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Top 7 Virtual Reality Headsets of 2021
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The Best VR Headsets for 2021
With a headset and motion tracking, VR lets you look around a virtual space as if you’re actually there, or play a game as though you’re in it. VR’s been gaining traction in recent years thanks to compelling games and experiences, though it still seems very much in a state of flux, with headsets coming and going fairly rapidly. Oculus is focusing its efforts on a standalone VR headset, the Quest 2, but providing the option to connect it to a PC. Even Microsoft is (sort of) supporting its Windows Mixed Reality platform with a scant few third-party headsets. The cable makes them a bit unwieldy, but putting all of the actual video processing in a box that you don’t need to directly strap to your face means your VR experience can be a lot more complex. Either external sensors or outward-facing cameras provide full 6DOF (six degrees of freedom) movement tracking for both your head and your hands, thanks to motion-sensing controllers.
You Can Trust Our Reviews Since 1982, PCMag has tested and rated thousands of products to help you make better buying decisions. Standalone headsets offer the greatest physical freedom by completely removing the cables and not requiring an external device to handle processing. The Quest 2 lacks a dedicated gaming PC’s processing power, but its high-end mobile processor can still push detailed, smooth graphics. The company’s bowing out of the dedicated, tethered VR headset, though, discontinuing the Rift S in favor of focusing entirely on the standalone Quest 2.
That’s hard to swallow, even if the Index features a 120Hz refresh rate, notably higher than most of its competitors (with an experimental 144Hz mode). They can track individual finger movements, making games (that take advantage of them) much more immersive than the standard trigger grips on other controllers.
This high-end PC VR headset targets both enthusiasts and professionals, with the sharpest picture available at 2,448 by 2,448 pixels per eye. It features a higher resolution, and replaces the external base stations with outward-facing cameras for motion tracking.
There are some excellent games on PS VR like Moss, Rez Infinite, Until Dawn: Rush of Blood, and Five Nights at Freddie’s: Help Wanted. Basically, these AR headsets have transparent lenses that let you look at your surroundings instead of completely replacing your vision with a computer-generated image.
You can make a web browser pop up in the middle of a room, for instance, or watch animals run around your coffee table. Considering each headset costs several thousand dollars, you shouldn’t expect a large library of AR experiences for a while.
5 AWESOME (And Cheap!) VR Headsets for Under $100
You don’t need to blow hundreds of dollars on a VR (Virtual Reality) headset to get a compelling, immersive experience. Each of the headsets on this list puts the world of virtual reality into your hands comfortably and affordably. We tested dozens of headsets and these 5 scored the highest in comfort, durability, usability, and overall experience. It’s a quality viewer that works easily with your smartphone apps and assembles in 3 easy steps.
Explore the wonders of deep space, dance on stage with Bieber (Despa – SHUT UP FOR THE LOVE OF GOD), and tour the ruins of Machu PIcchu all from Google’s crystal clear lenses. On our end, we were instantly obsessed with how fun and interactive Google Street View was. If you’re anything like us, you’ll love aimlessly wandering famous landmarks, far flung cities, and your own neighborhood yelling “HEY THAT’S MY DAD’S CAR!” It might sound futuristic but transporting from anywhere to anywhere in the world now costs less than dinner for 2 at Chili’s.
Google’s Daydream View experience is a step up from Cardboard, and comes with a ton of and exciting apps/games. The controller is the best on the market in this price range, giving you the best possible interactive experience with your apps. Since we’re spoiled brats that can’t stand a minute of discomfort, we really loved the breathable head strap. We loved the Homido headset for 2 reasons: The adjustable distance was perfect for our eyes, and the ergonomic head strap felt like melted butter on the back of our heads (not sure that’s a good thing, now that we think about it…).
This one lets you adjust til you find the sweet spot, so your eyes don’t get strained. Endless immersive entertainment in ergonomic comfort for less than a decent haircut? The headset is packed with functionality and the controller is super intuitive, you won’t ruin your purchase by RAGE SMASHING it against the wall. You can point, select, and drag with a flick of your wrist, making it easy to choose which show to watch while laying in bed (and saving your neck from getting stiff). This headset gives kids access to 300+ educational STEM activities and experiences. Elton John’s Yellow Brick Road Farewell Tour!!!!
