It is difficult to imagine our days without computer games, so IT specialists are constantly working to improve this area. One of the latest stunning offerings is VR technology. Once in virtual reality, you can experience incomparable emotions and feelings. But how do you decide on the right headset? We tried to determine not only the best virtual reality headset in 2020, we described the criteria for their selection and precautions.
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What is a VR headset?
This is the name of a special device with aspherical lenses and a screen with a special partition. The image is transmitted for each eye separately, so you feel like a participant in what is happening.
Interaction with smartphones
The helmets can be connected to any phone that has a gyroscope or you can buy products with a built-in sensor. It is important that there are no scratches or cracks on the phone screen, otherwise this will negatively affect the quality of playing a game or movie.
The helmet connects to the phone via a regular USB port, the sound is played through the gadget's speaker or headphones. Some products cause the smartphone to overheat, which will soon lead to its breakdown. During the game, it is difficult to answer incoming calls or SMS, so it is better to use the helmet at a time when no one bothers you.
Interaction with PC
The helmet works with a computer in the same way as with a phone. The only difference is the connection method: the product is connected to a PC using an HDMI cable. Some helmets come with motion sensors that provide a fully immersive gaming experience.
For your headset to work properly, your computer must have special applications. If you connect the helmet to a stationary PC, you will be tied to one place, but if you use a laptop for this purpose, you can play everywhere. Glasses for a phone and a computer are different, the latter are more expensive.
Which helmet should you buy?
If you are just going to appreciate the delights of the virtual world and do not know which helmet will help you with this, when choosing a suitable one, pay special attention to:
- Sound. While the main goal of the device is to reproduce the picture realistically, it doesn't have to be accompanied by terrible 2D audio. You will not be able to enjoy the game normally if the sound is quiet and “normal”. Buy a model that reproduces all sounds in surround.
- Picture quality and viewing angle. This point is very controversial. Many manufacturers claim that their helmets have a horizontal viewing angle of 100 degrees, and the picture comes in Full-HD resolution. But in reality this is not at all the case. In this aspect, the Oculus Rift has the best results. He has a screen for each eye with a resolution of 960 * 1080 and a viewing angle of 110 degrees.
- Motion sensors. Check for availability first. The lack of an accelerometer and gyroscope will prevent you from fully enjoying virtual reality.
- Weight. The lighter the helmet, the easier it is to wear and the less harm it does to your health.
Precautions
To make your headset last as long as possible, you need to use it correctly:
- It is forbidden to connect cords and cables while the equipment is working - this may cause damage to it.
- Before starting the game, make sure you have enough room for maneuvers and movement.
- After each half-hour game, take an hour off to restore blood circulation in your neck and rest your eyes.
- The helmet must be used strictly according to the rules described in the attached instructions.
- If during the game you feel bad, you need to urgently end the session.
The best virtual reality helmets for smartphones
The category is represented by the following models.
VR SHINECON G3
Medium sized glasses, very sensitive. A special cleaning cloth is included to take care of the lenses. The joystick is lightweight and compact, easy to use. The glasses are packed correctly, so they will not be damaged during transportation. To make operation more convenient, the surface of the product is covered with special soft rubber in the eye area.
The glasses have an attractive appearance. During the game, they "sit" well on the head and cause discomfort in the eye area. This model won the users over with its reliable lens fixation, good viewing angle and high-quality image.
VR BOX VR 2.0
A complete headset designed for beginners. A separate container with a secure fixation is provided for the smartphone. The glasses are made of quality material and have an attractive design. The strap is easily fixed, so it can be used by an adult and a child. In the place of contact with the face, their surface is covered with a soft ergonomic material, so during use the player does not feel discomfort.
With these glasses you will not be able to adjust the distance between the centers of the lenses. The joystick is compatible only with Android phones. To restart programs, you need to pull out the container with the phone.
SAMSUNG GEAR VR
SAMSUNG is one of the largest companies specializing in the creation of Android smartphones, and their Galaxy S series is in great demand from consumers. With this in mind, it is not surprising that SAMSUNG decided to release their own virtual helmet.
Samsung Gear VR is reminiscent of Google Daydream View, but with finesse and higher quality. They are made of plastic and in the shape of a rectangle.
The headset has an inconspicuous touchpad, back and home keys on the right. A good controller is provided, equipped with volume buttons and one trigger. The manufacturer claims that the glasses only work with certain models, but users have made sure that the helmet can be used with any model of the Galaxy series, provided that it fits and runs at least Android 5.0 Lollipop.
These glasses have Oculus support, so they work with this store and not Google Play. Perhaps it is not very convenient, because it provides a larger selection of games.
It's bad that the helmet only interacts with Samsung phones, and even then not with all. The cost of the product for many will seem overpriced, although this is due to the good choice of content.
Despite several, albeit significant, drawbacks, this helmet is durable and very high quality. It has a neat minimal design with a well-built and responsive controller.
BOBOVR Z4MINI
High-quality virtual reality glasses from Chinese specialists. Light plastic was used to create them. Held on the head with three straps. Removable foam pad. It's easy to insert your smartphone: just press a button to open the lid. The glasses are equipped with a special device that allows them to adapt to any gadget.
Ventilation holes are provided. On the body there is a volume control button. The lens viewing angle is 110 degrees.
The disadvantages include: a narrow bow for the nose, heavy weight, synchronous lens adjustment and weak fixation of the headphones.
GOOGLE DAYDREAM VIEW
They resemble Google Cardboard, work on the same technology, but are already reliable and versatile virtual glasses.
