In a crowded market with new virtual reality headsets coming out in the near future, determining which headsets best suit you can be time-consuming and tedious. This article will discuss the pros and cons of each headset, an overview, innovations, performance and graphics and the cutting edge technology that renders worlds around us. Simultaneously, we’ll show you the potential experience: the comfort, ease-of-use and price tag, providing recommendations based on both data and experience. We’ll discuss brands and their newest headsets, while also touching on older models, to give a fully-rounded view of the VR market, and its recent evolution.

 

Apple VR headset 2023: The Apple Vision Pro

The Apple Vision Pro was announced earlier this year but will see a roll out of around four hundred thousand units in early 2024. This new standalone VR headset boasts impressive technological advancements, although one should be wary of the outrageous price tag. Apple’s entry into the market comes from a recognition of virtual and augmented reality being the future of the workplace, and their product reflects that belief.

As one of the new VR headsets coming out, the Apple Vision Pro’s first aim is to distinguish itself from its competitors by fundamentally restructuring the way we work. Apple prioritises the showing of augmented and mixed reality. Using the company’s first 3D camera with ‘Apple silicon’ to introduce a new and dynamic way to connect over calls and watch movies in 4K pixel resolution per eye. The Vision Pro uses audio ray tracing paired with a dual-chip design, to further realise the user’s experience, with responsive surround sound ‘bouncing’ off physical objects. Apple also removed controllers entirely, instead tracking your fingers, and hence removing that limitation to make using it all the more natural.

High comfort is also a large selling point of the Vision Pro, as with any new VR headsets coming out, attempting to undo the clunky feel of previous models. The Fit Dial allows the headband to be adjusted to all shapes and sizes, while the Light Seal softly shifts to conform to your face, giving a cushioned and comfy end product.

Whilst it is one of the most anticipated new VR headsets coming out, the compatibility of the Vision Pro with games and apps not made by Apple remains unconfirmed. Currently, one can submit their game to be run by the headset, although nothing unofficial has been shown through the Vision Pro.

It is still unknown about the availability of this product. While the US will supposedly stock them by early 2024, the UK will have to wait until late 2024, again with no specific release date. This (combined with the $3,500 price and a battery life that cannot handle more than two hours of continuous use) has been stifling the excitement over this latest virtual reality headset.

In conclusion, the Apple Vision Pro will be the newest VR headset on the market, embodying the shift towards chicer, more elegant headsets, with some incredible specs and unrealised potential. With a futuristic flair, Apple desires to be the luxury brand that captures the high end of the extended reality market.

 

HTC VR headset 2023: the VIVE XR Elite

The new HTC VR headset, the VIVE XR Elite, was highly anticipated before its launch at the end of March, and upon its release, it can be deemed a true contender for the best VR headset 2023 has to offer. The elite intends to give the best gaming experience virtual reality has to offer, such as refined controllers with sensitive, reactive triggers and buttons, with a lightning-fast response time and six degrees of freedom.

The VIVE XR Elite intends to offer its users a standalone experience with broadened capabilities presented by wireless PC streaming. While other companies exclusively offer their libraries of games and apps, VIVE actively encourages the use of Steam for porting and playing their games. As one of the latest VR headsets, its focus on extended reality has also led to innovation both in rendering virtual objects, and placing them in the real world. Integrated into the VIVE XR Elite are 4 wide lens tracking cameras, a depth sensor and a high-resolution camera which, unlike other headsets, vibrantly shows the world in colour.

A Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 and 12 gigabytes of RAM make it the best new VR headset for performance, and, with a 90 hertz refresh rate, 3840×1920 combined resolution, it sets a graphical ability few can compete with. Embedded and echo-cancelling dual speakers ensure the audio you hear and speak is crisp and realistic. However, more impressive still is the sleek, minimalist design achieved with such power, the Elite appearing more like goggles than a headset, and its weight of 625 grams, which can be reduced if the larger battery is removed.

