for usage and distributed all over.
— Pros
- With a wider field of view, it has good resolution.
- Image quality stays best in this.
- 130 degrees FOV is there on this mass-market headset.
- Cabling is less intrusive found here.
- The sound quality is perfect.
- A very convenient “halo” device for mounting.
- Compatible with the current infrastructure and peripherals for SteamVR.
- Cleaned quickly.
- They are having great tracking controllers.
- Finger monitoring on controllers was well implemented.
— Cons
- One of the drawbacks is that it is very expensive.
- The price is more than other headsets.
- The wired connection is also not convenient for all.
- The finger-tracking is implemented in this.
- Privacy isn’t being maintained, as there is lots of noise that can be heard to others also.
- The hand tracking system is only fully supported in a few titles.
3. Oculus Quest 2 VR Headset
There is a display which is fixed and is LCD. The resolution of oculus quest 2 is 3664*1920 this much wide. 90Hz long is a refreshing rate of VR headset for PC. 100 degrees field of view is there for this headset. Yet there is a smooth Oculus touch.
There is a connection of USB type C with 3.5 mm headphone. There are few features of the same that is oculus link tethering, improved graphics is there and greater price also. The delivery cost is not that much there. Having a new LCD display of about 1832*1920 per eye, there is an exceptional quality if you buy an extra headset.
Here one can experience playing different games as in the package it comes for and also standalone headset is there. Oculus Quest 2 is the quickest headsets that one can buy and can use nicely. In just a few minutes this functions in a great way and you will definitely buy this.
— Pros
- The new processor of oculus quest 2 offers a major increase in efficiency over the initial Search. For a total of 6GB, it also gets two more gigabytes of RAM.
- The display has also been upgraded.
- Quest 2 includes a social environment as well.
- Oculus Quest 2 is excellent when playing with friends, or via online avatars, although some would cringe at the newly added Facebook account requirement.
- oculus quest 2 is portable and simple to operate – a Portable, all-in-one VR experience. That means no PC, no phone, no cords, and trouble-free.
— Cons
- Battery life is a bit short.
- In the box, no Oculus Link cable
4. HTC Vive Cosmos Elite
There is a different level of accuracy that you will find by using this. There is an LCD display here. The resolution is also about 2880*1700. About 90Hz there is a refreshing rate. The view is about just 110 degrees and having a stupendous connection of about 1.2 DisplayPort and USB is near to 3.0.
Some quick functions are great, there is a high-resolution display, accurate tracking makes things simpler and it includes the half-life about Alyx and Viveport infinity subscription that would enhance you to have a better experience in about 6 months only while using the new headset.
This is the best cosmos which is originally being made and having the stations, faceplates, and controllers also with it. It also provides the best virtual reality premium gaming experience.
— Pros
- The high quality of the show makes it more profitable to purchase.
- Since it offers a much more impressive and engaging experience.
- It also offers a more fascinating interface that is more convenient for users.
- Fascinating design
- Comfortable fit and a simple visor flip-up
— Cons
- It is possible to see the configuration of the base station as an unnecessary issue.
- Inside-out monitoring of Lacks in this Elite format
- Quite expensive
5. Samsung Odyssey+ VR Headset
This is from the windows mixed reality group and having the best functions. I personally reviewed this and one should buy this one. It is having an AMOLED display and resolution up to 2880*1600. The refreshing rate is about 90Hz and about 110 only in the field of view.
There are amazing controllers as it is in Odyssey. The connection is about HDMI and USB is 3.0. Few features about the same are it has the same features as I earlier discussed the headset but is available in just half of the price. There is a tracking facility inside and outside.
There is also a reduced screen door effect available. There is a great feature of anti-door that is used for deploying the fine-grain that we can see in so many HDMs nowadays. There is a great level of immersion too.
— Pros
- It’s convenient and easy to set up.
- More clarified show lenses with better quality. It means a more calming one when looking at comparability.
- Free Revive software makes it more compatible with both Steam VR and Oculus Rift and is also compatible with Windows Mixed Reality.
- For gaming purposes, its WMR controllers have all the buttons and trackpads required.
— Cons
- The price is not competitive.
- Talking about the resolution it is low.
- Automatic IPD adjustment is a problem.
Buying Guide & Factors
Now that you’ve learned everything there is to know about VR headsets, the next important question is which one should you buy? There are many options available and each one has a unique feature-set. If you’re confused about making a choice, there’s not a thing to be worried about.
