This one feeds off the power of the PlayStation 5. The PSVR 2 is Sony’s latest attempt at a virtual reality setup for its PlayStation consoles. PlayStation VR 2 Photo: Matt Leone/Polygon Index kits purchased through GameStop do not include a free game. The full Valve Index VR Kit includes the headset, two controllers, two base stations, and a download code for Half-Life: Alyx. Fun fact: The base stations for the HTC Vive can work with the Index, too, if you have those laying around. However, only one of them is required to use the Index at all (two will improve the tracking). You’ll need permanent (or semi-permanent) spots in your room for the base stations to be mounted, so the Index won’t be for everyone. Photo: James Bareham/PolygonĪiding the Index with its excellent tracking are external base stations that map your room to create a stage for your VR escapades. Simply put, games can receive input data when you move any finger, not just your index finger and thumb. It’s a small feature that adds more immersion in certain games, like Half-Life: Alyx. The Valve Index includes revolutionary “knuckles” controllers, which, unlike with the other headsets on this list, feature full finger tracking. It’s easy to adjust the strap settings, and it fits snug without feeling like all of the weight is pulling down on my head. Plus, the Index is one of the most comfortable headsets out there. You have the ability to flip them up and down at will. Some glasses will fit inside of the Valve Index, but alternatively, prescription lenses are available from a variety of companies, including Hons VR, VR Optician, and VR Wave.Īnother unique aspect of the Index’s design are its built-in headphones that sit off the ear so that you can maintain a sense of physical presence (they sound surprisingly good, too). You also have the opportunity to push the limits with an experimental 144 Hz mode, a refresh rate that leads the industry. The Index’s 1440x1600 resolution lenses offer a refresh rate of up to 120 Hz in normal play. Most of the components include SteamVR’s killer app, Half-Life: Alyx, for free with your purchase. Getting the entire kit is costly at $999, though Valve (the maker of the Steam Deck and developer of Half-Life, Portal, and more) sells some components piecemeal for less. The Valve Index is the current flagship virtual reality headset, offering the most comfortable design, the highest specs, and the most interesting controller features of any wired PC VR headset. Wired headsets that require pricey base stations to track you for roomscale VR games are on the decline, but they’re used by our favorite PC headset, the Valve Index. What you gain by being physically connected includes vastly better graphics and not having to worry about battery life. Many wired headsets offer similar tracking features as wireless options, but they keep you tethered to your console or PC by a long wire. The major trade-off with these headsets is performance, which is trumped by wired headsets. Plus, these headsets utilize the cameras to act as safeguards while you’re in VR, telling you when you’re close to leaving your play area. For one, they track the headset’s movement in your space, letting you feel like your body is truly immersed in a virtual world. The headsets feature cameras that are useful for multiple reasons. Some virtual reality headsets are wireless and allow what’s commonly referred to as “roomscale” VR experiences without the need for additional accessories. The major VR headset differences to know about We’ll revisit this post to make sure it includes all of the info you need to know about the newer hardware. Note: With the Meta Quest 3 arriving in September and Apple’s wildly priced Vision Pro headset due to make a splash in 2024, it’s clear that tech giants are still betting on the virtual reality space, and some compelling technological leaps are on their way soon. With our experience testing out all of the most popular models, plus some tips on how to buy the right one for your needs, we aim to make it easier so you can jump into a variety of fantastical worlds. Do you need a headset with swappable straps, one that can be configured with prescription lenses, and one that’s less than $500? Do you eventually want to build your own VR cockpit for flight simulators? These are all things that might influence which one you buy.įor newcomers, deciding on a headset can seem confusing, but don’t lose hope. There are other comfort, accessibility, and budgetary reasons you might choose one over the other as well. The major players in VR gaming - it currently boils down to Sony, Valve, and Meta - each boast some games and features that are exclusive to their respective headsets. Similar as they seem, they’re different in ways that may matter to you. Picking a virtual reality headset is a bit like buying a console - that is, one that you wear on your face.
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