VR — Virtual Reality — has been gaining popularity recently and many major companies are jumping on board the VR train. You may have heard of VR as a gaming thing or perhaps you’re curious about the recently released Apple Vision Pro.
I think VR is on track to becoming a major form of computing in the near future. Meta is working on AI-powered AR smart glasses (AR stands for Augmented Reality, by the way), Sightful is about to launch the Spacetop G1 AR laptop (for AR productivity on the go) and Google and Samsung are working on their own MR (Mixed Reality) device. Even Microsoft recently restarted its MR projects.
All in all, this is the perfect time to get into VR: not too early and not too late. This post will cover all the basics of VR and, hopefully, convince you that it’s definitely something you want to buy into.
So, what exactly is VR and why is it so cool?
An Apple Vision Pro. | Image credit — PhoneArena
The aim of VR is simple: transport you to a different reality that feels much more immersive than any experience that you can view on a standard screen. If you’ve ever found yourself immersed in a movie or your favorite video game, oh boy, wait till you try out VR.
The basic principle with which modern VR devices work is showing each of your eyes a slightly different image: in essence, recreating depth. This creates a sense of scale and distance. Naturally, this means VR content needs to be rendered twice: once for each eye. This can be quite resource-intensive, but more on that later.
What you need to know is simple: once you slip on a VR headset and start up an excellent game like Red Matter 2, you will actually feel like you’re in that fictional world set in space. You will be able to look around just like in real life and everything will seem like it’s actually in front of you instead of behind a flat screen.
And you’ll even be able to move around in the virtual world while actually moving in the real one.
Things to consider before buying a VR headset
A Meta Quest 3, one of the best VR headsets today. | Image credit — PhoneArena
As you may be aware, there are a ton of amazing VR headsets on the market. Which one you ultimately go for depends on what you need a headset for. You can order a headset online from a company’s store or an online retailer such as Amazon.
Or, you could try to locate a local VR arcade so you can demo whichever headset they’re using, just to get an idea of what it’s like. Just make sure to clean the headset before putting it on. That being said, you’ll need to set aside at least around $500, though the cost can go into the thousands if you buy the enthusiast-level stuff.
There are a myriad of factors to consider when deciding on a VR headset. So, let’s get a little technical, shall we?
The display
The inside of an Apple Vision Pro. | Image credit — PhoneArena
The display on a VR headset dictates how convincing your experience is and if it’s comfortable for long gaming sessions. You’ll want to look out for these three terms:
Resolution
Refresh Rate
Field of View
Resolution, i.e. the number of pixels in the display, matters a lot when it comes to VR. If you’re the detail-oriented gamer who wants to see every blade of grass as crisp as it can be, you’ll want a headset with a high resolution.
Refresh rate, for many, is even more important than resolution when it comes to VR. A higher refresh rate means a smoother experience. A minimum refresh rate of 90 Hz is recommended if you don’t want to feel sick when using your VR headset.
Field of View, or FOV, determines how wide of a viewing angle your VR headset gives you. This is something you’ll ideally test out yourself to decide if you want to get a headset with a wider FOV. Some users swear by it, others couldn’t care less. It’s very subjective.
Support for glasses
Using a VR headset while wearing glasses can be a pain. Some headsets offer better support, usually in the form of an attachable cushion that puts the headset farther away from the face. But this results in reduced visual fidelity. I, personally, would suggest opting for custom lens inserts for your VR headset. Depending on which headset you buy, it can be quite easy to order a pair of custom lenses for it.
Connectivity Options
If you’ll be using your VR headset for PC VR gaming, you’ll need to look into what connectivity options it supports. Some headsets require wires, while others offer a choice between wired and wireless. Wireless has some downsides, but usually works just fine in addition to being more convenient.
Dedicated WiFi routers
If you plan on using your VR headset wirelessly with your PC, it might be a good idea to splurge on a decent WiFi 6 router. Older routers work fine too, but WiFi 6 is ideal. Make sure your PC is connected via ethernet and keep other devices off the network so your bandwidth isn’t clogged up.
Motion Sensors
Different VR headsets use various means to track your movement across the room. Headsets like the Quest 3 or Vision Pro have sensors on-board, negating the need for dedicated exterior “satellites”. Whereas headsets like the Valve Index need dedicated “base stations”, a concept that’s lost popularity fast with modern headsets.
Controllers
Meta Quest 3 controllers. | Image credit — PhoneArena
Pretty self-explanatory. Different headsets come with different types of controllers and it depends entirely on the user which they prefer. The Valve Index controllers offer full finger motion tracking and the PSVR2 controllers come with finger touch detection. Other controllers don’t come with such tracking solutions and the Apple Vision Pro doesn’t come with any controllers at all. PC VR — and some headsets like the Quest lineup — usually let you use a traditional Bluetooth game controller of your choosing like the Xbox controller.
Passthrough
If you want a headset for work or for Mixed Reality apps and games (which show you your surroundings in addition to virtual elements), you’ll need something that can do good passthrough. Passthrough is when the headset uses its external cameras to show the user a live feed of their real-life surroundings. Understandably, if a headset’s passthrough isn’t clear enough, it will impact both entertainment and work.
3-DoF versus 6-DoF
Lastly, what sort of VR setup do you want? For almost all good games or apps, you’ll need a 6-DoF VR headset. Fortunately, most modern VR headsets on the market are 6-DoF. DoF stands for Degrees of Freedom, and while 3-DoF headsets only allow you to look around from a stationary point, 6-DoF headsets track your head movement as well as your body movement for a truly immersive experience.
Types of VR headsets
Despite still being sort of a niche industry, there’s no shortage of different types of VR headsets. There are mobile and console VR headsets too, but we’ll focus on PC VR and standalone VR headsets only in this post.
