As I sit here on the train on my way for a well deserved break away from normality, I can’t help but think I would have liked just one more day at home. Just hours ago I was stood in the middle of my command centre, decapitating robots with my plasma pistol as they relentlessly marched toward me in their bid to wipe out the human race.
While I’ll never be quite ready to give up on classics like the original Super Mario bros, it would seem the next generation of computing has arrived.
I recently had a chance to sample some of the best VR headsets on the market and, while they might be a relatively niche product at the moment, I’m honestly wondering how I ever lived without one. Testing the various headsets was a tough job (honest!), and I’ve put together this list of the best VR gear currently available on sale in the UK – along with a few future releases to watch out for later this year.
With an option for every price point, it’s difficult to know which is the top VR Headset for your needs and budget. I’m judging the headsets based on a few obvious factors such as price, availability of apps and how long you can expect to use it for before the next release means you’ve got nothing more than an outdated set of goggles. I’ll also look at practical points such as whether or not you need a smartphone or a heavy duty computer with the latest graphics card and expensive hardware.
I’ll explain a bit about the headsets and how virtual reality works without any of the technical jargon. If you just want to get down to the good stuff, the best VR headset available right now is the HTC Vive (the very same headset I was referring to in the first paragraph) and you can find out why by reading below. So here we go, here is my 2016 buying guide for the Best VR headsets in the UK,along with my recommendation of where to purchase each one.
(Feel free to jump to a section here if you don’t want to read the whole thing)
The best budget VR headsets
If you’re not looking to dive straight into the expensive end of the market and just want to sample the virtual world, you’ll find some great low cost options here. At the lower end of the pricing spectrum you’re unlikely to find a standalone unit or anything with great tech specs, but these are the best options if you’re on a low budget.
Google Cardboard
Things you’ll need:
Smartphone (iOS or Android)
Instructions
Cardboard
Tape
Strap (elastic, string etc)
Great Imagination
As the name suggests, you can make this one yourself out of cardboard using Google’s open source instructions for the VR viewer (downloadable here). You could even use it as an excuse to recycle the box from your friend’s HTC Vive to make yourself feel better about owning a slightly less advanced piece of kit.
This is a great way to sample the world of virtual reality, making use of your smartphone as the display. Being a Google product you can expect to see an ever increasing numbers of apps on Google Play and the Apple App Store so you’ll never be stuck for variety. Standard instructions will get you a headset for smartphones up to 6” in size, however those with a creative mind have been able to adapt the idea to fit bigger devices.
Although the quality of the VR experience is understandably very basic, the Google Cardboard goggles still offer a comparably immersive experience without the price tag of some of the mid range headsets on the market.
If you don’t want to build it yourself, there are tons of options available on Amazon including simple kits and ready assembled devices. This is easily the best budget VR headset and is definitely worth a try.
Get one on Amazon
Homido
Things you’ll need:
Smartphone (iOS or Android)
Bluetooth Controller
The Homido VR headset is in essence a more robust version of the Google Cardboard headset. As well as being incredibly well made, it has a few unique selling points such as the optional over-the-head strap to prevent the headset falling down over your nose, and a strong plastic clip to make sure your phone stays in place.
Although you won’t be able to wear your glasses with this viewer, the Homido comes with interchangeable lenses for long and short sighted people so everyone can use it. Controls on the headset allow two dimensional adjustment of the distance of the lenses – both to suit differences in eye width and distance from eye to lense. These dials were particularly useful for getting the screen in focus.
Unfortunately you will have to use a separate controller for your phone with this viewer, as it doesn’t come equipped with any buttons. The official Homido controller (not included) only works with Android at the moment, so a generic bluetooth controller is your only option for use with an iPhone.
It works with any app offering support for Google Cardboard, so again you won’t be stuck for new games and videos to test.
Although I liked the Homido, I’d probably opt for the Google Cardboard as the benefits of this headset don’t really justify the extra cost (Plus I could spend the money I saved on a pizza to eat while I watch a 3d film).
Get it now on Amazon
Samsung Gear VR
Things you’ll need:
Samsung Galaxy S7, S7 Edge, Note 5, S6, S6 Edge
Oculus app
Samsung’s Gear VR has bowled over plenty of people since its launch but has come under fire from some circles because it doesn’t really work with an iPhone. You can force an iPhone into it but the cap won’t close all the way and this can affect the final experience.