In this part of the article, I’ll give you a break-down of all the things you should keep in mind before narrowing down on the VR headset for the PC of your choice.
1. Compatibility
There are stand-alone VR headsets available now, like the Oculus Go. But a stand-alone VR headset for PC can be a let-down when it comes to high-intensity tasks like gaming. The Oculus Go, for example, can handle some games but is pretty handicapped when it comes to AAA titles.
If you want a very good gaming experience, a very powerful PC (preferably a desktop) is a must. A very good processor with 6 to 8 cores (at least an Intel Core i5 processor) and an equally good graphics card like the GeForce 1060 or above should be your ideal configuration.
VR headsets that work with smart-phones are compatible only with certain flagships. Your phone will also need other features like a Gyroscope. So the first thing you should keep in mind before choosing a VR headset is whether your existing set-up is powerful enough to handle VR.
2. Resolution
The quality and features offered by the display in your headset is probably the most important thing to consider as it directly affects the quality of your VR experience. There are several things you should look for when it comes to the display.
The first is a resolution. A display that can support high resolutions will give you a crisp and detailed viewing experience. The level of details can be very important in certain games so make sure you check the maximum resolution the display can attain.
The Vive, Quest, and the Index all have great displays and are consequently, quite expensive. The Rift and the Odyssey on the other hand have slightly less crisp displays. But remember, high resolutions VR headsets need very powerful machines to function smoothly.
3. Refresh Rate
Refresh rate basically tells you how many times a screen can update itself every second. A refresh rate of 90 Hz is the bare minimum you should look for if you’re a gamer. In fast-paced games like first-person shooters, a high refresh rate can be the difference between life and death.
But if you’re buying a VR headset to watch movies, a lower refresh rate of 60 Hz will be more than enough. Of all the headsets mentioned, Quest has a lower refresh rate.
4. Field of View
The FOV is the range of what you’ll be able to see when using a VR headset for PC. Our eyes have a FOV of 220 degrees. So a good VR headset should have at least half of that as FOV. The Valve Index offers the best FOV of 130 degrees (perceived as 120). If not, your experience will be similar to looking at the world through a cardboard box. The immersion will be lost.
5. Sound
Another aspect that can affect your immersion is the quality of sound output from the VR headset. Most headsets offer speakers but you’ll be better connecting a headphone to your headset. The Rift and the Vive have a dedicated device for audio called a Digital Audio Converter. But in my experience, the Index offers the best sound of the lot.
6. Controllers
A VR headset is only capable of showing you the VR world. To interact with objects in that world, you’ll need a controller and a damn good one at that. The amount of immersion you can enjoy when using a VR headset will depend on the controller provided with the VR headset.
If the controller’s positional tracking system is slow and gimmicky, your entire experience will go sour. This is another reason to not consider stand-alone VR headsets if you’re an avid gamer as their positional tracking system is not even nearly comparable to say the HTC Vive that needs a PC to power it.
Another aspect to consider is the Depth of Field (DoF). If you want your player in a game to move the way you move your body, go for VR headsets with 6DoF. If not, 3 DoF will do the trick. The level of precision offered varies according to the price. The Valve Index is so precise that it’s knuckle controllers that can track every movement of your fingers
7. Weight and Feel
Your headset may be capable of handling any AAA title like a walk in the park, but if the headset is too bulky or itchy, your whole experience will be ruined. Always try on the headset you wish to buy. Is it too heavy for you? Or is the fit perfect? Does the screen of the VR headset have enough cushioning to avoid the dreaded “VR Face”? If you’re looking for a mobile headset, make sure your mobile is a bulky model as it will add to the weight of the VR headset.
If you wear spectacles, make sure the device of your choice supports spectacled use. The Samsung Odyssey and the Oculus Quest are quite light-weight while the Index can be on the heavier side.
8. Pricing
Last but not least is pricing, which can be the dealbreaker. The most powerful and feature-rich options available today, Vive, Quest and the Index are also the most expensive. So if you want the best experience and price is not an issue, go for them. Otherwise, settle for the Rift or the Odyssey.
Hopefully, you can now reach a decision based on the above buying guide. It’s always better to do thorough research than to suffer buyer’s remorse!
Conclusion
Virtual reality headsets are the cheapest and powerful ones also. I have discussed a few VR headsets and they are having different features and specifications. By looking around all five I personally recommend you to use Oculus Rift S as it is original and according to the benefits and pricing also it is reliable. Then also you can check and make the decision which you want to take.
Frequently Asked Questions:
to experience VR, do I need a VR headset?
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