Verdict: VR in general used to be overhyped and it used to be tough to use it with all the wires, however, standalone VR headsets like the Oculus Quest have changed the game and is definitely worth it. It was also priced at a mid range so that it was accessible to a larger number of people
- All-in-one VR: Simply set up the device with your Oculus mobile app and Oculus Quest has everything you need to explore VR, right out of the box
- Insight tracking: Oculus Insight tracking system instantly reflects your movements in VR without the need for any external accessories
- Touch controllers: Oculus Touch controllers precisely recreate your hands, their gestures and interactions, so every game is real enough to reach out and touch
If there’s one thing that has become more obvious in the past few years, it’s that Virtual Reality isn’t just a fad. It’s more like a revolution and it is here to stay for the foreseeable future. However, you will be surprised to know that even a majority of the people don’t own a VR headset. In fact many of these people are yet to have their first taste of Virtual Reality. And those that did get to experience VR did that for a very brief period. They either tried it out during a VR promotion or something, or they used on in their local game parlor. Forget about owning a VR, even knowing someone in your circle who owns a VR puts you in a unique category. Okay, this isn’t something to boast of, but why not. At this point you might have guessed where I am going with this.
So, there’s clearly a largely untapped market here that most VR headset manufacturers will be looking to target. And as it stands currently, VR is still to reach the masses. But that has been changing for the last few years. VR headsets are more affordable now. This has been possible thanks to Standalone VR headsets and the ones that hook up with your phone. Now more and more people are looking forward to getting their first VR headset. But they aren’t really sure whether to invest in a VR headset and if yes then which one to go for. If you are one of those people, then you will be happy to know that I will try and help you make that decision. Given below are a few reasons why one should own a VR headset. I will also tell you my choice for the best all-round VR headset to buy. So without further delays, let’s jump right in.
Reasons you should buy a VR headset
1. VR is Getting Better
We have been hearing it for ages that VR is getting better. And I think we are finally at a point where we can say that VR has actually gotten better. After years of hype and glimpses of what it could potentially do, VR is finally starting to deliver. If you look at their history, VR was being used for medical, flight simulation, automobile industry design, and military training purposes back in the 70s. The entertainment industry did play a role in bringing the idea of VR to the general public. They were adapted for general consumers in the 90s. But back then, they were bulky and had limited functionalities. Compare this to the VR headsets available today, and won’t find these insufficiencies. Now, the headsets are more capable and have powerful specs. They provide a better immersive experience and are getting more and more affordable. VR is now used not just for gaming but for many more purposes. And this is the next reason why you should buy a VR.
2. More than Just Gaming
When VR started getting popular, it was seen as more of a gaming gimmick. A different way to play games. Most people who got to have an experience with VR thought of it as a gaming machine. This is still somewhat true as the VR gaming industry has been thriving a lot recently. But now, VR is much more than that. It can be used to do a lot of other things than just gaming. Many other industries have been using VR to their advantage now. Here’s how they are using it in multiple industries.
Healthcare
The Healthcare industry has been one of the earliest to adapt to VR. According to VUDream a total of 5.1 Billion was spent on Healthcare VR Software in 2016 alone and as of 2018 there are 170 million VR users worldwide.
- Treatment: VR is being used for the treatment of health problems such as “Depression, PTSD, Anxiety, Autism, Phobia, Pain Management, Addiction and more”
- Training: VR is also being used as a means of training for “Surgery, Patient Interaction, Dentistry, Simulations, etc.”
- Increasing Safety: VR has been very efficient in Improving Patient Satisfaction as well as reducing the treatment costs.
Education
VR is also playing a small, albeit important role in the field of education. It is helping students learn new things way faster than the traditional way. They are also remembering things for longer periods than they used to. VR is also helping the students understand things in a better way and hence make better decisions. Again according to VUDream there has been a 100% Increase in the attention that a student gives while studying. As a result the Test Scores have also improved a lot, an increment of 30% to be precise which is a great thing. In fact around 95% of Students who have used VR for their education feel that it has improved their learning experience.
Engineering
Another field that has benefited massively thanks to VR is the Engineering industry. According to VUDream there are around 43 Million active VR users Worldwide and about 75% of Top Brands have already released VR content.