That said the Gear is the most comfortable budget VR headset on the market at the moment and, unlike Google’s Cardboard, it doesn’t look like it was designed by the high school kid next door. With an S7 snapped into place the VR experience is truly amazing. The unit activates automatically when you put it on and focus can be adjusted using a dial on the top. Some have reported the appearance of a halo-type effect when you look toward the edges; that wasn’t my experience.
Like the Homido the Gear VR headset isn’t meant to be used with glasses. It also needs to be said that this sucker heats up in a hurry. After 10 or 15 minutes you may need a break to wipe the sweat from your face. On the whole though, of the low cost VR headsets in wide circulation, the Gear produced the highest quality visuals. If you currently have a late model Samsung phone this is the way to go for VR. Everyone else, check out Cardboard.
Get it now on Amazon
Carl Zeiss VR One Plus
Things you’ll need:
Smartphone with screen size between 4.7 and 5.5 inches
The Zeiss VR ONE Plus is an upgrade to the company’s VR ONE released back in 2014. The company claims to have listened intently to feedback from thousands of customers and tweaked the ONE Plus to reflect that feedback. The new headset will feature trademark Zeiss optics, a reported lightweight design, a fully adjustable screen and lots of available VR and AR games. If you wear glasses you won’t have to worry because the ONE Plus is designed to accommodate eyeglasses; up to a reasonable point of course.
If you’re the voyeuristic type you’ll be happy to learn that VR ONE Plus will allow first person viewing from your drone; a feature some will think is great while others are liable to consider creepy.
Buy now on Amazon
The Best VR Headsets – Standalone and High End Units
As I mentioned at the beginning of this piece the VR experience/market is currently divided into 2 categories: the budget headsets I reviewed above that work off your smartphone and hi-end VR headsets that require the user have a powerful state-of-the-art gaming PC. Those are the headsets we’re going to take a look at now.
HTC Vive
Things you’ll need:
A PC with at least 4GB of RAM, a GTX 970 or R9 290 GPU, HDMI 1.4 or DisplayPort 1.2 or newer and a USB 2.0 port
Enough uncluttered space to make the real world interactivity worth it
I don’t know where to begin with this one, but to sum it up in a word: Wow.
The HTC Vive began shipping back in April and has lived up to its prelaunch hype in just about every way. The headset itself is comfortable enough but you don’t pony up for the HTC Vive because of the comfort of the headset. You purchase it because it transports you to the most believable high-resolution virtual world money can buy. A virtual world that extends beyond the confines of the screen into whatever room you happen to be in.
Empowered by state-of-the-art motion tracking, dual multifunction trackpads and a generous field of view, you’ll rise from your seat and believe you’ve been transported to the Enterprise holodeck. Now that might sound like a recipe for tripping over stuff but don’t worry, the HTC Vive can sense when you’re approaching walls or obstacles – as you approach the edges of your virtual arena, a cage illuminates showing your safe area (and reminding you that you’re actually on planet earth). You can also use an in-helmet camera to keep an eye on the real world around you.
If Vive has a drawback it’s the same one as some other hi-end VR headsets; cables. Until you get used to them you may find they get in the way of comfortably navigating your space, no matter how uncluttered it may be. You’ll need some pretty heavy duty computing power but believe me if you current computer can’t copy, it will be well worth the upgrade.
All in all though the HTC Vive represents nothing short of a ferocious escalation in home entertainment. This technology is bound to send ripples through the gamingsphere and fundamentally change what we expect from digital entertainment on just about every level.
I’ll be releasing a full review on this headset soon, so stay tuned. In the mean time, feel free to check the link below for the best price.
Get it now from Currys
Oculus Rift
Things you’ll need:
A PC with NVIDIA GTX 970, AMD 290 or greater, Intel i5-4590 or greater, 8GB RAM minimum, HDMI 1.3 video output and 2 USB 3.0 ports
The Oculus Rift beat the HTC Vive to the release punch but its stay at the top wasn’t long. Sure, the quality of the visual experience is virtually (excuse the pun) the same as that of the Vive but the Rift requires a much more robust gaming computer to bring all the virtual bells and whistles to life and can’t offer the same type of real world inclusivity HTC provides. As it stands though, the Rift is a high-quality piece of entertainment kit that will have you forgetting about any shortcomings once you strap on the comfortable headset.
Speaking of the headset: It’s hard to complain if a cheapo cardboard box crumples under real pressures resulting from jump scares in the virtual world but for the price of the Rift I want this puppy to stay where it belongs even if a zombie has just snuck up behind me and given me an atomic wedgie. The good news is that it does. Lens focus is also easy to adjust and the built in headphones are a thoughtful, if somewhat underwhelming addition.