As possibly the best virtual reality headset 2023 has produced, the Stepless IPD and Diopter dial continue to increase the comfort of the Elite, easily enabling you to adjust the distance and width of the lenses, heavily reducing discomfort and motion sickness. As it is additionally counter-balanced and with a whole range of adjustable straps, it is almost too easy to forget you’re even wearing the Elite.

The Vive XR Elite delivers excellently on all it set out to complete. An uncompromising games list leaves consumers with options and flexibility, with a headset that gives its users the tools to play these games with optimised graphics settings. Although it is sold at £1300, this price debatably justifies itself by excelling in all categories. Its usefulness simply depends on whether you personally believe that this pioneering technology is worth its expense. However, if you decide it’s worth it, know that you’re far from alone, as it is the best VR headset 2023 Reddit, Instagram and even TikTok seem to agree.

 

New VR headset Samsung

Compared to the Apple Vision Pro, little is known about the collaboration between three tech industry giants: Qualcomm, Samsung and Google. What is known, however, is the inspiration taken from said Apple Vision Pro. As one of the more revolutionary and new VR headsets coming soon, only a supposed thirty thousand units (far fewer than the direct competitor) will hit the market in late 2024, holding our undivided attention.

Samsung’s older headsets have been discontinued by their manufacturer. While still available to purchase on Amazon, they’re sold at a slightly upscaled price and typically require a Samsung phone to use at all. Truth be told, they’re rather archaic when held up against the headsets of today, the only advantage really being its price tag, not too far above £100, with cheaper knockoffs being just shy of £50.

While for some this is a worthy point of purchase, they typically lack the comfort, excitement, or even effort of their more expensive counterparts. Perhaps, that’s why Samsung’s new headset will be costly, $2,000 being the expected price. While it is unfair to hold one headset so directly in comparison with another, it must be mentioned how much we know of Samsung’s work just due to its competitive streak. While Apple missed out on being the new VR headset 2023 had to offer due to poor execution and being forced to severely scale back its units made (from one million to four hundred thousand), Samsung has set a goal for a full calendar year in the future, with a far smaller roll out and a notably cheaper price.

The last headset released by Samsung was the Odyssey headset, which, while achieving some critical acclaim and respect for its comfort and good visuals, was unremarkable in such a saturated market. While this has left Samsung seemingly dormant since 2018, it’s suggested that research has continued. In the UK particularly, the time of release will match up with that of the Apple Vision Pro, sparking direct contention within the market. With the combined might of Samsung, Qualcomm and Google and so far careful, considerate research, planning and execution, can such a headset fail? Of the new VR headsets coming soon, this has to be the most interesting to watch.

In conclusion, there is a necessity to address two entirely different types of readers. Those looking at their cheaper older models will be pleased to find that while not as noticeably brilliant as other headsets, they work with little trouble with Samsung phones, while the Odyssey headset is unfortunately only available secondhand. Those looking for information on the upcoming Samsung headset have been given a full rundown on all we know and simply have to wait impatiently and eagerly for updates.

 

New Steam VR headset: the Valve Index VR Kit

The Valve Index VR Kit is arguably the best PC VR headset 2023 has. Upon release, with a smart tie-in where customers received a free copy of Half-Life Alyx, the headset saw massive success. It sold out almost everywhere. However, it is now restocked and available, proving that, while it was released a few years ago, Valve’s VR Kit stands up to the test of time.

The Valve Steam headset is not just one of any new VR headsets coming out as it uses IPS switching, a genius innovation known for its quicker response time, better colour accuracy and finer wide viewing lenses. The headset contains 8 gigabytes of RAM, more than enough for VR games, a dual-core processor with hyper-threading and two graphics processing units: the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 and AMD RX480. While both these GPUs are more than capable, they’re less powerful than most on the market, especially when compared to those within computers. However, this headset supplies the best of both worlds, having hardware that would not be out of place in a gaming computer compacted into a headset, which although noticeably chunkier than others, has far better specs.

