VIRTUAL reality (VR) is growing at an unprecedented rate.<\/p>\n
From design to medical applications, this technology is becoming cheaper and more powerful by the day, allowing for new horizons to be explored.<\/p>\n
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Of course, gaming is still at the top when it comes to VR use, and several games are bringing this tech to the next level.<\/p>\n
As this technology evolves, it also becomes more affordable, compact, and easier to use.<\/p>\n
Whether you're interested in virtual reality for games or other applications, however, finding the right headset is not always an easy feat, as flag-ship headsets' prices can still be quite prohibitive.<\/p>\n
Using our experts' knowledge and user rating around the web, we have selected the best virtual reality headsets for your money.<\/p>\n
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CPU: 4 Kryo 280 Gold (ARM Cortex-A73 based) @ 2.45 GHz + 4 Kryo 280 Silver (ARM CortexA73 based) @ 1.9 GHz. Memory: 4 GB x2. Storage: 64 GB, 128 GB. Display: PenTile OLED 1440 1600 per eye @ 72 Hz. Graphics: Adreno 540. Sound: Integrated stereo speakers, 2 3.5 mm headphone jack. Input: 6DOF inside-out tracking through 4 built-in cameras. Controller input: 2nd generation Oculus Touch motion tracked controllers. Camera: 4 cameras. Connectivity: USB Type-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi. Online services: Oculus Store. Weight: 571g<\/p>\n
If your goal is to enjoy a virtual reality experience free from wires and without the need for powerful computers, look no further than the Oculus Quest.<\/p>\n
The first truly all-in-one gaming headset, the Oculus Quest packs some interesting specs at a record-low price.<\/p>\n
The tag price of 499.00 may seem daunting, but in the realm of high-specs VR headsets, that's actually a pretty good deal, as you won't need to spend anything else on an expensive PC.<\/p>\n
No cables or external sensors also means you can charge your Oculus Quest in minutes via the provided USB-C cable and start playing straight away.<\/p>\n
Put on the headset, create manual \"gaming boundaries\" with the help of the Quest's sensor cameras, and you are ready to go.<\/p>\n
The headset will warn you if you're leaving the area, so you can rest assured you're not going to smash your TV while playing Beat Saber.<\/p>\n
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Display: 5.7\" OLED, 100 field of view. Graphics: 1080p RGB (960 1080 per eye; 90120Hz refresh rate). Sound: 3D audio through headphone jack, and available microphone input. Input: Positional tracking with 9 LEDs via PlayStation Camera. Controller input: DualShock 4 controller, PlayStation Aim, PlayStation Move. Camera: PlayStation Camera. Online services: Play Station Network. Weight: 600 g.<\/p>\n
Coming down to only 249.00 but requiring a PlayStation 4 system, the Sony PlayStation VR is undoubtedly the best VR headset for console gaming.<\/p>\n
With a responsive refresh rate and excellent head tracking, the PlayStation VR is an excellent competitor in the real of high-specs VR headsets.<\/p>\n
It also has access to Sony's numerous PS exclusives and will be also compatible with the upcoming PS5 console.<\/p>\n
The main downside of the PS VR headset has been for a while the fact that it required different sensors to work properly, such as PlayStation Camera and Move controllers.<\/p>\n
However, Sony has recently started releasing bundles including these accessories for anyone who wants to start experiencing virtual reality.<\/p>\n
Do you own a PS4? Then the PlayStation VR is probably the best headset for you.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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Display: Display of inserted smartphone. Connectivity: Bluetooth 4.2 BLE private profile. Lens (interpupilary distance (IPD) \/ eye relief): 62mm (fixed) \/ 10mm. Controller input: Motion Controller. Online services: Play Store. Weight: 345 g.<\/p>\n
Before exploring the two most expensive and high-end VR headsets on the market, it is useful to mention here the Samsung Gear VR, as it is the best mobile headset by a long shot.<\/p>\n
Of course, with the Oculus Quest changing the perception of VR on-the-go, it is uncertain if smartphone-powered VR headsets will retail their crown over the mobile VR market.<\/p>\n
However, the biggest flaw of smartphone-powered VR headsets so far has been the lack of dedicated controllers, which made the gaze-based navigation frustrating at best.<\/p>\n
The 2017 version of the Samsung Gear VR introduced a handy motion controller that works remarkably well.<\/p>\n
Combined with the extremely low tag price of 114.49, this makes the Samsung Gear a good and cheaper alternative to any other mobile headset.<\/p>\n
Of course, you'll have to have a decent Samsung smartphone to utilise the full power of this headset.<\/p>\n
The Samsung Gear VR is compatible with most Samsung phones, including the Galaxy S9, S9+, Note8, S8, S8+, S7, S7 Edge, Note5, S6 Edge+, S6 and S6 Edge.<\/p>\n
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Display: Fast-switch LCD 25601440 (12801440 per eye) @ 80 Hz. Sound: Integrated speakers. Input: 6DOF inside-out tracking through 5 built-in cameras. Controller input: 2nd generation Oculus Touch motion tracked controllers. Camera: 5 cameras. Online services: Oculus Store. Connectivity: Display Port 1.2, USB 3.0. Weight: 500 g.<\/p>\n
