VR Headset Buyer's Guide for Beginners

posted 1/21/2022 by Maxim Grin

Consumer market VR headsets come in many models and brands, differing in hardware, software, user experience, and price range. Not knowing the differences between these headsets can lead to a lot of confusion when trying to obtain one. So in this blog post, we’ll be going over the different headsets currently available and how they compare with each other.

Let’s first look at the Oculus line of headsets. Unfortunately, all of the previous Oculus headsets have been discontinued and can only be bought offhand. Currently, the only headset that is available from the Oculus store is the Oculus Quest 2, starting at $299, but can be more expensive if you decide to purchase more storage and the “elite strap”, which can even come with a battery. One of the best features of this headset is that there is no need to have a high-end PC to run games. In fact, there’s no need for a computer at all! The user can go completely wireless and play VR games with only the headset, controllers, and a phone. Because of this feature, storage can be limited, so having a computer to plug the headset into can increase both overall storage and battery life can be a big help. The Quest 2 also has built-in tracking, meaning that there isn’t a need for external sensors for the headset to understand where you’re looking or where your controllers are. The built-in trackers cover almost everything in front of you, but tracking isn’t as strong behind you as there aren’t any trackers there, but not many problems should arise because of that. Looking at the controllers, they’re easy to hold and are lightweight, but they require AA batteries and aren’t rechargeable, so there’s a new expense to be aware of. Finally, the Quest 2 allows for both seating and standing usage modes, which allows anyone to play almost anywhere. Putting these factors together makes the Quest 2 one of the best beginner headsets in the current market, as it allows almost anyone to get into VR gaming without the need for a high-end PC with top-of-the-line hardware. Having covered the big features, let’s look at the specs:

• Resolution: 1832x1920 per lens

• Battery Life: roughly 2-3 hours without a computer

• Storage: 128GB or 256GB

• 90Hz refresh rate

• IPD: 58mm, 63mm, and 68mm. (Not a range, only these three options)

Having finished looking at Oculus, let’s move to headsets that are supported by SteamVR. However, when looking at the HTC headsets, almost all of them are more expensive than the Quest 2 and are still wired. If we look at the Focus 3, it’s fairly similar to the Quest 2 as it’s wireless, has built-in tracking, about 2 hours of battery life, and the controllers even look similar. On top of that, the technical specs are of a much higher grade, with a resolution of 2448x2448 for each lens (total of 4896x2448), a FOV of up to 120 degrees, and an adjustable IPD range of 57-72mm, meaning that there are way more than three IPDs for this headset. The Focus 3 also comes with a MicroSD slot that supports up to 2TB of storage. As amazing as all of these upgrades sound, they do come with a hefty price, as the Focus 3 comes in at a standalone price of $1,300, which is a big investment for beginner VR users .

The headsets don’t get much different from there. The Pro series headsets come in at about the same price, with the Pro being $1,200 and the Pro 2 being $1,400, with minimal improvements such as the refresh rate going up to 120Hz with the Pro 2. If you are looking to go wireless, you can use the wireless adapter, but the refresh rate decreases to 90Hz. This wireless adapter also tacks on another $350 to the consumer cost.

There is one final headset supported by SteamVR that has a lot of unique features that are worth mentioning: the Valve Index. The Index comes in at $1,000 when buying the whole kit, and if bought through the Steam website, you’ll be able to also get the game Half-Life: Alyx for free. But that isn’t the main selling point of this kit. Rather, the controllers are what really make the Index a unique headset. But first some quick specs

• Resolution: 1440x1600 per lens

• Refresh Rate: 80/90/120/144Hz

• FOV: up to 130 degrees with proper adjustments

• IPD: 58-70mm

Coming at $1,000, it doesn’t seem like it can be worth it, especially with the resolution and IPD range being lower than other headsets mentioned above. The feature that truly makes this headset stand out is the controllers. In comparison to other controllers, this goes into a new direction of usability, as it can track each finger with its built-in sensors. When combined with games such as Half-Lyfe Alyx or Boneworks, the controllers truly shine and show their true colors. In comparison to the other SteamVR headsets, this is definitely a headset for people that don’t have a small budget, so this may not be a good starter headset when compared to the Quest 2 or the Focus 3, but this is definitely a fun kit for VR enthusiasts. And keep in mind that you can buy the controllers separately for around $300 and use them with other HTC headsets.

Hopefully, this blog post gave you a good introduction to the world of consumer market VR headsets. There are plenty of other headsets out there that weren’t mentioned in this blog post, so feel free to continue searching and have fun!