Order now on Amazon
Rumoured and Future Releases:
Sulon Q
Things you’ll need:
Your hands to operate the mouse and keyboard that ship with the unit
The Sulon Q is the love child of Toronto based Sulon Technologies and long-time tech heavyweight AMD. More than just a VR headset, the Sulon Q is like taking your Windows PC and duct taping it to your head. And that’s a good thing. I think.
The Sulon Q is the first spatially aware tetherless hi-end VR headset and as such will no doubt put pressure on HTC and Oculus to follow suit. The lack of cables and the fact that you don’t need to shell out serious cake for a hi-end gaming PC to run things are major pluses.
However, as you might imagine this self-enclosed all-purpose computing unit is bulky looking. So much so that it’s bound to intimidate some potential customers in its current state. There’s also a substantial battery that comes with it that hangs off the back and looked to me like it was going to dislodge a few vertebrae. However, once the unit was actually in place on my head I found that the bulky forward piece actually balanced out the bulky battery on the back quite well (and it’s not as heavy as it looks either!)
There’s little doubt that convergence is where the technology is heading and Sulon Q may wind up being considered an important step in that direction.
Visit Sulon’s official website for more information.
Microsoft Xbox One VR
Things you’ll need:
Unknown
There have been rumours circulating for nearly 2 years that Microsoft is building their own VR headset to work in concert with their new Xbox One console. Some are certain a new Microsoft headset is ready to drop at any moment while others question why they would enter into competition with the Oculus Rift which they also have a hand in developing. It’s possible the new, reportedly slimmer and more robust Xbox One console may simply provide support for Oculus but there are still suspicions that it’s real intent is to partner with a new Microsoft-only VR headset.
Such suspicions however run into the headwind of Microsoft’s own public pronouncements, particularly those of Xbox head Phil Spencer who recently said:
We’re not really focused right now on adding a VR device to Xbox One. We’re really more focused on the open ecosystem of Windows. We see Oculus and HTC and Valve and other people doing great work on Windows and we’re supportive of that.
Being “more focused” on something doesn’t mean you can’t be “somewhat focused” on something else; like developing your own VR headset. But it seems clear that, if there’s going to be a Microsoft VR headset or even Xbox One support for Oculus, it’s probably not going to happen this year.
Sony Playstation VR
Things you’ll need:
PlayStation 4 (PS4)
PlayStation Camera and Move controllers
Sony’s long rumoured VR headset is rumour no more. PlayStation VR will hit the market this coming October for what seems like a very reasonable £349. That price however is for the headset only. You’ll need to have the PS4 console to power the headset and if you don’t that’s an additional £300 or so. In addition neither the PlayStation Camera nor the Move controllers come as part of the headset package and since you’ll need both you can expect to part with more hard-earned cash for them.
Costs aside though “Project Morpheus” (as it’s being called) looks really promising and Sony has vowed to have 50 games ready for use by launch. The approach Sony is taking with Morpheus VR gaming is also a little different. Maybe out of concern that kids will get ‘lost’ in the virtual world playing alone, Morpheus will be capable of rendering for both headset and TV simultaneously. This will allow up to 5 player gaming where the person wearing the headset is, for example, the monster while everyone else (those playing on the TV) are playing against the monster. Since interaction between TV players and headset wearer is encouraged, and even necessary in some respects, the person wearing Morpheus is never totally isolated from the real world.
Look for Morpheus PlayStation VR to hit stores October 13.
Order now on Amazon
Google Daydream
Things you’ll need:
As yet unavailable Daydream-ready smartphone
As yet unspecified software
About 2 years ago rumours started circulating that Google was investing hundreds of millions of dollars in some sort of VR technology. What form that tech would take and when it might become available were cards that Google was keeping close to the vest. Now, however, we know their VR effort goes by the name of Daydream and they’ve even posted some samples online of what the experience should be like. To say it looks pretty trippy is an understatement.
Even though Google officially announced Daydream is on the way there are still precious few specifics except that this is no Cardboard 2.0; this is brand new hi-end, untethered VR like Sulon Q, so no dragging cables around the room with you. While the current Nexus 6P is capable of handling some aspects of Daydream, new smartphones with a low-persistence display will ultimately be required since LCD screens aren’t capable of refreshing fast enough.
