Virtual Reality while more of a gimmick in the past has slowly started to pick up come 2022. With Facebook rebranding itself into Meta and pushing the concept of Metaverse even further, it’s no surprise that talk about VR and AR has started anew. If you’re part of the readers interested in this tech and looking for some products, you’re in luck. There are some good VR and AR headsets and glasses online and come in moderate pricing. So strap in as I tell you about the best AR and VR headsets you can get right now.
What is Virtual and Augmented Reality?
If you’re completely new to the business of VR and AR then allow me to give you a little introduction. Without being too complicated Virtual and Augmented Realities are technologies that help transport you to another world or add virtual elements to your existing life respectively.
What is Virtual and Augmented Reality?Best VR Headsets You Can Buy Right NowBest AR Headsets You Can Buy Right NowThings to Look for in a VR Headset
Wired vs WirelessScreen Resolution and Panel TypeField of viewKind of TrackingThings to Look for in AR Glasses
Smart vs Augmented Reality GlassesFrequently Asked Questions (F.A.Qs)
Should I Get VR or AR?Will I Have to Pay Extra After Buying the Headset/Glasses?What is Mixed Reality?Is There Any Downside to Such Technologies?Is There Any Potential in Such Technologies?
Wired vs WirelessScreen Resolution and Panel TypeField of viewKind of Tracking
Smart vs Augmented Reality Glasses
Should I Get VR or AR?Will I Have to Pay Extra After Buying the Headset/Glasses?What is Mixed Reality?Is There Any Downside to Such Technologies?Is There Any Potential in Such Technologies?
You can see how realistic the dog looks even though it is very obviously not there. By combining digital elements in real life, it has been augmented. However, AR can go much deeper and can become Mixed Reality; a combination of AR and VR where you can interact with these AR elements all the while wearing AR glasses.
Best VR Headsets You Can Buy Right Now
Best AR Headsets You Can Buy Right Now
Things to Look for in a VR Headset
While buying a pair of AR smart glasses is easy, there are some things you need to keep in mind before going for a VR headset. Depending on what kind of user you are, these can also vary. However, do be sure to go through the list below and keep an eye on these factors.
Very affordable
Portable and lightweight
Wireless with no need for a gaming PC
Oculus Link unlocks PC gaming if desired
Wide field of view
120Hz refresh rate
Finger tracking is a plus
Beautiful 5K resolution
Wide field of view
Swift 120Hz refresh rate
Impressive display resolution
Plug and play set up
Accurate movement tracking
Fairly affordable
Perfect for PlayStation users
Comfortable and lightweight design
Easy set-up process
A variety of smart functions
Built-in Alexa
UVF Protection lenses with ANSI Z87.1
Immerse AR experience
Variety of apps
Good productivity tool
Built-in cameras
Can be used to take calls
Smart features through Meta
LED light for privacy
Built-in Bose Speakers
Excellent audio quality
Shatter and scratch resistance
Supports voice assistant
Since VR headsets now come in both wired and wireless configurations, you might be confused about which one to buy.
Like all other types of screens, VR headsets too have displays with a set resolution. As a general rule, the best VR headset will have the highest possible resolution. A high-resolution display is important in VR since the better the quality, the more immersed you will feel inside the experience. A high-resolution display will also eliminate the problem of the screen door effect (seeing pixels in the display) and make sure you don’t feel irritated. If you’re going to get a headset, make sure its resolution is at least 1832×1920 per eye.
OLED displays are slowly coming up in Virtual reality headsets too since they offer even more clarity. However, most headsets these days are still on LCD. If you’re someone willing to wait it out until a good OLED headset comes, then I suggest doing so.
The field of view in a VR set is important as it allows you to see more around you. Headsets with a narrow FOV will feel restrictive and you won’t have fun. While most VR headsets these days will have at least have a 100° FOV, do take your time to double-check and go for 110 if you can.
Virtual reality headsets track the wearer’s movements inside their playspace. This is either done by trackers installed onto the headset or base stations set up around the space. VR sets with onboard trackers usually cost less and are fairly accurate when it comes to tracking. They also require less setup time and are more convenient.
Smart vs Augmented Reality Glasses
This is an important distinction you should be aware of if you’re interested in the Augmented space. Going through the products, you might be confused by seeing some glasses being labeled as Smart and AR. While both the glasses do provide some features, they have important differences.
Smart Glasses are glasses that have any technological feature built-in that separates them from everyday glasses. So you could have a pair of sunglasses with speakers built-in. Whereas another pair of glasses might have a camera attached to them for capturing content. These kinds of glasses rarely have AR functions and instead are focused on providing some extra features like these.
1. Should I Get VR or AR?
Answer. This is entirely dependent on what kind of experience you’re looking for out of the product. If a user who wants the most immersive experience possible, then I suggest picking up a virtual reality headset. However, if you simply want some digital experiences while having real-life right in front of you, stick to AR or even smart glasses. Whichever way you lean though, the experience should be fun.
Answer. Depending on the kind of technology and type of model you go for, yes you may have to. VR headsets and AR glasses might require you to pay for certain experiences and games in their respective store. However, if you’re going for a pair of smart glasses, you will not have to pay anything extra to enjoy the hardware features.
3. What is Mixed Reality?
Answer. You can learn all about Mixed Reality and how it differs from AR and VR in our linked article.
Answer. Any downside that may be is very subjective when it comes to VR and AR. A big debate that does with such tech is the losing essential social contact with others. Since VR and even AR immerse people in digital elements, there is a certain loss of touch with the real world. While some people support these alternate realities, others are more skeptical of them. At the end of the day, the decision to spend more time inside these headsets or not compared to real-life will be up to you.
Answer. Absolutely. We are already beginning to see the growth of technologies like Virtual Reality with the introduction of the Metaverse. Folks online are latching onto these concepts and slowly translating areas of their lives there. With even virtual land in the Metaverse being sold for real money, there is definitely potential in tech such as VR and AR. However, only time will tell how far this goes.