A glance at the specs above will give you an idea why the Oculus Rift S is a great headset.Like its predecessor, the Rift S requires a high-end PC to truly shine.<\/p>\n
The VR experience is somehow encumbered by the presence of cables on the back of the headset, but the trade-off is definitely worth it, as the Oculus Rift S packs in some spectacular graphics.<\/p>\n
However, the headset only reached the second place in our list because it's only an incremental update when considering its predecessor Oculus Rift.<\/p>\n
In fact, while the Rift S is easier to set up, has a wider game library than the Rift at its launch and has an improved resolution, it is a downgrade when it comes to audio and refresh rate.<\/p>\n
5. The best PC VR headset: Valve Index<\/p>\n
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Operating system: Windows, Linux. Display: 28801600 (14401600 per eye) LCD @ 80Hz, 90Hz, 120Hz, or 144Hz. Sound: Integrated headphones, 3.5mm audio jack, built-in dual microphone array. Controller input: Valve Index Controllers (formerly known as Knuckles controllers). Camera: Front-facing 960960 stereo cameras. Connectivity: DisplayPort 1.2, USB 3.0 expansion port. Online services: Steam. Weight: 809 g.<\/p>\n
The king of commercial virtual reality on the market, the Valve Index is the next-gen VR headset that everyone has been waiting for.<\/p>\n
Extremely-high quality display, tracking of all fingers via motion controller and a wider field of view are only some of the best VR features this headset has to offer.<\/p>\n
A consistent upgrade from the HTC Vive, the Valve Index also has an extensive game library via Steam.<\/p>\n
With a price of almost 400, the headset is not cheap, but it is the only way to access the world of next-gen virtual reality.<\/p>\n
As you might have noticed from the prices above, virtual reality headsets greatly vary in price, depending on a series of factors. The most obvious one is the distinction between mobile and desktop-powered VR headsets.<\/p>\n
The first ones are usually cheaper, starting from a few quid for a Google Cardboard (which you can make yourself if you feel so inclined), to a little over 100 for the Samsung Gear VR, our pick for best mobile-powered VR headset.<\/p>\n
If your smartphone is not compatible with the Samsung Gear VR, there are a series of mid-range mobile VR headsets you can check-out on Amazon.<\/p>\n
In the middle between smartphone-powered and PC headsets are the standalone ones. A still quite niche category of which the Oculus Quest is the undisputed best.<\/p>\n
Virtual reality headsets can be used for a variety of things. While gaming applications are still the most widespread by far, there are many apps today aiding people in various tasks.<\/p>\n
For example, shoppers are using virtual reality experiences to visualise items of clothing and try them on.<\/p>\n
VR is also used in healthcare, to train surgeons before they operate on humans, and to treat patients who suffer from anxiety and other mental conditions.<\/p>\n
Finally, virtual reality is widely used in education, to deliver interactive learning experiences on a larger scale, and to reach rural areas which otherwise would have no access to education.<\/p>\n
Of course, you can also watch movies in virtual reality. The quality of the footage itself will have to be high-quality to avoid blurry images, and the resolution of your headset will play a fundamental part in delivering an optimal experience.<\/p>\n
That being said, in order to be able to watch something from \"within the scene\", the footage you're watching needs to be recorded using a 360 camera. YouTube is full of such videos, and you'll be able to experience them yourself with any VR headset.<\/p>\n
If the video you're trying to watch was not filmed with a 360 camera, however, what you'll get is more or less a traditional \"cinema\" experience.<\/p>\n
Many headsets have integrated software to play videos, and if you try to watch a regular movie, it will play in front of you, as if you were standing in front of a giant screen.<\/p>\n
Not as immersive as with a 360 video, but definitely worth a shot if you have a good VR headset.<\/p>\n
As mentioned earlier, you can assemble a complex system to enjoy virtual reality's capabilities to the fullest.<\/p>\n
In addition to your headset and controllers, you'll be able to add further sensors for more accuracy in your control of the virtual environment, a sound system to enjoy truly directional sounds, and much more.<\/p>\n
However, if you usually play virtual reality in a small space or if you can't be bothered setting up a complex system, you can always use a mobile VR headset and jump into the action immediately.<\/p>\n
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This article and any featured products have been independently chosen by The Sun journalists. All recommendations within the article are informed by expert editorial opinion. If you click a link and buy a product we may earn revenue: this helps to support The Sun, and in no way affects our recommendations.<\/p>\n
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5 Best virtual reality headsets 2020 from Oculus Rift S and Valve Index to PS4 VR - The Sun<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" VIRTUAL reality (VR) is growing at an unprecedented rate. Continue reading