Virtual Reality (VR), which creates an entirely immersive, interactive, and realistic digital world for its users, is a concept that has been around since the early 1980s.
There are three main categories of VR devices: cardboard, Gear VR, and the Oculus Rift. Each category has its own advantages and disadvantages; check out our video on which one is right for you.
What Is the Best VR Headset for Watching Movies?
For watching movies, you can use a VR headset to watch movies in virtual reality. The most popular headsets are Oculus Rift and HTC Vive.
Both of them have their own advantages and disadvantages. If you want to know which one is better, then read this article.
Oculus Rift vs HTC Vive: Which One Is Better For Watching Movies?
The first thing that you need to consider when buying a VR headset is whether it’s compatible with your computer or not.
Most of the current VR headsets are designed for PC users only. So if you don’t have a good PC, then you won’t be able to enjoy using these headsets.
But there are some VR headsets that are also compatible with Mac computers. These include Google Cardboard, Samsung Gear VR, LG G5 Viewty, etc.
If you are looking for a VR headset that works on both Windows and Mac computers, then you should go for the Oculus Rift.
It has been designed by Facebook and it supports all major operating systems including Windows 7/8/10, Linux, Android, iOS, etc.
You will get the best experience from the Oculus Rift because it comes with high-end graphics cards like Nvidia GTX 970 or AMD R9 290X.
If you are planning to buy an Oculus Rift, then you should check out our guide on how to set up Oculus Rift.
This will help you to make sure that everything is working properly before you start playing games.
HTC Vive is another great option for watching movies in virtual reality. It is compatible with Windows 10, OS X El Capitan, Ubuntu 16.04 LTS, and SteamOS.
However, it doesn’t support older versions of Windows.
You might think that the price difference between the two headsets is huge. But actually, they cost almost the same amount.
The main difference between them is the resolution. While the Oculus Rift offers 2160 x 1200 pixels per eye, the HTC Vive provides 5120 x 1440 pixels per eye.
So, if you are interested in watching movies in virtual reality, then you should definitely choose the Oculus Rift over the HTC Vive. It is much more powerful than the latter.
What Are Some Of The Best VR Headsets Available?
There are many other options available in the market. Here we have listed some of the best VR headsets available in the market right now.
Google Daydream View
This is one of the cheapest VR headsets available in the world. It costs just $79.99 and it is compatible with any smartphone running Android 4.4 KitKat or higher.
It features a single 1080p display and it comes with a built-in microphone so that you can communicate with others while wearing the headset.
Samsung Gear VR
Samsung Gear VR is another affordable VR headset. It costs around $129 and it is compatible with smartphones running Android 6.0 Marshmallow or higher.
It comes with a wide range of apps and games. You can download the latest titles from the Play Store and install them directly into the headset.
Sony PlayStation VR
Sony PlayStation VR is one of the most expensive VR headsets available in the industry. It costs around $399 and it is compatible with PS4 consoles running on PS3 firmware 3.55 or higher.
The headset includes a pair of headphones as well as a controller. It also comes with a few games preinstalled.
Oculus Go
Oculus Go is the newest VR headset released by Oculus. It is priced at $199 and it is compatible with PCs running Windows 10 Home or Pro.
It comes with an integrated touchpad and a USB port. It also supports Bluetooth connectivity.
Vive Focus Plus
Vive Focus Plus is a wireless VR headset. It costs about $200 and it is compatible with PC running Windows 10 or macOS Sierra.
It comes with two lenses and it allows users to focus on objects closer to them.
Vive Cosmos
Vive Cosmos is the first standalone VR headset. It is priced at around $400 and it is compatible with Windows 10 or macOS High Sierra.
It comes equipped with six degrees of freedom (6DoF) controllers. These allow you to interact with your surroundings without using a mouse or keyboard.
VR Headset Buying Guide: How To Choose A Good One
Now that you know what kind of VR headset you want, let us discuss how to buy one.
The first thing you need to do is decide which type of VR experience you want. Do you want to play games, watch movies, read books, etc.?
Then, you will need to consider the budget. If you don’t have enough money, you won’t be able to afford a high-end VR headset. So, make sure you set a reasonable budget before buying anything.
Next, you need to look for reviews online. There are tons of websites out there where people review different products. Read through their comments and see if you find something interesting.
After that, you need to check the specs. Make sure that the VR headset has everything you need. For example, does it come with a comfortable strap? Does it support both mobile phones and laptops? Is it easy to use?
Finally, you should try it out. Don’t forget to test all the functions of the VR headset. This way, you will be able to tell whether it works properly or not.
Conclusions
Virtual reality technology is still new. But, we expect more and more companies to create VR headsets in the future.
So, now that you know what kinds of VR headsets exist, you can choose the one that suits your needs.
If you still have questions regarding VR headsets, feel free to ask them in the comment section below.