Would you remember the hype? Virtual reality was supposed to explode and conjure immersive digital worlds at our fingertips. Hence, the future was … simulated. While the full-scale revolution still hasn’t come to pass (hopefully, soon!), the steps taken in VR have been far very far-reaching. Ready for a dive at minimum price? This list looks through cheap VR headsets perfect for beginners.
FYI: if you’re curious about Apple’s extended reality (XR) headset, see what we think about the Vision Pro.
Our Criteria
True affordability is found in value. A cheap headset that disappoints is not a bargain. These are the budget VR headsets we have selected, considering longevity and appreciation so that your investment pays for immersive experiences for years to come. It is not a list about the cheapest, but about getting your best value for VR.
Comfort
So much for immersion, with mammoth geeky boxes that pinch and hurt in less time than it takes to say ‘virtual reality.’ Hence, comfort was not an afterthought in the creation process but instead was a design axiom alongside material science that practically breathing itself.
Battery Life
Fantastic immersion the VR headset offers, but it’s just a shame about the battery life. We acknowledge it. So while other sites lust after these super gadgets, we drilled down through the details to contrast the battery run time against the bells and whistles. Think of us: Your human auto-timer to preserving max VR-playing time without searching for an outlet. These machines can really punch above their weight, sometimes giving even the costlier ones a run for their money.
Features
Set on snagging a budget VR headset? Controllers and spatial awareness were our battlegrounds. Prepare to make a tradeoff, but know your deal-breakers-those will lead you right to the perfect affordably immersive experience.
Resolution
Immersive VR calls for pristine visuals. Pixelation destroys the illusion. Thus, there had to exist a limit-and-that limit is 90Hz. Less than that, and you’re choosing mediocre over immersive.
1. Best Overall: Meta Quest 3s
Price: $299.99
The Meta Quest 3s is where the sweet spot hits. It is lighter than the Quest 3, but don’t let size trick you. This VR headset offers crisp visuals with 1832 x 1920 pixels resolution, and the optional Meta Elite Strap provides a secure fit that remains comfortable for hours on the other end of the virtual world. It’s best-worst combination in terms of performance and price-wrapped neatly in one home.
Meta Quest 3: Feel the Game, Become the Shadow.
Take your pick between 128GB and 256GB storages, depending upon how much data you need. Dark and brooding, Batman: Arkham Shadow may just come bundled with your new underwater headset. Be the Batman!
Good to know : fascinated by the metaverse? Check out the best metaverse games you can play right now.
2. Best for Unique Catalogs: PlayStation VR
Price: $399.99
Come rain or shine, the gang from PS VR1 stands firm into gravity. It was a gateway to another dimension for dedicated players attached to their PS4. Now that a new tech has come into existence, the bigger question is: Does the price of the PS VR headset and their unique catalog of experiences combine to make the machine a worthy VR experience? If the answer is yes, grab your gear, because a crazy rollercoaster of fun adventures in alternate reality await you.
While the PSVR’s 5.7-inch OLED display draws one into the vibrant color worlds inside, the maximum resolution throws a 1920×1080 figure at you. But the very definition will never matter when super-smooth 120Hz refresh rate flows in with an awesome pace. Unfortunately, there is no inside-out tracking, so exploring requires an additional purchase of the PSVR Camera. Even though many adventures will go well with the DualShock 4 you’re so familiar with, when held in your hands, the PS Move controllers take interactive gameplay to newer heights.
3. Best for Performance: PICO 4
Price: $705.10
Say good-bye to cheap VR. We are talking about a headset that goes after the status of the premium ones, with the PICO 4 packing so much punch for its weight. This isn’t some cheap thrill-the gateway to an immersive experience you will never believe. There is just one issue, though: Uncle Sam is not cooperating. Officially, because of the TikTok connection, the PICO 4 is MIA in the US (ByteDance, its parent company, is under some weird pressure). But you really shouldn’t let that deter you. One could be adventurous enough to try to get it since it is available on Amazon, maybe even on the import route to Amazon UK. Trust me; the specs and performance are just that good. Prepare to be amazed.
