The Best Windows Mixed Reality Headsets
When you think of a VR headset, the first headsets that likely come to mind are the Oculus Rift and the HTC Vive headset. It's no surprise, considering they're the most commonly used and powerful headsets on the market. But what if we told you there are many more VR headsets out there?! Windows Mixed Reality (WMR) headsets are often cheaper but very good alternatives to the more expensive VR headsets
WMR Headsets
Most WMR headsets offer a high-end experience at a more affordable price. Just like a VR headset, you connect a WMR headset to your computer. But instead of setting up base stations in the corner of the room (like with the HTC Vive), you can put on the WMR headset and start playing immediately. The tracking of a WMR headset comes from within: the so-called inside-out tracking. Whereas an Oculus Rift or HTC Vive requires a sensor or base station to follow the headset and controllers, a WMR headset can do this from its own glasses. You plug the headset into the computer, and can start playing immediately without setting up a complicated setup. To help you choose a good WMR headset, we've already picked out a few options for you:
1. Samsung Odyssey Plus
Also known as the "Mercedes among headsets". The Samsung Odyssey+ is one of (or perhaps the) most comfortable headset on the market. Due to its light weight and soft and comfortable fit, this headset fits everyone like a glove. In addition to good comfort, the Samsung Odyssey+ also has a very beautiful screen, making videos and games beautifully displayed.
2. Lenovo Explorer
The WMR headset from Lenovo has a high resolution (2 x 1440x1440) and a refresh rate of 90Hz. This gives you a nice sharp image and a smooth movement of the images. The lightweight design of the Lenovo Explorer also makes the headset suitable for longer use
3. Dell Visor
The Dell Visor has a very good price/quality ratio. The specifications are identical to the Lenovo Explorer, but the headset feels a bit heavier. The advantage of the Dell Visor is that the headset has a flip-screen, making it easy to take off the glasses without removing the entire headset from your head
4. Meta 2
An odd one in this list, but the Meta 2 is the most innovative headset of all. The headset is specially developed for developers and business users. When you put on the Meta 2, you can see and influence your own environment. This is the future of virtual reality, but unfortunately not yet available to the general public
Have questions for Unbound VR? Ask them on Facebook!
At Unbound VR we get a lot of questions from customers about advising on Virtual Reality. Of course, we gladly give everyone the right advice, but due to the many emails it is sometimes difficult to get back to everyone (in time). That's why Unbound VR is now also active on Facebook! On our Facebook page, we share the latest VR news daily, give tips for VR use, share fun VR facts, and do much more. But what's also handy is: we also have a Facebook chat! So do you have a question about a headset? Or do you just want to know something about Virtual Reality? Ask us! Our VR experts often get back to you within an hour to answer your question. And while you're on our Facebook page, don't forget to like us and leave a review! ;-)
New Headset: Microsoft HoloLens 2
The HoloLens from Microsoft was the first WMR headset running on Windows 10 in 2016. It was a revolutionary step in the VR world, as this was a kind of "iron-man glasses" you've only seen in movies until now. Unfortunately, the HoloLens was not a success with consumers due to its high price tag, and Microsoft focused mainly on the business market. This year, 2019, the second version of the HoloLens is coming out, with Microsoft again focusing on business users. The HoloLens 2 has received some strong upgrades compared to the first HoloLens. While the HoloLens 1 caused quite a bit of tunnel vision, the HoloLens 2 has an incredibly wide field of view, making it almost seem like you have nothing in front of your eyes
Built-in iris scanner
Another new feature of the HoloLens 2 is the built-in iris scanner in the headset. The headset can recognize the user by his or her eyes, and adjust the experience accordingly. In addition, the HoloLens 2 also has a camera to scan the environment. This allows holograms to be projected onto the right surfaces, and the headset can accurately track hand movements. The holograms that come from the HoloLens 2 have also received an upgrade, making them look even more realistic. The HoloLens 2 works with laser projections that are displayed on the screen in front of your eyes, creating a convincing hologram and a larger field of view. The HoloLens 2 was announced at MWC2019 on February 24, 2019, but it is not yet known when the HoloLens 2 will actually be available to order. Pre-orders for the US have already started, so we expect it won't be too much longer before the HoloLens 2 is available. Please contact our customer service if interested