- Design & Development: With the introduction of VR, design, and development has become much more simple and convenient. It has also made Live Cooperation and collaboration very easy.
- Prototyping: Creating prototypes is a very important part of the development process. It not only makes the process easier but helps save a lot of time & money. And with VR, Prototyping has gotten much easier.
- Architecture: Using the help of VR Architects can manage to reduce the time and cost of a particular project. It also helps in increasing the Safety Standard.
Other than these few industries, a lot of other industries have also begun adopting VR technology. Industries such as Entertainment, Business, Military, Tourists, etc. What we can conclude from this is that right now with VR you get a lot more than just gaming.
3. More and More Games
Right from the beginning, VR was considered as more of a gaming device. So, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that most of the early adopters of VR were gamers. And where there is a market for something, you will more often than not find companies jumping in to fill the void. The same has been the case with VR. The number of VR games available to play has been constantly increasing. This increase got a shot in the area with the introduction of new powerful hardware with specs. Also count the better controls and tracking availability. This made VR more suited for games than ever.
Leading this spike of growing libraries of games is the Facebook-owned Oculus. It has brought in real incentives for developers to develop games for VR headsets. It has also been offering a good amount of bundled games as part of their promotional offers. This includes games such as Dead and Buried and The Unspoken. And there is no indication of it slowing down. In the last couple of years, more and more studios and developers have been creating games that are specifically designed to be played in VR. So you get dedicated VR games like Beat Saber and Tetris Effect all available for you to play. The library of VR games will keep flourishing for years to come. So if gaming is your primary reason to buy a VR headset, then you won’t be disappointed as there are tons of great titles available.
4. Easy to set up
Earlier, VR headsets used to be bulky and very hard to set up. But this has all changed now. Setting up a VR headset has become easier than ever. Especially the Standalone VR headsets. They come with everything built-in. Even all the sensors are built into the headset. So all you need to do is turn it one, download an app to your phone and pair them up. After this you get to download new games and also change the settings as well as manage the firmware. Tethered VR headsets require a little more setting up than this. You need to have a separate base station for your VR and hook them up to a PC. But it’s still relatively easier to do. You can easily connect them, calibrate the sensors and you are good to go. It’s as simple as that.
So setting up VR headsets has become very easy these days. You don’t need to be a tech-savvy person to be able to set up a VR headset and start gaming on it.
5. New Types of VR Headsets
Remember when in the name of VR we used to get bulky and hard to set up equipment. And not to forget the insanely high price of that equipment. All these factors acted as bottlenecks and were also the reason not many people were interested in VR. This has changed a lot over the years. Now we have many kinds of VRs that one can choose from. Let us see a little about those.
1. Smartphone VR headsets
Smartphone VR headsets are the most affordable VR headset option for someone looking to enter in the VR world. As one can tell from their name, these headsets take advantage of your smartphone and use that to provide you the virtual reality experience. All you have to do is slide in your smartphones into the headset and you are all set. This is one of the most affordable ways of getting into Virtual Reality. All you need is a smartphone and a mobile VR headset. Having a recently released and more powerful phone will give you a better VR experience. So that is something I recommend. If you wanna go even cheap, then you can also try out Handheld VR. These are just like a Mobile VR headset but are generally made of low-cost materials. For example, Google Cardboard. The main limitation with these headsets is that they don’t have a strap and you need to hold them with your hand, hence the name.
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2. Standalone VR headset
Standalone VR headsets or All-in-One VR headsets, as they have been named by users, are the best thing to have happened to VR. Now you don’t need any additional external device to be able to enjoy VR. These standalone VR headsets come with everything. They have built-in displays, processors, storage, battery, and sensors as well. So you don’t need a PC or a Smartphone for VR. Standalone VR headsets are also wireless, so you aren’t confined to a particular space. These headsets are also much more affordable as compared to high-end headset but provide you with an almost similar VR experience. So, if you are someone who is new to the VR spectrum and is looking for affordable yet capable & features rich VR headsets, then Standalone VR headsets are your best bet. It was the introduction of Standalone VR headsets that made VR more common and popular among the masses. Now most people can get a complete VR experience at a much affordable price.
