Like it or not, we’re slowly moving to a future that’s far from reality. We’re inching towards mass adoption of virtual and augmented reality with several VR headsets and even glasses like the Ray-Ban Meta becoming mainstream. So, if you too want to dip your toes in the Metaverse, here’s a list of the best standalone VR headsets that don’t require a phone or computer.
Best VR Headset on a Budget: Oculus Go
- Storage: 32GB
- Screen resolution: 1280 x 1440 pixels per eye
- Battery life: 2 hours
The Oculus Go doesn’t have the sharpest display, best graphics performance, or even a wide library of games. However, it’s the most affordable entry point into the world of VR which is why it makes it to this list.
The Oculus Go is strictly for those who have an extremely tight budget and want to experience the world of VR before investing in something more expensive. The Oculus Go is capable of playing several lighter titles and the headset can also be used to view 360-degree videos without any issues. Do note though that Meta/Oculus doesn’t sell replacement controllers or offer any sort of support for the Oculus Go anymore since the headset has been discontinued.
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Best VR Headset for Most People: Meta Quest 2
- Storage: 128GB
- Screen resolution: 1920 x 1832 pixels per eye
- Battery life: 3 hours
The Meta Quest 2 is arguably the best VR headset for most people. It’s considerably affordable compared to the Meta Quest 3 and for anyone looking to enter the world of VR gaming, the Quest 2 offers a stellar experience.
Despite having a low-resolution screen and an old chipset, the Meta Quest 2 holds its own even in 2024. Most games run smoothly with the display going all the way up to 90Hz in terms of refresh rate. You can even run intensive titles and the Quest 2 can handle them without breaking a sweat. The controllers have been refined as well with haptic feedback. However, it misses out on AR and mixed reality features.
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Best Lightweight VR Headset: PICO 4
- Storage: 128GB
- Screen resolution: 2160 x 2160
- Battery life: 2.5 hours
If you notice, the PICO 4 is the only VR headset on this list that’s not developed by Meta. That’s how limited the standalone VR headset space is currently. So, if you don’t want to have cameras and mics connected to Facebook at all times, the PICO 4 is your only option.
The PICO 4 is similar to the Meta Quest 2 in a lot of ways. The controllers, battery life, and even the storage capacities are similar. Where they differ though is in terms of design. The PICO 4 looks more futuristic and is also lighter compared to the Meta Quest 2. This results in a more comfortable experience when gaming. Plus, compared to the Quest 2, the PICO 4 also has a larger resolution display.
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Best Mixed Reality Headset: Meta Quest 3
- Storage: 128GB
- Screen resolution: 2064 x 2208 pixels per eye
- Battery life: 2 hours
The Quest 3 is an MR headset from Meta. If you’re wondering what MR or Mixed Reality is, it combines the best of virtual reality and augmented reality in one headset. So you can play immersive VR games while also being able to work or project objects into the real world with the help of AR.
Since AR has picked up considerably in recent times, the Meta Quest 3 is more future-proof compared to the Quest 2. It has all the functionality that you find on AR glasses but can do a lot more thanks to the Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chipset. You can connect the headset to your computer wirelessly and project multiple screens in the real world to form a virtual triple monitor setup. Combine this with the ability to play games in VR with a higher resolution and frame rate, and the Meta Quest 3 becomes a solid deal.
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Last updated on 15 May, 2024
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