The Best VR Headsets to Try (and Some to Avoid)
Virtual reality was supposed to be the next big thing back in 2016, when the original Oculus Rift and HTC Vive launched. As it turned out, VR was still a little too expensive and perhaps too alienating to take over the gaming world like Oculus and HTC had hoped. Picking the right one is important, but you should keep in mind that almost all VR games are multiplatform, so your real choice isn’t between Oculus or Vive, it’s between tethered or wirefree. But if you’re looking for absolutely top-of-the-line detail, and you already shelled out for a great gaming PC or laptop, then you’ll want to go tethered.
The best VR headset in 2021
While there are plenty of virtual reality headsets to choose from, the list of stellar VR goggles is fairly narrow. In fact, our own Imad Khan managed to find a very compelling reason to get the Oculus Quest 2 over other VR headsets. Do bear in mind you’ll need a good bit of free space to get the most out of these headsets, especially if you plan on doing room-scale VR. Its simple setup means you’ll be playing games like Batman: Arkham VR and Star Trek: Bridge Crew in no time.
Oculus Quest 2 Best VR headset overall TODAY’S BEST DEALS Recommended Retailer View at Oculus Prime View at Amazon Low Stock View at Walmart Reasons to buy + Seamless all-in-one VR system + Can connect to PCs + Capable of room-scale VR + Large library of apps Reasons to avoid – Controllers aren’t rechargeable – Requires Facebook account It sports a slicker design, better display resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate in some games and apps, and faster overall performance. Furthermore, the suite of apps and games on the Oculus Store can make the Quest 2 a great headset for all kinds of VR experiences, even helping with your workout and saving your from a dull fitness regime. Oculus Rift S Best VR headset for PC TODAY’S BEST DEALS Recommended Retailer View at Oculus Prime View at Amazon View at Walmart 16 Amazon customer reviews ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ Reasons to buy + Built-in room tracking + Great game library + Included touch controllers Reasons to avoid – Not a huge upgrade over original Oculus Rift – PC required
It also has a rather neat feature in the form of speakers that are integrated in the headband, avoids the need to use the original Rift’s onboard headphones;the audio results are fairly impressive. And it comes with the impressive Touch Controllers that nearly track movements and help make VR feel a lot more kinetic and immersive.
Overall, the Oculus Rift S is the best VR headset for folks looking for a PC-based system that plays a huge library of great games for a decent price. The Oculus Rift S won a “highly recommended” honor for “best VR headset” at the Tom’s Guide Awards 2021 for gaming.
It combines a neat headset that looks semi-futuristic and is surprisingly comfortable, with a superb range of games that’s been slowly expanding. HTC Vive Best VR headset for immersive experiences TODAY’S BEST DEALS Prime View at Amazon 3 Amazon customer reviews ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ Reasons to buy + Smooth graphics with little latency + Touch controllers are easy to use and highly adaptable + Large game library Reasons to avoid – Requires a lot of space and electrical outlets to use – No built-in audio The result was a stellar VR headset that delivered a virtual reality experience that really had you moving around rather than sitting in one place and looking around. The controls are a high-point too, at the time offering a more revolutionary feeling of being able to literally reach out and grab something, albeit by pulling a trigger than gripping with your hands.
The only thing to bear in mind here is that it requires external tracking sensors, a powerful PC to run, and a good degree of set up and space. Valve Index The best controls and tracking in VR TODAY’S BEST DEALS Prime View at Amazon Prime View at Amazon Reasons to buy + Great build quality + Smartly designed controllers + Future expansion options Reasons to avoid – No charging cable in the box – Heavy
There’s a lot to like about the Index, as it comes with an LCD panel that offers variable refresh rates to suit the power of your PC. (Image credit: Tom’s Guide) As it stands, if you want some virtual reality action on the PS5 and Xbox Series X your out of luck… mostly. A major part of initial testing involves evaluating how much space is needed to set up one of our picks for the best VR headsets to get the most out of them. Whether it’s a traditional gamepad or something more elaborate, like the Rift’s Touch Controllers, we’re checking to see if the input devices are ergonomically designed; after all, no one wants hand cramps.
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