No screen-door effects to worry about or any blurry edges: everything is crystal clear with these lenses that have a pancake setup of a tad over 4K resolution at 4320 x 2160. An immaculate 90Hz refresh rate and the mighty Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 should be enough to conjure visuals so incredibly crisp and clear that you would swear you could reach out and touch them. Artifacts? Sneer at them. This is not merely a step up-but an entire new realm of visual fidelity.
Put those bulky VR rigs out of your mind. This headset weighs nothing on the head, yet stands tall with features such as full 6DoF inside-out tracking, bestowing upon you the liberty to choose your morning, afternoon, and midnight walks through the virtual worlds with an unprecedented doze of lightness and fluidity.
4. Best for AR and VR: Meta Quest 3
Price: $499.99
Such a headset is not just a simulation or an illusion. It is in fact a portal. The Snapdragon XR Gen 2 engine drives very crisp visuals at 2064 x 2208 pixels per eye seen with legendary pancake lenses. But really, the big ticket? Color passthrough cameras opening the can between virtual and reality. Shun clunky VR–they layer digital experiences mostly onto your world, hinting at the great coinage of AR and VR. Not just upgrade-but reimagining of what a standalone VR headset can be.
Step into supreme comfort for hours-long VR adventures with Quest 3. The various stunning VR games and some mixed-reality stuff are concocted by the upgraded internals. Want to fuel more eye candy? Meta Quest Link uses your PC for unbelievably high-end VR. The precise hand particularities can already be in your grasp with the Touch Plus controllers.
FYI : loved Pokémon Go? Learn all you need to about augmented reality.
5. Best for Playstation Lovers: PlayStation VR2
Price: $549.99
Welcome to the next reality with PlayStation VR2, unleashed in early 2023 for the unchained power of PS5. Prepare your gaze to behold those extremely sharp visuals, subject to that awesome OLED display of 2000 x 2040 resolution per eye. Chucked out going clunky setups since VR2 inside-out tracking will carry you straight to the heart of action with no bounds. And then, the comfort-oriented design ensures you stay drowned in gripping VR experiences for hours.
Just to put it simply: The PS VR2 Sense controllers are not merely an upgrade; with these controllers, it is a revolution. Picture the DualSense with its immersive haptics, adaptive triggers, precise tracking, and intuitive touch detection-all free of the wires and in your hands. Now, forget about the shortcomings of the original PS VR-if your PS5 is the gateway to next-gen gaming, then the PS VR2 is the gateway to virtual reality nirvana.
Time to switch on that PS VR2! Until your older PS VR games bridge into the new generation of immersive experiences, fresh vistas await. Immerse yourself in the awe-inspiring terrains ofHorizon: Call of the Mountain, defeat ancient predators inJurassic World Aftermath Collection, pursue adrenaline rushes inGran Turismo 7, wander through the expansive skies inNo Man’s Sky, and savor ice-cold terror inResident Evil Village. The new era of VR gaming is here, and it is truly dazzling.
So the Vision Pro broke the bank? Never mind that. Enter the VR gaming madness with some phat headset deals. An awesome entry-level VR headset is all that you need to have your pick of mind-blowing games at budget prices. Let the VR adventures begin!
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of VR headset do I need to play Steam VR on my gaming PC?
You’ll need a headset compatible with SteamVR or Steam Link. The Meta Quest 3, for example, works with Steam Link.
What do you need to use a VR headset?
Make sure to check your virtual headset if it works with your console before going on a journey into a different world. Controllers form a must-have partner to accompany it along the journey. Wired connection? That can be one, yes. But why chain yourself down when you can go free?
Do VR headsets require a PC?
No; you can also use VR headsets with your PlayStation or another gaming system.
Image credit: Unsplash
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