What Are the Best Virtual Reality Devices?
Virtual reality is upon us, because it’s 2016 and we truly do live in the future. Virtual reality gaming is huge and getting huger, so you’ll probably want to know how to get on board. Never fear! This is our selection of the best virtual reality devices that you can buy today.
Big budget virtual reality: HTC Vive vs Oculus Rift
These devices are designed to be used with a gaming computer to give PC gamers the ultimate in gaming. There are two main products on the market that are considered to be the top of the range in today’s market.
About Oculus Rift ($599)
Oculus Rift is the long-awaited virtual reality kit from Oculus, now owned by Facebook. It has been very well-received by critics and users, which considering how hyped up the release was should tell you quite a bit about its quality!
The Oculus Rift gives a 1080×1200 resolution per eye and a 100-degree field of view, though it does need a considerable amount of high-end hardware to run games on.
About HTC Vive ($799)
The HTC Vive is pretty much the king of virtual reality gaming at the moment. A joint effort between tech giants HTC and gaming titans Valve, it’s designed by gamers for gamers and is considered to be the pinnacle of virtual reality gaming.
The sensors and headsets use room-scale technology to map the amount of free space in a room and ensure you have the most immersive experience possible. The headset gives an awesome 2160×1200 resolution for each eye, with a 110-degree field of view.
Virtual reality on the go: mobile virtual reality devices
You don’t need a crazy expensive gaming computer to experience the pure joy of virtual reality gaming. There are several virtual reality devices available for smartphone gamers, too.
Homido VR Headset (£39.56)
The Homido VR headset is compatible with devices bearing screens as small as 4” and as large as 5.7”. It boasts adjustable lenses and a 100-degree viewing field, plus alternate settings for the four-eyed amongst us; whether your glasses are compensating for short-sightedness or near-sightedness you can adjust the Homido to your tastes.
The headset is comfortable and easily adjustable, plus the fact that it sits so flush means that no external light is allowed past the visor – this gives you a totally immersive experience like no other!
Freefly VR Headset (£44.00)
Compatible with device screens of 4.7” to 6.1”, this is an extremely comfortable and functional headset for mobile gamers. The plush cushioning ensures a comfortable experience, while the fantastic clamp system keeps your phone firmly in place.
The Freefly VR Headset comes complete with a GLIDE Bluetooth controller and includes a mini-joystick for maximum control during your virtual reality adventures. While it’s one of the more expensive mobile virtual reality kits on the market, it’s well worth the extra price because you get so much bang for your buck!
Google Cardboard (£3.99)
None of the fancy mobile virtual reality kits would be possible without the original mobile kit in the shape of Google Cardboard. Literally made of cardboard, this cheap DIY kit doesn’t give the full functionality or cushioned comfort of other kits, but it can’t really be beaten for price!
That said, the universally-compatible cardboard kit can still give a great introduction to virtual reality gaming and might be worth an investment for anyone who wants to upgrade but isn’t sure if they’ll be into virtual gaming. For just a few quid, it’s well worth checking this out as a starter kit.
The future of virtual reality
Virtual reality isn’t all about gaming, as much as the proponents of the technology like to imagine it is! In fact, as virtual reality gets better and better, it’s quite likely that it will become useful in all aspects of everyday life.
The end of real casinos?
The live casino experience at an online casino already brings real dealers and real cards to players’ screens. Imagine a world in which the online casino experience and the live casino experience were indistinguishable thanks to virtual reality!
On the job training
The practical applications of virtual reality technology in dangerous jobs are amazing. Imagine soldiers who could experience dozens of battles, risk-free or doctors who could master surgical procedures without touching another human!
The drug of the future?
If virtual reality becomes as convincing as actual reality, will we see virtual reality addicts escaping their lives in a virtual world? Perhaps that’s already happened – are you totally sure that you’re in the actual world right now? Scary stuff!