VR Headset Buying Guide - Picking The Right VR Headset For You
Are you looking to buy a VR headset for mobile and confused between the many different VR headsets available? If yes, you’re not alone. Companies these days are launching a new VR headset almost every quarter. That is why; it can be downright confusing to pick one. Moreover, the specifications vary from one headset to another. That is why; they are not directly comparable as well. All this adds to the confusion.
Instead of going through the technical jargon and the specifications of the VR headset, you can simply refer to our buying guide below. Once you do so, it will be easy to choose the right VR headset. We will help you understand the parameters which you should consider while buying one.
Type
Did you know that VR headsets can be of different types as well? The very first criterion for choosing such headsets is the type of headset which you want to go with. We will go into the details of these steps to help you understand which one is a perfect choice.
• Tethered VR Headsets: These headsets need to be connected to a PC. They are wired VR headsets. However, the advantage of these headsets is that the amount of content that you have is enormous.
• Stand-alone VR Headsets: Stand-alone headsets come along with a screen. Therefore, you need not worry about embedding your smartphone into them. These are wireless as well, and therefore, operating them is quite easy.
• Smartphone VR Headsets: These utilize the screen of your smartphone. You need to place your smartphone into the VR headset to view and enjoy the VR experience.
These are the three basic types of VR headsets that you have. You have to decide which one you prefer. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. Only when you’re sure about the type of headsets you want to go with, you can go ahead and compare them on the other criteria as well, which we will highlight below.
Field Of View
Many people confuse the field of view with the viewing angle of the screen in use. However, both of them are different. The field of view is the virtual measure of the world, which you can observe through the screen. However, most headsets do not offer a 360 rotational angle.
There are a few headsets that offer up to 120 field of view. However, if you do not mind spending a significant amount of money, you can also opt for the advanced ones that offer a 360 field of view. You have to decide which one you prefer but generally speaking, the higher the field of view, the more expensive the headset will be.
Lens Quality
The quality of the lens is only applicable to tethered and stand-alone headsets. For the smartphone VR headsets, the display quality of the smartphone matters a lot. You have to look at the distance of the smartphone screen from your eyes. It should be a minimum of 42 MM for a proper viewing experience. For others, you have to look at the quality of the display before making the decision. The minimum distance remains the same for those headsets as well.
You cannot ignore this factor since it is a detrimental impact on the VR experience, which you get from the headset.
Ease Of Use
We all aren’t geeks. That is why, when buying a VR headset, it is essential to choose easy to use one. The ease of use depends on a few factors. We will highlight these factors below to help you understand how to select the most convenient headset.
• Adjustability
It is essential to first look at the adjustability of the headset. The distance to the lens should be adjustable, and also the fit of the headset over your head should be flexible as well. Only when both of these factors are adjustable, it will be easy for you to wear.
• Compatibility With Spectacles
If the headset is compatible with glasses, then only it will be comfortable for you to wear. However, if you do not use the glasses or lenses, then this factor does not apply to you.
• Wearing Mechanism
You have to look at the wearing mechanism and the securing mechanism of the VR headset. It will help you understand whether it is easy to wear and room or not. Nobody likes to spend 10 minutes to 15 minutes just to wear the headset or remove it.
These three factors will make it easy for you to choose the right VR headset.
Weight Of The Headset
When you’re buying a smartphone-based VR headset, you have to add to the headset weight of the smartphone as well. Only once you do so, it will become easy for you to decide whether it is lightweight or not.
Generally speaking, as long as it does not affect the quality of the VR experience negatively, you should go with the lightest VR headset available. It will ensure that you can wear the headset for long hours and indulge in long gaming sessions as well. The weight is a crucial factor that you need to consider when comparing the different VR headsets.
Controllers
When it comes to controllers, the very first question which you need to ask yourself is, does the headset come along with controllers? If yes, you have to look at the number of controllers available. You have to look at the specifications of those controllers before making the decision.
Even if the VR headset comes with controllers, chances are you might have to buy a replacement sometime down the line. That is why; you have to look at the compatibility of the headset with other controllers as well.
Generally speaking, the different types of controllers for VR headsets are:
• 3DoF
• 6DoF
• Hybrid
You have to find out the compatible controllers with the VR headset and then make the buying decision.