PC VR headsets
PC VR headsets follow the design of the first modern consumer VR headset: the Oculus Rift DK1. These headsets come with displays, lenses, controllers and maybe a few other goodies, but require a gaming PC to run anything. Examples include the HTC Vive Pro 2 and the aforementioned Valve Index. Get a PC VR headset if you want superior visuals and don’t mind being chained to your PC.
Standalone VR headsets
Standalone VR headsets are basically computers strapped to your face. These headsets don’t need to be plugged in and have their own battery packs as well. Their most compelling selling factor is usually the fact that they can play games and run apps natively without a PC. Get a standalone VR headset if you don’t care too much about graphics or travel a lot.
Most modern headsets launch in Standalone mode by default, but also offer a comprehensive PC VR experience too, like the Quest 3. Others, like the Vision Pro, don’t allow for this out of the box, but the community usually quickly comes up with ways to…amend that. Shoutout to the ALVR app!
Great VR headsets worth getting
Let’s get into actual names now. Standalone VR headsets have gained a lot of popularity recently, mostly helped along by Meta’s Quest headsets. And if you’re deciding on a standalone VR headset, here are some good ones you can choose from.
Meta Quest 3
Starting from $499
Image credit — PhoneArena
The Quest 3 boasts crisp resolution, high frame rates, decent FOV, great passthrough, excellent motion tracking and an insane number of games on the Horizon Store. It’s also quite affordable compared to most of the competition: starting at $499 for the 128 GB variant. Quest 3 can also do PC VR, wired and wireless.
Meta Quest 2
Starting from $199
Image credit — PhoneArena
Despite a relatively lower resolution, games still look great on Quest 2 and it’s much cheaper to get one. Quest 2 stock is running out around the world, however, and you may need to buy one used. The Quest 2 also does both standalone and PC VR.
Yet another Meta entry on this list should drive home just how much Meta has invested into the VR industry. The Quest Pro, while more expensive than the Quest 2, has a much better display, better performance, significantly better passthrough, better controller tracking and even eye tracking. It also runs in standalone and PC VR modes like the Quest 3 and Quest 2.
Pico 4
Starting from $475
Image credit — PhoneArena
A cheaper alternative to Meta’s Quest lineup, the Pico 4 features very similar specifications but a much more limited library. It also keeps showing you TikTok-like short form content, something you might not like at all. But it does do the job, especially if you use it for PC VR gaming instead. However, the headset might be discontinued soon or stop receiving software support. Maybe.
Apple Vision Pro
Starting from $3,499
Image credit — PhoneArena
The $3,499 price tag is quite hard to stomach, but the Vision Pro is definitely worth a look. Relying solely on eye and hand tracking, visionOS delivers an intuitive user experience. However, the Vision Pro doesn’t support either PC VR games or other VR games except for the very limited number of titles available on Apple Arcade. Though new to the market, new apps and programs are continuously being developed for or ported to the Vision Pro.
Valve Index
Starting from $1,410
Image credit — PhoneArena
The Valve Index is an aging PC VR headset that retains a cult following to this day. Its display resolution doesn’t stand up against modern rivals but with a bigger FOV than other headsets and fully-tracked finger motion, it still provides an excellent VR experience. The Index requires external motion sensors, however, which may be a dealbreaker for some. Only recommend getting it if you find a really good deal for one used.
Pimax Crystal
Starting from $1,599
Image credit — PhoneArena
Pimax’s VR headsets are always made with one particular aspect in mind: high FOV. The downside to the Pimax Crystal is that its software can be…unreliable. But with really good displays and the wide FOV, the Pimax Crystal is a love-it-or-hate-it kind of deal. Definitely something worth trying out first.
Other must-haves for VR
So, you’ve gone and got yourself a VR headset, what now? There are a number of accessories and apps you should get to improve your time in Virtual Reality.
Connecting to PC
Different headsets connect to PCs in different ways. Quest headsets can be connected to a PC with the Quest Link Cable. But if you’d rather go wireless, you can use Meta’s Air Link option. Alternatively, for a smoother experience, I’d recommend using the Steam Link app instead. It just works better.
Most PC VR headsets connect with a cable, and the Pico 4 requires a Pico Connect app. Apple Vision Pro can mirror your Mac screen with Mac Virtual Display, which will be seeing improvements in visionOS 2 this year.
Most modern VR headsets connect to a PC via a USB cable (3.0 port ideally) or over WiFi (WiFi 6 router ideally).
VR apps you should get
In addition to the Steam Link app mentioned above, you may also want to look into Virtual Desktop. Virtual Desktop allows you to mirror your PC and use it in VR for anything, from work to entertainment.
I’d also highly recommend checking out these lists below:
Most VR headsets also ship with accessories that enhance the experience. There are many to choose from, but these are the ones I’d say are definitely worth getting:
Meta Quest 3 elite strap
Meta Quest 3 elite strap with battery (highly recommended)
As with the smartphone industry, there’s always new hardware on the horizon. There’s rumors of an Apple Vision Pro 2 and the Meta Quest 4. We might even see a new Quest headset this year: the Meta Quest 3S.
But, here’s the thing: new hardware just around the corner will always be a thing. If you want to get into VR, now is just as good a time to do so as it will be five years from now. The only reason you might want to hold off is to wait for the aforementioned Quest 3S, which is allegedly a budget headset.
And there you have it! Everything (almost) you need to know to jump into the fascinating world of VR today. My advice? Play Elite: Dangerous in VR with a proper HOTAS (think joysticks that emulate a cockpit) setup. It will change you forever.
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Abdullah is an ardent believer in the future of VR, and can't wait to see what more it brings to the table as technology improves. He enjoys covering new software releases in the XR industry, as well as major news about hardware and companies focused on VR.
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