Virtual reality is here – 2016 is the year when the likes of Oculus Rift, PlayStation VR and the HTC Vive take virtual reality mainstream. And it's already started. With HTC Vive and Oculus Rift now in the hands of gamers, the revolution is already under way.
For the uninitiated, virtual reality is an immersive experience in which your head movements are tracked in a three-dimensional world, making it ideally suited to games and even movies.
Explained: How does VR actually work?
While VR was a non-starter back in the 90s, developers are now creating mind-blowing experiences that look set to revolutionise gaming and entertainment.
But what are the best VR headsets and which one should you choose? We've put together the definitive selection of the most gob-smackingly awesome devices just waiting to be strapped to your bonce.
Read on for the full list…
HTC Vive
The HTC Vive, is the Steam VR headset made in collaboration with Valve, the makers of legendary gaming series Half Life, and it's due to hit shops in April.
The HTC Vive plugs into PCs and work with Valve's mammoth gaming ecosystem. It packs in 70 sensors to offer 360 degree head-tracking as well as a 90Hz refresh rate; the stat that's key to keeping down latency, which is the technical term for the effect that causes motion sickness. Thankfully, that wasn't an issue in our review time.
Essential reading: Best HTC Vive games
However, the key to the HTC Vive's success is the Lighthouse room tracking that enables you to move around with the headset on. It means mounting some sensors in your home, but the effect is next level. Check out our HTC Vive review to see how.
Out now, $799, htcvr.com
Oculus Rift
Oculus Rift is the virtual reality headset that started the current hysteria. Developed by Palmer Luckey, funded via Kickstarter and snapped up by Facebook for a cool $2 billion, the Rift plugs into your computer's DVI and USB ports and tracks your head movements to provide 3D imagery on its stereo screens.
The consumer edition Rift uses a 2160 x 1200 resolution, working at 233 million pixels per second, with a 90Hz refresh rate. It's high tech stuff, which matches the HTC Vive for refresh rate, but lags behind PlayStation VR. However, given its access to the power of latest PCs, it will be pushing a lot more pixels than Sony's headset.
Essential reading: Best Oculus Rift games
Oculus Rift is ready for shipping, but the Oculus Touch controllers have been delayed until later in the year, but you will get an Xbox One control pad in the box. Check out our early Oculus Rift review for more details.
Out now, $599, oculus.com
Sony PlayStation VR
At last we have a launch date for the PlayStation VR headset: October 2016.
A new version was announced at GDC 2015 and gone is the 5-inch LCD display of the original prototype; in its place a 5.7-inch OLED one which enables low persistence, which should mean less motion blur. The display's refresh rate has also been ramped up to 120Hz, making 120fps gaming a real possibility.
The reported latency issues of Morpheus Mk1 have been addressed, with a new 18ms reading, and tracking accuracy has been tweaked with a total of nine LEDs now aiding the positional awareness of the headset.
Essential reading: Best PlayStation VR games
With its low price and pre-Christmas on-sale date, PlayStation VR has the chances to go big – even if by its own admission, the tech isn't up to the standards of its competitors. Check out our early PlayStation VR review for more information.
Out October 2016 $399, sony.com
Samsung Gear VR
The Samsung Gear VR is actually Oculus Rift lite, given that the two companies collaborated for the technology.
The Gear VR is simply a case that uses a Samsung Galaxy smartphone as its processor and display. The handset simply slots in front of the lenses, into a Micro USB dock, and uses its Super AMOLED display as your screen. Slot in the phone, stick on the headset and you're into your virtual reality experience. The only catch is that you must use a Samsung handset.
Check them out: Best Samsung Gear VR experiences and games
We're not going to lie, the visuals are a little grainy. Like you're looking at your phone with a magnifying glass – which essentially you are. But there are huge benefits.
It's already added a host of games plus a whole marketplace of VR video content called Milk VR, and in terms of content is one of the best platforms out there.
Then there's the price: The Samsung Gear VR is available for just $99, which is just ludicrous value. It's just a shame you need a Samsung handset to take advantage. Read our full Samsung Gear VR review for more detail.
$99, samsung.com | Amazon
Google Cardboard
Not to be outdone, Google announced its Cardboard virtual reality headset at I/O 2014 and unveiled version 2 at the 2015 conference. Popping a smartphone into a cardboard container and then strapping it to your head may sound like a joke, but it actually works and it could become a low-cost way to experience virtual reality.
After all, your smartphone contains all the necessary gyroscopic sensors and positioning systems to accurately track your head movements. Related is Durovis' Dive, which is essentially the same thing made of higher quality and more sweat-resistant materials.
Take a look at the best Google Cardboard VR apps and games.
$16.99 | Amazon
Microsoft HoloLens
Not a copycat of the big VR headsets, Microsoft HoloLens blends virtual and half augmented reality to make one of the most ambitious launches ever planed. The device merges real-world elements with virtual 'holographic' images, meaning you can look at your Minecraft world on your kitchen table, or walk around the surface of Mars in your living room.
