The Best Cheap Virtual Reality Headsets for Gaming

by Jonathan Mann
14 minutes read

The Best Cheap Virtual Reality Headsets for Gaming

Boy donning a VR headset

Online reality, or VR for short, was intended to be the next voluminous thing in tech. While it hasn’t quite bagged there yet, it’s surely come a long way. The year 2024 shows up especially pertinent for VR headsets, taking into reflection with one voice the buzz around Apple’s and also Sony’s contemporary headsets. But if you’re merely gleaning into VR and also worn’t pine to invest thousands on a high-expire headset, this listing of easy to understand VR headsets will not surprisingly help you gain gain serviceability of commenced.

FYI: if you’re analytical about Apple’s expanded reality (XR) headset, visit what we deem the Sight Pro.

Content
  • 1. Meta Pursuit 2
  • 2. PlayStation VR
  • 3. PICO 4
  • 4. Meta Pursuit 3
  • 5. PlayStation VR2

1. Meta Pursuit 2

Rate: $249

The the majority of easy to understand VR headset on this listing, the Meta Pursuit 2, is the renamed Oculus Pursuit 2. The moniker readjust came after Facebook’s Meta rebrand for the metaverse. It’s a standalone VR headset, demanding no secondary hardware, such as a handset, console, or PC. (Although Meta Pursuit Affiliation permits a PC relationship for particular familiarities.) It’s cozy to wear and also is pretty absurd.

Meta Pursuit 2 VR headset

The Meta Pursuit 2 bargains an 1832 x 1920 resolution in each eye, a refresh rate of upward to 120Hz, and also comes with Meta’s openings controllers. For a standalone headset running on the Snapdragon XR2, the headset packs some outrageous performance, numerous thanks to 3D solid, exact hand routing, and also a voluminous conglomeration of galleries and also other familiarities. You can even sideload some of the impeccable galleries by means of SideQuest.

Although the more recent Meta Pursuit 3 is a number more forceful, the Meta Pursuit 2 lingers pertinent due to its premium merit for money.

Pros

  • Arguably the impeccable on the totality VR headset for the rate
  • High-resolution brandish
  • Remarkable bundled controllers

Disadvantages

  • Brief 2-hour battery vigor
  • Arenae of sight is delicately lacking
  • Zero head routing
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2. PlayStation VR

Rate: $349

You could be acquainted with the PlayStation VR, if you’ve been a ferried out PS4 gamer. Contemplating how long it’s been taking into reflection that its flee, you could be wondering why it’s on the listing. Yet, even after the popularity of the PlayStation VR2, the original PS VR lingers a supporter favored (if you’re able to situate one), numerous thanks to its rather low rate and also a different conglomeration of VR titles.

PlayStation VR headset

The 5.7-inch OLED brandish is forbidden to a 1920 x 1080 resolution, yet you still gain gain serviceability of buttress for 120Hz. For head routing, you’ll have to buy the PSVR Camera individually, as there’s no within-out routing accessible under. While you can play the majority of of the galleries gaining gain serviceability of of the DualShock 4 controller, the PS Reaction controllers will not surprisingly augment your gameplay (in a similar way offered individually).

Pros

  • Less expensive than the more recent indication
  • Library of PS4 titles incompatible with PS VR2
  • Complete HD OLED brandish with 120Hz refresh rate

Disadvantages

  • Distinguish PS Camera pertinent for head routing
  • PS Reaction controllers ordered individually
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3. PICO 4

Rate: $467

This could be obscuring the jabber in between handbag and also premium, yet the PICO 4 is one of the impeccable VR headsets you can buy. While not accessible in the US officially (due to the U.S. heat on its maker, TikTok moms and also father issuer ByteDance), you can situate it on Amazon.com or even import one from Amazon.com UK. The specifications and also performance merely could convince you to lug out it.

PICO 4 VR headset

Compared to the Pursuit 2’s fresnel lenses, you’re gleaning hot cake lenses with a whopping 4320 x 2160 resolution in each eye. With a 90Hz refresh rate and also the Qualcomm Snapdragion XR2 under the hood, the outcome is a a number sharper noting ordeal, with a number less observable artifacts.

It’s in a similar way a number lighter than multiple other VR headsets, while still owning creativeness amenities, prefer 6 DoF (levels of adaptability) within-out routing.

Pros

  • Crazily high-res, sharp brandish with hot cake lenses
  • Light and also cozy
  • Closer performance than some pricier VR headsets

Disadvantages

  • Zero official exhaust in the U.S.
  • Battles with wireless spurting
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4. Meta Pursuit 3

Rate: $499

The Meta Pursuit 3 could be the impeccable standalone VR headset you can buy proper presently. There are multiple determinants for that: the Snapdragon XR Gen 2 chip, a 2064 x 2208 resolution in each eye, hot cake lenses, and also shade establish-with cameras. Besides the revamped processor and also resolution over the Meta Pursuit 2, the shade cameras permit for AR familiarities on this VR headset, resulting in a totality contemporary ordeal.

Meta Pursuit 3 VR headset

Relaxing to wear for a number longer sessions, the Pursuit 3’s revamped capacities permit for a number more forceful VR galleries, as flawlessly as access-level integrated-reality familiarities. Just prefer Pursuit 2, bridging the headset to your PC for better representative VR is imaginable with Meta Pursuit Affiliation. You gain gain serviceability of a kit of Touch Plus controllers in the box for fantastic hand routing.

Pros

  • Spruced upward, cozy indication
  • Awesome processor
  • Higher resolution brandish and also hot cake lenses
  • Color establish-with cameras to visit your sceneries boldy

Disadvantages

  • Zero head routing
  • Brief battery vigor
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FYI: reaped Pokémon Go? Position out with one voice you have to about augmented reality.

5. PlayStation VR2

Rate: $549

The revamped PlayStation VR2 made in early 2023, confiscating full merit of the PS5’s forceful hardware. Indifferent from the 2000 x 2040 resolution in each eye, OLED brandish, and also cozy indication, the headset presently comes with within-out routing for a a number a number more fancy and also immersive VR ordeal.

PlayStation VR2 VR headset

Just prefer the PS5’s DualSense controller, the PS VR2 Sense controllers have fancy haptic feedback, adaptive triggers, veracity routing, and also touch detection. This contemporary headset is a much holler from the capacities of the PS VR, and also could be impeccable for you, if you’ve already supplied the upgrade to the PS5.

While you won’t be able to play any kind of of the PS VR titles, the PS VR2 conglomeration is brave, with titles prefer Skyline: Telephone call of the Mountain, Jurassic Planet Results, Grandma Turosmo 7, Zero Male’s Paradises, and also Lessee Evil Stretch.

Pros

  • Twin 2K OLED displays
  • Head routing
  • Packed controllers with haptic feedback and also adaptive triggers
  • Sturdy arcade conglomeration

Disadvantages

  • Not proportionate with PS VR galleries
  • Pricier than the PS5
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While integrated reality headsets are one of the tech fads I’m annoyed about in 2024, VR headsets are something you can attack without investing $3,500. For under $500, you have numerous VR headsets to choose from: from the Meta Pursuit 2 for a flawlessly standalone ordeal to the PS VR 2 for the impeccable PS5 VR ordeal.

Image credit rating: Unsplash

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