Virtual reality (VR) technology has come a long way in recent years and offers a range of immersive experiences for the users that invest in the hardware. The quality of VR offerings varies depending on the hardware and software used, but overall, the technology is becoming more advanced and accessible.
Virtual reality is used for various applications, from gaming and entertainment to education, healthcare, and even military training.
Top 5 VR Headsets
Several VR headsets are available on the market, each with its strengths and weaknesses. Here are some of the best VR headsets currently available:
- Oculus Quest 2: This standalone headset offers high-quality visuals, wireless capabilities, and an extensive library of games and apps. It’s an excellent option for both beginners and experienced VR users.
- Valve Index: This high-end PC-based headset offers top-of-the-line visuals and a wide field of view, making it ideal for gamers and enthusiasts. However, it requires a powerful gaming PC to run.
- Sony PlayStation VR: This console-based headset is an excellent option for PS4 and PS5 owners, offering a good balance of quality and affordability. It also has an extensive library of games and experiences, of course only for use on PlayStation with PlayStation games and software.
- HTC Vive Pro 2: This PC-based headset offers impressive visuals and a comfortable fit, but it’s also one of the more expensive options on the market.
- Samsung Gear VR: This smartphone-based headset is a budget-friendly option that allows users to experience VR with their Samsung phones. However, the graphics and performance are less advanced than other VR headsets.
Overall, the quality of VR offerings is continually improving, and plenty of excellent options are available for users at different price points and with other preferences.
Then and now using VR headsets
I became excited about virtual reality when the movies Tron and The Last Starfighter were released. I am a gamer; I was excited about the idea that a video game world could be experienced from the inside and that you could be recruited to become a starfighter by auditioning through an arcade game! Then the movie Lawnmower Man came out, and VR sunk its teeth into me, and it would be a lasting impression. Of course, you had to have thousands of dollars to buy into VR or build your own back then. Today they are starting to become more affordable to the average Joe.
Meta Quest 3 (400+ $?)
My first VR headset was a Vfx1 that I bought second-hand online. It was a great experience at the time, but I soon found it to be lacking in the detail department as far as the display was concerned. Much later, I tried the Quest 2 headset, which is impressive, especially for the price! I think I’m ready to buy in again this year; when I first heard about it, it was no more than a blip, but now there media is starting to fly, and people are getting excited. The Quest 3 should hopefully hit the market sometime closer to the end of 2023.
Another interesting tidbit about the Meta Quest 3 is that Mark Zuckerberg confirmed that the headset would have both augmented reality and virtual reality capabilities. One of the features that I’m looking forward to the most is the workspace environment; previously, you could not see the actual keyboard you are working with, but with the augmented reality ability, that should be a problem of the past; I guess time will tell. You can now use a keyboard with the Oculus browser if you have the BlueTooth version of the Logitech K830 keyboard.
