Wolfgang Rattay / Reuters
It’s crazy to think how far VR has come over the past few years. While the technology made its big consumer debut in 2016, with the launch of the Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and PlayStation VR, we also spent plenty of time anticipating its arrival. It promised to be the biggest technological shift since the rise of smartphones — and potentially since the dawn of the internet.
This year, VR headsets got cheaper, simpler (especially with Microsoft’s new Mixed Reality platform) and more worthwhile, thanks to the launch of new immersive titles like Rez Infinite. We’ve gone from having too few VR options to having too many. These are the best.
The best mobile VR headset
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You don’t need an expensive computer or PlayStation 4 to dip your toes into virtual reality. If you have a compatible Android smartphone, you can also choose from Google’s Daydream View or Samsung’s Gear VR. Thanks to a bit of help from Oculus, Samsung enjoyed a big head start in this arena. The Gear VR has been around since 2015, and it’s steadily evolved alongside the company’s smartphones.
This year, Samsung finally released a motion controller for the Gear VR, which impressed us with its accurate tracking and comfortable design. It also costs just $40 on its own, making it a no-brainer upgrade for anyone who already owns Samsung’s headset. (You can get the Gear VR and controller together for $140.) While Google launched the Daydream View with a controller before Samsung, the Gear VR’s version is better overall. In particular, it has a trigger button, which is essential for interacting with virtual reality environments.
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The Oculus Rift is also easier to set up than the Vive, since its two sensors can be placed right around your monitor. The Vive’s tracking base stations, meanwhile, need to be placed high up in opposite corners of your room — which could involve drilling mounts into your walls if you don’t have bookcases nearby. And, of course, the fact that the Rift still costs $200 less than the Vive is worth keeping in mind.
Windows Mixed Reality headsets are yet another PC VR option, but they’re not worth the investment yet. While they were initially pitched as cheaper competitors to the Rift and Vive, they’ve ended up around $400 when paired with Microsoft’s motion controllers. Windows also needs more VR apps to be truly competitive with Oculus and the Vive. (Wisely, Microsoft also partnered with Valve to support SteamVR on its headsets, but they still don’t work with every title on that platform.)
The best headset for most consumers
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Devindra Hardawar/Engadget
Sony’s PlayStation VR headset was a huge surprise. It delivers solid virtual reality performance without the need for a PC; it just plugs right into a PlayStation 4. While you won’t get the same level of immersion as you would with the Rift or Vive, it’s a much more accessible path to VR. Thanks to Sony’s consumer electronics know-how, the PlayStation VR is also incredibly comfortable to wear. Perhaps most importantly, Sony has managed to get more than 100 VR games on its platform. That includes popular titles like Superhot as well as exclusive experiences like Resident Evil 7, Ace Combat 7 and Until Dawn: Rush of Blood.
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Source: Engadget