Have you ever heard of the Metaverse? Have you watched the movie Ready Player One or the anime Sword Art Online? If you’ve been living in a rock and don’t have a clue or maybe just unsure of what I’m talking about, worry not. I got you covered.
The concept of the movie and anime that was mentioned above is about players experiencing a virtual game using a device similar to the VR headsets that we have today. They could feel and interact with their surroundings like you could in real-life. They could even hop from one game to another, retaining their character’s stats.
The level of our current technology is nowhere near that height yet, but our progress has been speeding up over the years. We believe that it will be a huge part of humanity’s foreseeable future, and Virtual Reality headsets will be the first tool to access the Metaverse. Here we bring you the best VR headsets available today!
1. Oculus Quest 2 VR Headset
Oculus Quest 2 has a minimalist design with a futuristic utility in mind. Exploring new ways of exercising, working, and experiencing live events through this magnificent piece of technology. It comes with a VR headset and 2 touchpads to track your movements, and the fact that it is wireless makes it convenient and easy to use.
- Screen resolution: 1832×1920 pixels per eye
- Processor: Snapdragon 865
- Ram: 6 Gigabytes
- Battery life: Up to 2 – 3 hours
- Price: $299 for 128 GB storage – $399 for 256 GB storage
- Field of view: 100 degrees horizontally
2. HTC Vive Pro 2
HTC Vive Pro was released in 2016 and it’s one of the first premium VR headsets that appeared on the market. But up until this day, it still sits at the top and people say that it is the ultimate VR experience. If you have the budget for it, you might want to consider getting it.
- Screen resolution: 2448 × 2448 pixels per eye
- Processor: Can take AMD Ryzen 1500 or even greater
- Ram: 8 Gigabytes
- Battery life: Up to 6 hours
- Price: $1,399 (includes all accessories needed)
- Field of view: Up to 120 degrees horizontally
3. Sony PlayStation VR
From the name itself, you know right away that the Sony PlayStation VR was made by…Sony. It was released in 2016 and it is made compatible with PS4 and PS5. It is arguably one of the best VR headsets Sony has released and with its affordable price in contrast with its quality, it’s a bang for the buck!
- Screen resolution: 960 × 1080 pixels per eye
- Processor: Not applicable
- Ram: Not Applicable
- Battery life: No battery (Directly wired to console)
- Price: $350
- Field of view: 100 degrees horizontally
4. Valve Index
Valve Index is a pc-tethered premium VR set that has an adjustable headset and goggles that make it fit everyone. Its controllers are specially designed to accurately detect motions and even the movement of each finger. It’s strapped to the user’s hand which makes throwing stuff in-game easier without you worrying about it falling off your hand. With its graphics, battery life, and overall quality, it is worth every penny.
- Screen resolution: 1,600 x 1,440 pixels per eye
- Processor: NVIDIA GTX 970 / AMD RX 480 or greater
- Ram: 8 Gigabytes
- Battery life: Up to 8 hours
- Price: $999 complete package – $749 with controllers – $499 headset only
- Field of view: 107 degrees horizontally
5. HP Reverb G2
HP Reverb G2 is a PC VR headset, designed for comfort, power, and the ultimate virtual gaming experience, aiming to engrave its reputation on the market as the best available PC gaming VR headset. It was made in collaboration with Valve and Microsoft to enhance users’ experience for Windows10 and SteamVR.
- Screen resolution: 2160 x 2160 pixels per eye
- Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 equivalent or greater
- Ram: 8 Gigabytes
- Battery life: Up to 8 hours
- Price: $599
- Field of view: 114 degrees horizontally
As we progress and develop more advanced technology for the gaming industry, the thin line between reality and the virtual world fades to a blur. In time, we’ll be able to have a true Metaverse experience, and VRs will be the express lane for that.