- All-in-one VR: Simply set up the device with your Oculus mobile app and Oculus Quest has everything you need to explore VR, right out of the box
- Insight tracking: Oculus Insight tracking system instantly reflects your movements in VR without the need for any external accessories
- Touch controllers: Oculus Touch controllers precisely recreate your hands, their gestures and interactions, so every game is real enough to reach out and touch
3. Tethered VR headsets
Tethered VR headsets are the high-end and high-specs VR headsets. This also means that these are the more expensive ones and cannot be affordable by everyone. Unlike Standalone VR headsets, Tethered headsets can’t operate on its own. They require you to be connected or tethered to a powerful external device such as a Gaming PC or a Console. Because they need to be hooked up to additional hardware, the tethered headset takes up much more space and is a little harder to set up. But once you get them all up and ready, they more than makeup for these inconveniences. Being connected to a powerful rig means that they are capable of much more powerful performance. You get a more immersive experience and the graphics quality is extremely good. You also get more accurate tracking. Based on the devices they are connected to, there are two types of tethered headsets.
- Tethered to PS4 Console: These are the VR headsets that are tethered to the PS4 console, like the Sony PlayStation VR. These are relatively cheaper Tethered headsets. The graphics and Capability of these might not be as good as high-end PCs but they are still way above average and can easily leave behind Standalone and Smartphone VR headsets.
- Tethered to PC: These are the most powerful VR headsets you can buy. Hence, they are also the most expensive ones. With these you will be getting a p VR experience. These headsets are for VR enthusiasts that want to get the best tech that is available.
- Top VR gaming library: Blast, slash and soar your way through the top library in VR gaming. Oculus Rift S lets you play hundreds of games and exclusives already available in the Oculus store, with so much more to come.
- Improved optics: Stare down the competition with next-generation lenses and a sharper display. Improved optics deliver bright, vivid colors and reduced “screen-door” effect.
- Ergonomic design: Keep your head in the game thanks to a Halo headband redesigned with speed in mind. Rift S stays securely and comfortably in place with a quick twist of the fit wheel, so it can take-or double take-your fastest reactions.
Now that we have seen the different reasons why a VR headset is worth it, it’s time to answer the next important question: Which VR headset should one buy?
Which VR headset should you buy?
As you may have read above, there are many options available when it comes to choosing a VR headset. So which one should you go for? Well, if you were to ask me, I would say you should go for a headset that would give you the complete VR experience but should also be affordable. And the one VR headset that perfectly fits that criteria perfect is the Oculus Quest.
Oculus Quest
Oculus Quest was launched in May 2019 and completely changed the VR industry. A majority of the credit for making VR mainstream goes to the Oculus Quest. It had enough features to provide a good enough VR experience but was also priced at a mid-range. This means that it was accessible to a larger number of people. It was the device that made a lot of people jump into the VR spectrum. So, how is the device? Well, let’s see.
Specs
The Oculus Quest has a pretty impressive list of specs if you consider how much it costs. Following is what it offers.
- Display panel: OLED display.
- Display resolution: 1440 x 1600 per eye.
- Refresh rate: 72Hz
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 835
- Storage: 64 GB or 128 GB
- RAM: 4GB
- Battery: Lithium-ion battery
- Tracking: 6 degrees of freedom
- Controllers: Two touch controllers
- Weight: 571g
Design
The Oculus Quest is one of the most well built VR headsets. It feels like a solid and well-designed piece of kit. It has got an all-round design and build quality that makes up for really comfortable usage. In addition to that it is one of the best-looking VR headsets available out there. Quest is a standalone VR headset. That means that everything it needs to run is already built into the device. It has a heavier body, but the design is much more comfortable. This is because of its foam faceplate which puts less direct pressure on your forehead. Additionally the head strap expands and retracts from the hinges. This gives you enough room to pull it on and fit it to your head without having to adjust it every time.
At the top there is a printed logo of Oculus. The exterior on the front has a black matte finish. On the sides there is a tough fabric that covers the entirety of the sides. This kind of mimics fabric that is found in the Oculus Go, their budget VR headset. On the other side, the goggles are surrounded by foams all around its inner lining. If you ask us, this has one of the most comfortable and properly fitting straps that we have used till now. The back of your head is covered by a rubberized, triangle-shaped headband. This headband is attached to the three velcro straps. As a result of this, the headset stays secure and in its place. Even hours of repeated movements won’t loosen it up.