Using Kinect-style tech to recognise gestures and voice commands, the headset has a 120-degree field of vision on both axes, and is capable of 'high definition' visuals, but it's still a letterbox compared to the likes of Oculus and Vive. More importantly, however, there's no connection to a PC – a full Windows 10 system is built into the headset and runs off a battery. No, we can't wait to see how long that lasts either.
The Development Edition is available now for Windows Insider members with a price tag of $3,000.
$3,000, microsoft.com
Razer OSVR
Razer's OSVR isn't a rival to the likes of Oculus Rift, PlayStation VR and Samsung Gear VR. Instead, it's intended to make life easier for developers to make applications for VR hardware, without technical (software and hardware) limitations getting in their way.
Open source is the big buzzword, breaking down the limitations that hinder development even on Oculus Rift. We have already seen plenty of third parties getting involved to help develop new features, including gesture tracking with a Leap Motion faceplate.
Previously on sale to developers, the general public can now order the dev kitdirect through Razer, although the company is keen to stress that it's still not a consumer product and, as such, only has a 30 day warranty.
$299.99, razerzone.com
FOVE VR
FOVE VR differs from the likes of Oculus Rift and PlayStation VR because it offers interactive eye-tracking. Inside the headset is an infrared sensor that monitors the wearer's eyes; offering both a new control method and an edge on its competitors when it comes to realism.
With FOVE, simulated depth-of-field is possible, due to the system knowing exactly what you're looking at, and as a result, the virtual should appear more real.
It's also the ultimate VR lovechild, thanks to investment from Samsung Ventures, Fove claims it will use HTC's Lighthouse tech for full on room tracking. It's not the only deal that Fove and signed: it also makes use of the Wear VR software platform and is compatible with Unity, Unreal, and Cryengine game engines.
From $349, getfove.com
Zeiss VR One
Like the Samsung Gear VR, the hardware power for this Zeiss branded headset comes from your smartphone. Unlike Sammy's effort, however, you're not tied to just one mobile with the Zeiss VR One; it will play ball with any iOS or Android handset between 4.7 and 5.2 inches.
It packs a media player for the likes of pictures and YouTube videos and an AR app for augmented experiences, while the open source Unity3D SDK (iOS and Android) means there's plenty of scope for development.
What's more, with lens maker Zeiss doing the optics, VR One definitely has promise.
Avegant Glyph
The majority of these headsets are large and heavy, but Avegant's Glyph is both sleeker and smaller than the pack. Its svelte size is due to its display technology: rather than using conventional smartphone-like screens to present imagery, it uses an array of micro mirrors to reflect an image directly into your retina.
The Glyph can be worn like a pair of headphones until you pull the screen down over your eyes, where you can enjoy 1280 x 720 for each eyeball. And while it's limited to a 45 degree field of view, the micro mirror array is said to reduce motion sickness and eye fatigue.
$699, avegant.com
Freefly VR headset
Freefly's VR headset looks dorkier than most, thanks to those 'wings', but who cares? It's now compatible with the 200+ Google Cardboard apps, plus it rocks 42mm lenses and a 120-degree field of view while faux leather helps to keep things comfortable. It fits any smartphone with a screen between 4.7in and 6.1in, which is admittedly less than an Archos headset but still covers most flagships in 2016.
As well as featuring head-tracking via your phone's accelerometer, one point of difference over the cheapest options is that Freefly comes with an odd little controller, named Glide, that you hold in one hand. It saves you the cost of buying a Bluetooth peripheral, though we've got to say we prefer a two-handed controller for gaming.
$79.99, freeflyvr.com | Amazon
Window 10 VR headset you also try this.this headsets will use outward-facing sensors for motion sensing, so they won't need external cameras or sensors like the Rift, Vive, and PS VR.Best Oculus Rift Games Free
RépondreSupprimerNice Your Blog....
RépondreSupprimerPlease Update Lucky Patcher app here is a latest version available now Mobdro for PC.
I Like your post. You have done really good work. Thank you for the information you provide, it helped me a lot. ShowBox Alternatives
RépondreSupprimerWonderful and useful piece of information. Thanks for this share. continue posting best articles for readers. apk minecraft free download
RépondreSupprimerI will share some secret bigrock coupon tips and tricks that makes you smarter to buy at offer price.
RépondreSupprimerI Like your post. You have done really good work. Thank you for the information you provide, it helped me a lot mehandi
RépondreSupprimerWonderful and useful piece of information. I Like your post. You have done really good work.Again Thanks for this sharing such a kind of information here.
RépondreSupprimerBlue Texture C Launcher Theme
I Like your post. You have done really good work. Thank you for the information you provide, it helped me. Yossy Island – Super Mario Advance 3 (Cezar) . so again thanks for providing such kind of information.
RépondreSupprimer