THE ALTERNATIVES
The other headsets vying for your attention
PLAYSTATION VR2
Sony’s second attempt to crack the VR market arrived in the form of PSVR 2 in February 2023, reducing the wires, making it a more ergonomic design and adding close to four times as many pixels. One of its biggest assets against rivals is the games, specifically that the Japanese developer will be making experiences for the unit over the coming years, like Horizon Call of the Mountain, Gran Turismo 7 and
Resident Evil Village. While PSVR 2 isn’t backwards compatible with the original, some games did get upgrades with those who purchased them the first time around able to nab them again for free. The only other downside is the requirement to own a PS5 to run the headset.
$878, playstation.com
HP REVERB G2
Now a few years older than its counterparts, the HP Reverb G2 is the latest offering from the US tech firm but is still competitive when it comes to resolution for the cost, with a 90Hz refresh rate and 2,160 x 2,160 pixel resolution per eye. Designed for SteamVR and Windows Mixed Reality (though there’s very little here in terms of mixed reality), a PC with reasonably high specs is needed to get the most out of its 499g unit. It’s wired too, so anyone looking for the freedom of wireless needs to look elsewhere. On the other hand, it’s extremely simple to get started, one of the most accessible ways to play Steam games in VR and known for having amazing speakers at
this price point.
$975, hp.com
HTC VIVE XR ELITE
Capable of both VR and MR, the HTC Vive XR Elite made its way
to store shelves as more of a high-end product with over 100 experiences at launch. Another standalone unit, it has a resolution of 1,920 x 1,920 per eye with the ability to stream via an Android device or be plugged into a PC (just make sure it’s got high enough specs to match it). Similar in look to the Meta Quest Pro thanks to its gogglelike face mask, the VIVE features a full colour RGB passthrough camera and is designed for everything from gaming to fitness to work. One of the best examples is using multiple virtual screens while still
using a real-world mouse and keyboard. Very Tony Stark.
$1,499, vive.com
VALVE INDEX
From the makers behind Portal, Half-Life and Team Fortress, it was only a matter of time before Valve got into the VR business. Now the
oldest model here, the Valve Index has continuously been praised as one of the best for PC game fans – there are well over 200 Steam titles to be played. All of this is enhanced by the 1,440 x 1,600 pixel resolution, 144Hz refresh rate, 130-degree field of view and Valve Index Controllers that support any headset that can run SteamVR tracking, such as the HTC Vive. Audio and tracking are other high points, even if it’s a bit weightier (809g) than a lot of its opponents. You also get one of the best VR games to date in Half-Life: Alyx as an
added bonus on purchase.
$2,950, steampowered.com