There’s a 3.5 mm headphone jack on the side of the headset. There are also three different buttons. One is a power button, to turn the headset On or Off. The other two buttons turn the volume up and down.
Accessories
The Oculus Quest includes a Quest headset, touch controllers, power adapter, charging cable, glasses spacer, batteries, and instructions. All of these come out of the box.
The glasses spacer is a good addition. As anyone who has tried glasses with a VR headset will know, they’re necessary but can get squashed or make the headset sit weirdly.
Controls
The Quest comes with two different controllers. Each of the controllers is equipped with thumbsticks. There are buttons on the top. A separate button for the trigger functionality is also present underneath. Additionally, there is a grip button at the side. Both the controllers are powered by two AA batteries, which are also included. Overall the controllers are of very good quality and perfectly compliment the headset. The controllers feel just like the other existing controllers. Only smaller in size. The other difference is that the tracking rings on these controllers are on the top as compared to the other controllers, where the tracking rings were on the bottom.
The Oculus Quest includes a game called First Steps. This game serves as a tutorial for the users to get accustomed to the headset. It also provides the user with a way of testing out the different controls. This way the user can get familiar with the controls.Features
There is one very simple rule when it comes to gadgets. No matter how good the design is if the features aren’t great then it is of no use. Well lucky for us, Quest has both. It has some very interesting features to go with its brilliant design. Let us look at a few of those features. All of these features are highlighted in the product’s official site.
- All in One Virtual Reality: This is pretty self-explanatory. With the Oculus Quest you don’t require any other devices. The Quest is a standalone headset. It is an all-in-one gaming system built for virtual reality. Now all you need is the Oculus Quest and you can play almost anywhere with the VR headset and controllers.
- No Wires. No Limits: The Oculus Quest is completely wireless. You can take it with you anywhere you want. You no longer have to worry about getting tangled in the wires. Play with complete freedom.
- Oculus Insight Tracking: With Oculus Insight, Quest can translate your movements into VR. It doesn’t matter which way you’re facing, it will get the correct orientation. It also provides pinpoint room-scale tracking without needing any external sensors. So you can look around, duck for cover or any other kind of movements that you want. The Quest allows it all.
- Built-In Audio: Oculus Quest also includes built-in audio. It provides direct positional audio straight from the headset. So you don’t require an extra pair of headphones. However we suggest using one because that gives a way better experience.
- Oculus Guardian System: With its Guardian System, the Quest remembers the boundaries of your playing space. you just need to set it up once. Once that is done it will help you avoid nearby objects while you’re in-game. It will also make sure you are inbound and stay inside the boundary.
- Two Touch Controllers: As we discussed above, Oculus Quest comes with two touch controllers. This enables you to transport your hands and gestures directly into the game.
Battery life
If you go by what Oculus claims on their website, you can expect the Quest to last 2 to 3 hours after a full charge. This will partially depend on what you are doing. Be it watching media or playing games.
Surprisingly this was exactly what we managed to get during our testing. With a fully charged Quest, we were able to have a gameplay time between 2 and 2 and a half hours. The gaming performance remained the same throughout. For other activities like streaming media we got slightly better battery life. It lasted for almost 3 hours which is impressive. In case you do require a longer battery, you can always connect the charger. With a 6 meter-long charging cable, it makes it easier to play while charging. To fully charge the Quest up to 100 percent, it took 2 hours. That is somewhat reasonable for a VR headset.
So when it comes to VR headsets, Oculus Quest is one of the best options that you can choose from. Especially if you are someone who is looking to get into VR. It has an affordable price and provides you with a complete VR experience.
Is a VR Headset Worth it
Virtual reality has a very exciting future ahead of it. VR headsets are getting better, easy to use, and more affordable. With so many new high-quality VR games being developed for them, it’s the perfect time to invest in a VR headset. And what better VR headset to choose than the Oculus Quest. It’s affordable and gives you a great VR experience. It is the perfect VR for someone looking to get into VR or for anyone in that matter. So what are you waiting for? Get an Oculus Quest and see how great and fun VR is for yourself.
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Last update on 2021-01-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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