Construction Quality
Going through the construction quality of the VR headset is very important. It will help you determine the durability of the headset. If it uses cheap quality plastic, there is no point in spending such a significant amount of money on the headset. Also, it means that you will be searching for a replacement pretty soon. Due to this reason, you have to look at the construction quality of the headset before making the decision.
At the same time, the construction quality also has an impact on the comfort you get as well. Due to this reason, you need to look at the construction quality and the accessories like the fixtures knobs, and will allow you to adjust the fit as well. Once you take a holistic view of the construction quality, it will become easy for you to choose the right headset.
Budget
Have you thought about how much you are willing to spend on the VR headset?
It is a question which you need to tackle sooner than later. However, it should not be the only criterion that you have while choosing the VR headset. If you go for something like smartphone VR headsets, the cost will be on the lower side. However, when you go for the stand-alone headsets or tethered headsets, they can cost you hundreds of dollars as well. Due to this reason, it is essential to decide your budget before making the buying decision. It will help you shortlist the right options. You, however, cannot ignore the other specifications as well while choosing a virtual reality headset.
Immersion Experience
The virtual reality headset aims to help you have an immersive experience. If it fails to do that, there is no point in buying such a headset. That is why you have to gauge the headsets based on this factor before making your buying decision.
In simple terms, immersion refers to the feeling you get that you are immersed fully in the virtual environment. The stronger the feeling, the better experience you will have with the headset. It is the extent to which the headset can influence your mind that you are actually in the virtual environment.
The immersion is dependent on the level of tracking which the headset provides. The better the level of monitoring, the better will be your immersion experience. We will share with you the different kinds of tracking which these headsets generally use. The most common type is positional tracking, but it is not the only one.
• Positional Tracking
Positional trekking involves keeping track of the position of the user as he/she moves around. It can include outside-in tracking. It has external sensors as well as cameras that track your location in the room in which you are.
The second type of positional tracking is the inside out tracking. It uses the front-facing cameras to track your position.
The positional tracking is one of the most accurate tracking used by VR headsets. However, it is not the only one.
• Hand Tracking
In this tracking type, the positions of your hands get tracked by the headset to determine your actions and location.
• Eye-tracking
Eye-tracking is not used on a stand-alone basis. It is a supplementary tracking method used by a few headsets. It increases the accuracy of the headset significantly including VR headset for Android and VR headsets for iPhone, and more.
These are the three types of tracking which the headset uses. Positional tracking is your best bet when you want to have a good immersion experience. If the headset consists of supplemental eye tracking as well, that is a definite advantage. The more precise the tracking, the higher will be the cost of the headset. Due to this very reason, you have to take this factor into account in conjunction with your budget.
Refresh Rate
The display resolution is dependent on the refresh rate of the headset. Of course, when opting for a smartphone-based headset, the display quality depends on the refresh rate of the smartphone. In that case, you do not have much choice.
However, with the tethered and stand-alone headset, you have the choice to compare them based on the refresh rate before buying them.
Buy the Oculus headset for intense gaming, it should have a refresh rate of at least 90 Hz. However, a regular headset with a refresh rate of 70 Hz is good enough. If the refresh rate is on the lower side, it can induce motion sickness. That is why; you have to be pretty careful while selecting the headset when it comes to the refresh rate.
Once again, the higher the refresh rate, the more expensive the headset will be.
Content
The VR industry hasn’t built a centralized platform for VR content yet. While there is a platform by Google as well as other companies manufacturing VR headsets, but there is not a single dominant platform. That is why; you cannot take the content for granted.
Before buying the headset, it is essential to look at the number of apps and games available. Only when you’re satisfied with the collection, you can go ahead and choose that headset. You have to take into account the pace at which new apps and content are being launched as well. Once you do so, you can easily decide whether there is enough content or not.
Most consumers often overlook this factor. However, it can be the deciding factor when you’re confused between 2 or 3 headsets.
So, are you still struggling to choose the best VR headset?
You just need to refer to our VR headset buying guide above. We have taken into account all the factors which you need to consider while buying such a headset. Once you go through this list, there will be no confusion at all. Even if you’re comparing all the options available, with the help of our guide above, you will be able to narrow them down. It will mean that you need not spend weeks thinking about the headset which you are going to buy. All you need to do is to use our guide and pick the right Lenovo VR headset in no time.
