Love virtual reality? Here are the latest VR headsets in 2019
Originally published at Gadget Flow on March 30, 2019.
- Is now a good time to buy a VR headset? If you’re keen to try the technology, the latest generation of headsets offers excellent value.
- What are the best VR headsets for gaming? Check out our comprehensive buyer’s guide for the best options.
- Which VR headset has the highest resolution? Right now, the Pimax 8K holds that honor. This headset delivers a resolution of 3840 x 2160 for each eye.
This has been a good year for virtual reality so far. As technology improves and becomes ever more affordable, the number of users continues to grow. These VR headsets are leading the charge with some impressive new features.
Oculus Rift S High-Resolution VR Headset
Arriving at some point this spring, the Oculus Rift S is a PC-powered headset aimed at gamers. The new headset delivers excellent visuals, with a resolution of 1,280 x 1,440 per eye.
In addition, the Rift S has motion-tracking sensors built in. This means you get six degrees of freedom without having to place sensors around your room.
Price: $399 USD, coming soon
HTC Vive Focus Plus Standalone Enterprise VR System
The new Vive Focus Plus wasn’t made for you and me. This impressive headset from HTC has been designed for commercial purposes, such as virtual training and digital showrooms.
Still, we can admire the technology. HTC has fitted the Focus Plus with dual 3K displays, and the headset comes with six-degrees-of-freedom controllers.
Price: $799 USD (business only)
Varjo Bionic Display VR Headset
The Varjo VR-1 Bionic Display headset is another business-only product, but it’s likely to have a major impact on the future of virtual reality.
The VR-1 combines two displays for each eye. In combination, the screens deliver retina-level resolution in the center of your focus. While the technology is currently out of reach for consumers, we’re hoping that won’t remain the case for very long.
Price: $6743.978 USD (business only)
Oculus Quest 6DOF All-in-One VR System
Oculus’ second entry in this list is a standalone, wireless headset. Quest uses ultra-wide sensors and smart algorithms to track your movements, giving you that all-important six degrees. You also get a solid resolution of 1600×1440 per eye.
Oculus Quest is scheduled to launch this spring. There will be 50 launch titles available for gamers, with more to come.
Price: $399 USD
Pimax 5K Plus High-Resolution VR Headset
While the Pimax 8K is heinously expensive, the 5K version offers plenty of pixels for $700. This lightweight headset is a technical triumph, with a resolution of 2,560 x 1,440 per eye and a refresh rate of 90Hz.
In fact, the Pimax might be ahead of its time. Many reviewers say that current graphics cards struggle to maintain a high VR frame rate at this high resolution. One for the future, then.
Price: $699 USD
HP Reverb Pro Edition VR Headset
For some time, the HTC Vive Pro has been considered the best consumer headset. But now, it has competition. The brand new HP Reverb Pro Edition outdoes the Vive Pro on resolution, field of view, weight, and price.
Although the Reverb Pro has been designed with commercial users in mind, it will be available for anyone to order in April.
Price: $649 USD
