Stop the World. We Check Out The Best Selling VR Headsets!
Okay, so you want a VR headset?
Virtual reality is defined as an artificial world that is experienced through sensory stimulation. This other-worldly technology has existed for decades but it’s only in 2023 that we’re ready to grasp its full potential.
Do you want to just get your feet wet with something simple? Are you hanging on for the best possible full immersive experience? Or maybe you are somewhere in between? Price is a huge factor too, and with VR technology you really do get what you pay for.
So mobile, standalone or PC? This refers to how they are powered – smartphone, self-contained or PC.
The mobile VR headset tends to be the more budget-friendly version that has a lesser sense of immersion, lower interaction level and is more suited to beginners.
The second option is a standalone headset; these are fairly new to the market, and are more expensive, but have improved graphics, and interaction that the mobile VR option, so suit most people.
Finally, there is the PC powered headset – some of which will blow your tiny human mind! However, in order to lose yourself in a world of virtual … well, whatever you wish for, you’ll be paying a premium for the headset. For serious gamers, though, it’s well worth it.
But it doesn’t stop there.
Cables and Controllers
Most of the high-end PC headsets require cable tethering, but you do get used to them and the slight restrictions they pose, however wireless controllers are starting to hit the shelves. Your controller is your gateway into the vast VR realms and needs to be as comfortable and ergonomic as possible, with every button easily accessible.
If you’re a true gamer, check out our best gaming chair reviews to fully immerse yourself in any gaming experience!
We went on an adventure with the best Virtual Reality Headsets of 2023:
1) Oculus VR Headset
Overview
This beautiful headset looks well made and solid. It’s supremely stylish, fully adjustable, with a budget friendly price tag. With decent instructions, the user interface is fluid and easily customised, and after one round, we’re big fans.
What We Like
Oculus have made a really accessible headset, at a great price – easy to set up, with an interface that is accurate, user friendly and simple to navigate. The visuals are stunningly crisp, with no discernable lag, and smooth scrolling. Colors are impressively realistic, and the whole immersive experience is clearly superior.
We love how the Oculus is designed to be comfortable for glasses wearers – very thoughtful!
What Needs Improving
The only flaw we have found is after wearing the set for several hours, it can become a little uncomfortable over the bridge of the nose – but maybe that’s a useful reminder to return to earth!
$350.00 in stock
2) Samsung Gear VR
Overview
The Samsung design team have created another brilliant piece of technology here – sleek, black and incognito, perfect for leaving this planet and journeying to other realms.
It’s well made, feels comfortable and comes with all the quality guarantees you’d expect from its famous manufacturer.
What We Like
This is a really cool headset, not only in looks, but performance too. The visuals are gorgeously accurate and crystal clear, making the screen seem enormous. With no cables to get in the way, watching movies is a mind blowing experience, plus it’s lightweight and comfortable enough that you can forget you’re wearing it.
We love how interactive the first person POV is, and how the responsive controller picks up on your every move.
What Needs Improving
We did find that the lens fogged up occasionally, but this can be easily avoided by giving the unit a regular clean.
$123.45 in stock
3 used from $82.47
3) HTC VIVE Pro VR
Overview
WOW. We had the great pleasure of reviewing this cutting edge VR headset from HTC VIVE and safe to say, it blew our minds.
Not only is this headset exceptionally crafted and hugely stylish, the visuals are so vivid that you can lose yourself in another world instantly. PC powered, this headset makes full use of the 3D spatial sound, and the noise cancellation works very effectively, allowing complete immersion.
What We Like
The image quality is second to none. Crisp, clear textures, awesome colors and clean scrolling, with no lag. The audio’s surround sound system just pulls you in and doesn’t let up, and the Steam VR tracking is impressively precise. Real life objects can even be included and manipulated in the VR world!
With ergonomic controllers, this VR headset has by far the highest technical ability out of all the models we tested.
What Needs Improving
The price! But we’re telling you, if you can stretch that bit further, you won’t be disappointed.
5 used from $944.99
4) Sony PlayStation VR
Overview
Sony are very proud of their powerful VR headset. The design is sleek and efficient, yet ergonomically comfortable, solidly durable and the whole headset looks great.
What We Like
This is an amazing buy. The picture quality is impressively good, with no discernable lag, decent scrolling, and great textural effects.
The controller is nicely responsive, and with a quick wrist flick, you can be in the middle of an all-consuming battle – sounds and sights in every direction. We quickly lost ourselves in this experience, and even playing for several hours solid, the headset was supremely comfortable. Just plug this VR headset and your PlayStation camera into your PlayStation and you’re all set. You can use the PSVR for playing any and every PS4 game.
What Needs Improving
Nothing stands out as a major flaw, however, you do need a PlayStation console and a PlayStation camera to get this impressive VR headset to work.
5) BNext VR Headset
Overview
The BNext is the largest headset we’ve looked at, but it’s well made and ergonomically designed to be lightweight and comfortable, allowing many hours of play in one session. The cool exterior appearance belies the glorious visual experience available inside, and with no annoying cables to bring you back to earth, it’s looking good so far.
What We Like
This really is a fully immersive headset, drawing you into the VR world and keeping you there with its playability. The visuals are crystal clear and super crisp, while the audio is expansively generous. BNext have pulled out all the stops with their VR headset.
What Needs Improving
Very occasionally we found that the image and the audio fell out of sync, but for less than a fraction of a second.
$16.99 in stock
The biggest decision for you will be picking between the three general classes of VR headset, so go ahead and read up!
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