Comparison of VR Headsets

Manufacturers are increasingly producing virtual reality headsets. But which one is the best? To answer this, we have created a handy comparison table where you can see all the important specifications of the VR headsets at a glance.

This comparison table uses several terms that indicate how the hardware is assembled. Based on these specifications, you can decide which VR headset is best for you. For example, are you looking for something that is great for gaming? Or are you going to use the VR headset in a business environment? There's a different VR headset for every situation. Need help picking out your VR headset? Don't hesitate to contact us!

The type of screen, also known as the display, is important for your viewing experience. In general, three types of screens are used: OLED, (super) AMOLED, and (dual) LCD. One is not necessarily better than the other, but they do have different properties. The first on this list, and perhaps the longest on the market, is LCD. This one is the most energy efficient due to its color efficiency, although the downside is that black colors can appear as dark gray. OLED, on the other hand, makes black colors appear truly black. Last on the list is AMOLED. The advantage of this is that it has a faster refresh rate, which makes the screen's response time smoother. However, this also makes it consume more energy. In general, only LCD and OLED are used in newer VR headsets.

The resolution of a VR headset indicates the number of pixels that can be displayed. This is usually represented as width x height (e.g., 1080x1200). The higher this resolution, the sharper the image. Note, however, that a VR headset often displays the image on two screens (one for each eye). The image resolution is therefore generally indicated 'per eye'.

The field of view, also known as FoV, shows how far you can look to the sides and above without turning your head. This is always indicated in degrees and can sometimes be mentioned both horizontally (left and right) and vertically (above and below). You might think; the higher the better, but this must be balanced with the weight and size of the headset. The sweet spot for most high-end models is between 110 and 120 degrees. When the field of view gets larger, you can start experiencing screen distortion. The disadvantage of this is that although you have a very wide field of view, it does not look very sharp.

The refresh rate says something about the extent to which the image is refreshed. With a low refresh rate, the image appears more stuttering, while a very high refresh rate makes the image appear much smoother. The refresh rate is directly related to the graphics power. This means that if you have a headset with a high refresh rate, and you want to play a graphically demanding game, you need a good graphics card to be able to play this game smoothly.

The tracking method says something about how a headset and its controllers can move in the room. SteamVR tracking is characterized by the base stations (or lighthouses) that are placed in the corners of the room. This method of tracking is often seen in VR arcades, as it provides the most reliable (360-degree) tracking under most circumstances. Inside-out tracking is becoming increasingly popular with many consumer headsets. This is due to the ease of use, as you no longer need to set up external sensors with inside-out tracking. The tracking in inside-out tracking takes place in the headset itself. The quality of the tracking often depends on how many inside-out tracking cameras are built into the headset (this varies from 3 to 6 pieces).

The recommended GPU is the graphics card that needs to be in the PC to display the VR headset in a beautiful and smooth way. In general, the higher the image resolution of the VR headset, the more powerful the GPU needs to be.

Curious about the right PC for your VR headset? Check out our range of VR-Certified Desktop PCs or contact our VR specialists!