It’s not known when Daydream will become commercially available and one thing that may hold up release is the absence of content. With so little known about the product developers have been understandably slow in jumping on the Daydream bandwagon. Google promises however that they’ll soon make a full suite of development tools available.
Register for updates here
Samsung Standalone Headset – Odyssey VR
Things you’ll need:
Unknown at this time
Perhaps stung by criticism over their Gear VR being compatible only with top-of-the-line Galaxy handsets, Samsung has been making a major effort to get the word out that they’re also working on a standalone VR unit. The as-yet unnamed headset (indications are Samsung is leaning toward the name “Odyssey”) is still, according to Samsung R&D honcho Injong Rhee, “a few years off” but the company is leaving little doubt about where their VR efforts are being focused.
Samsung is a company that has shown a propensity to try and be first to market with new products as evidenced by the Galaxy Round and Galaxy Gear Smartwatch. So it would be a surprise to no one if they prioritized development of the Odyssey (if that’s what it’s going to be called) in order to beat competitors like Google to the standalone punch.
But both Round and Smartwatch seemed rushed, poorly considered and ultimately underperformed sales-wise so the Korean tech giant might want to take their time with their standalone VR headset to make sure they get it right this time.
Roundup of the Best VR Headsets
At the time of this writing the HTC Vive is my choice for the best VR headset on the market. Others like the Oculus Rift provide a high-quality immersive VR experience but the fact that Vive allows you to incorporate real space into the virtual experience puts it a full step above the competition, cables and all. While it’s entirely likely that one or all of the standalone units currently in development will stick the landing and blow the HTC Vive away in the near future, I’ll deal with that when it happens. For now, for my money, it’s the HTC Vive all the way.
If you don’t have £800 to spend on the HTC Vive or you’d just like to give VR a try using a more reasonably priced headset Samsung Gear VR is the way to go if you have a top of the line Galaxy. For everyone else I’d recommend Google’s ugly but effective Cardboard. It’s about £20 and can be had from the Google store or any of a number of online retailers.
The Future of Virtual Reality
Imagine sitting in your favourite car, looking around at the interior. Or seeing the new TV you want sat in the corner of your living room before you buy it (not that you’ll need one if you’ve got an amazing virtual reality set up, but you get the idea). Experts are already drawing up new ways for virtual reality to serve the future of commerce, with augmented reality effectively allowing you to see the item in your home.
From the hardware side there are those who see VR saving the PC industry. After all, some of today’s best VR headsets (most notably the HTC Vive) rely on sophisticated gaming PCs to power them. But this idea that VR will ride to the rescue of the PC industry and save it from life-support is, in my opinion, a pipe dream. The future of VR belongs to the standalone headsets that will become standard within a few years.
From an experiential point of view the future of virtual reality is one of almost unlimited possibilities although a clear direction has yet to emerge. Some see VR extending to nanotechnologies that would allow our brains to interact directly with VR programs without the need for headsets, smartphones or PCs. While still others are convinced advanced VR may be developed that will help the blind to see.
Gaming will certainly profit from the enhanced virtual environments and there will probably be medical and engineering breakthroughs that will owe their success to techniques developed in safe VR environments, but wearing headsets outdoors will continue to be impractical. Are engineers likely to find a way around that impracticality? Sure. And when they do I’ll be here to talk about it.
Quick VR Headset Buying Guide for 2016
So, here are a few things to keep in mind before plunking down your hard-earned money on a VR headset.
Determine your level of interest before you buy: It doesn’t make sense to pay £1,000 for a VR headset if you’ve only recently heard about the technology and only have a passing interest. Instead, spend £20 on Google Cardboard and use it to take VR for a test drive.
Decide which headset makes sense for you: If you have an S7 in your pocket it makes sense to buy the Samsung Gear VR as the two are, literally, made for each other. On the other hand if you own a state-of-the-art gaming PC consider investing in the HTC Vive headset.
Comparison shop: A quick Internet search reveals a pretty wide disparity in what different retailers are asking for the Samsung Gear VR headset. It’s going to be the same with every other brand of headset as well. Shop around before buying.
Don’t buy from some website you never heard of: There are plenty of pirates out there who latch on to a hot product and set up websites to try to scam trusting souls out of their money. Make sure you purchase your headset from a reputable online retailer like Amazon.
Do you wear glasses? If you do you’ll want to make sure your VR headset can accommodate your glasses. Not all of them will.
The post The Best VR Headsets in the UK: 2016 Buying Guide appeared first on Sensible Reviewer.