From the outside, they are covered with a durable fabric that comes in white, red or gray.The inside contains padding material that makes the use of glasses much more convenient.
The helmet comes with a remote control with all the necessary functions. It interacts with a gadget that has a 1080p OLED screen, 60Hz refresh rate, Android 7.0 Nougat OS or later.
The model is demanding on hardware. This is a common occurrence in principle, but this product will only work well with an OLED display and not with the common IPS LCD. The 1080p resolution is typical for many smartphones, so this shouldn't be a problem.
This helmet offers the best image quality, lighting and usability. The only drawback is interaction with OLED display and Android 7.0 only.
In general, the model is of high quality and reliable.
GOOGLE CARDBOARD
It is difficult to imagine a person who is not familiar with the products of this company. Google is not only the dominant search engine. The company is investing heavily in the IT industry, including smartphones and its Android development.
Google has released Cardboard VR glasses in a short space of time that fit any smartphone. And yes, they are literally cardboard. How does it work?
The product is equipped with two lenses positioned in front of the player's eyes. By interacting with special applications, they transform everything that your phone shows into 3D format. For convenient use, the glasses are equipped with an NFC chip, so by connecting a phone to them, you can quickly activate the application.
The product has a simple, affordable and effective design. Its strength is simplicity. Despite the relatively low price, these glasses function normally. They can be controlled using a round magnet located on the side. This metal piece interacts with the smartphone's magnetometer to create an imitation of a button. Another distinctive feature is compatibility with all gadgets of a suitable size and running on iOS 8.0, Android 4.1 and higher.
The main disadvantages include the material of manufacture. Cardboard is not something that you can keep on your face without feeling discomfort, and even for a long time. The glasses also lack a fully functional controller, so they won't play games that other headsets play.
Summing up, we can say that the product turned out to be very successful. It builds on a basic low-cost concept that has been turned into a functional VR solution. The glasses are rather simple and do not have all the bells and whistles of a "real" VR-helmet, since their main task is to acquaint players with the virtual world. If you are just trying your hand at virtual reality, this product is best suited.
Best VR headsets for computer
According to experts and users, the following models are considered the best.
OCULUS RIFT
The helmet has a modern, laconic style and a matte finish. The set includes accessories for the best virtual world experience. It is equipped with a 2K OLED screen, which is divided into two displays with a resolution of 1080 * 1200 for each eye, so the total resolution is 2160 * 1200r. It uses Samsung's PenTile technology, which generates subpixels that provide clear and crisp images.
The headset can be controlled using the Oculus Touch controllers, which are equipped with two buttons on the front, an analog stick, a small touchpad, a trigger and a grip button. Only the original Xbox One is officially supported, but if you set up your helmet correctly, you can use other controllers.
To track movement at a room scale, the helmet has an Oculus sensor that tracks infrared light.
The helmet comes with detachable headphones that rival many gaming headphones in terms of sound. Additionally, you can buy in-ear headphones. They will help you achieve better noise isolation and better immersion.
The helmet does not officially support SteamVR - the largest and most popular toy store. Regardless, the Oculus Rift is the most cost-effective helmet, sold with a pair of motion controllers and sensors.
HTC VIVE
The release of this helmet was very unexpected, because the NTS company specializes exclusively in smartphones. But this did not stop her from creating the most modern helmet to date. The product is a collaboration between HTC and Valve and is sometimes referred to as "Steam VR".
This matte black helmet has a lot in common with the Oculus Rift, however, it has more futuristic and detailed details in its style. It has two OLED displays with a resolution of 1080 * 1200 and PenTile technology that improves image quality. The controllers work on the basis of a multifunctional trackpad, so they better detect movement. Base stations resemble small, compact cubes, which are considered a versatile form for placement.
NTS include more accessories with their helmet than many other manufacturers. The product supports SteamVR games and regular Steam games, which can automatically adapt to VR format via the Steam Theater option.
The only drawback of the product is its high cost. Although the price has already dropped significantly compared to the initial one, it is still considered the highest.
SONY PLAYSTATION VR
It is the first console-compatible VR headset in white with LED accents. The helmet is equipped with one Full HD OLED screen. Despite its strong performance, it is sold at a very affordable price. This is due to the fact that it is compatible only with the game consoles of the same name. But even this limitation does not reduce its popularity, because game content is presented in a wide range and in good quality.
The helmet is endowed with the highest display refresh rate - 120 Hz. Works with standard PlayStation controllers so you don't need to spend extra money. Also included is a set of tracking sensors.
The disadvantages include the interaction of the helmet only with the PlayStation 4, weak graphic characteristics and the need to buy a PlayStation camera.
HTC VIVE PRO
NTS specialists are convinced that their helmets are the best, so they sell them at a high price. This model is considered an update to the Vive product rather than a standalone set for the virtual world. In general, if you do not own the original Vive, then you will have to spend money on a Vive Starter Kit with base stations and controllers. To just get into virtual reality, you need to spend about $ 1000 (this amount does not include a gaming PC, which is needed to run games and programs correctly).
The Vive Pro has two displays with a resolution of 2880 * 1600. Inside there is a pair of 3.5-inch Samsung panels with a resolution of 1440 * 1600, which make the colors brighter and richer.
There is ballast on the back of the unit so the load is evenly distributed. The helmet has an improved relief, so it is much more comfortable to wear. The terrain is adjustable, so it can be tailored to the individual requirements of the player.
The head strap is very comfortable, so there should be no problem putting on the helmet. Its shape is thought out so that the user immediately dresses the headset correctly.
Although foam pillows have a good shape, however, they absorb moisture strongly, which is not very convenient. Another drawback is the high price.