The controller grips the knuckles of the hand, meaning that the wearer is freer in their interaction with the world. They also feel great to use, with ergonomically placed buttons, triggers and joysticks. Two Valve Index base stations strategically map out the room, emitting lasers to prevent those frustrating controller disconnections mid-game. The creative new controllers paired with the sturdy bases demonstrate thoughtful design considerations aimed at optimising the VR gaming experience and making it still one of the top VR headsets 2023 has on offer.

At 809 grams, the headset skews heavier, but most seasoned gamers accustomed to over-ear kits will find the weight unremarkable and soon forget they have it on. The materials feel durable yet comfortable, promising many hours of immersive gameplay free from common tracking hiccups that could jar you out of the moment. Though costing a pretty penny, this wireless virtual portal feels like an investment in top-notch technology and fun.

It comes with the standard adjustable straps and IPD, even going a step further with a cradle to support smaller heads. The attention to comfort however is significantly overshadowed by the wired aspect of the headset, which can lead to a clunky and uncomfortable experience for users. The virtual reality headsets new age has come about, and for many people, this will simply be a dealbreaker. While a Nofio wireless adapter is available on the wishlist on the Steam store, it will only be released within the first quarter of 2024 and is sold out at the high price of £363.

In conclusion, it’s £919 for the headset, controllers and bases, or £689 for just the headset and controllers. While significantly cheaper, the bases are recommended and are one of the more intriguing parts of the headset. Therefore, the judgement on this headset comes down to the emphasis placed on the gaming experience, and whether the comfort of wireless play comes before the refresh rate of 144 hertz and resolution of 1440 x 1600 pixels per eye.

 

Sony’s new virtual reality headset: the PS VR 2

Sony has always been one of the largest contenders within the virtual reality industry, and of the upcoming VR headsets 2023 promised, the PS VR 2 had to be the one I was personally most excited for. While requiring a PlayStation 5 to run, that means access to an exclusive catalogue of games, with big names such as Resident Evil or Gran Turismo.

The PS VR 2 is a direct successor of the PS VR and has improved on it in almost every single way, paving the way for possibly being the best new VR headset. It has a refresh rate of up to 120 hertz, with 2000 x 2040 pixel per eye OLED panels, each of course with IPD adjustments, giving a 110-degree field of view. The PS VR 2 has crisp visuals complemented by its built-in motion tracking and eye-tracking camera, allowing the screens to reflect a focus effect that feels more natural. The controllers are ‘DualSense’, giving adaptive triggers and haptic feedback, meaning that you can feel the rumble of an engine or the pressure needed to grip a ledge, engrossing you in the world. Finally, there are built-in surround-sound speakers, but also a 3.5mm audio jack, so one can play with headphones as well. A neat touch.

The PS VR 2 solves many issues that plagued the first. It’s far simpler to set up, with only a single port in which one has to plug, and it weighs in at 560 grams, shaving 40 grams off its predecessor. It has a minimalist finish, made to morph onto the face and sit incredibly comfortably, with comfortable straps and smart counterbalancing, culminating in that classic white finish. The PS VR 2 has one of the more stylish looks of the gaming headsets out today.

However, it still hasn’t moved beyond the wire. Fear of loss of performance stopped the headset going wireless, which while commendable, leaves it at a loss to other headsets. Additionally, while having access to a range of exclusives, the PS VR 2 suffers from the same loss as the PS VR has always suffered: a lack of a library. While I’m hopeful that new game releases may drum up hype, there’s no way past the fact that there simply is not that much to play.

In conclusion, the VR headsets coming out in 2023 caught a gem. The PS VR 2, while wired and in need of some more groundbreaking games, has some of the greatest guaranteed performance and crystal clear graphics of any headset on the market. It’s a stylish compliment to any PS5, and with a cost of around £530 pounds, it’s a must for any VR-inclined gamer.

 

Varjo’s Best New VR Headsets XR-4 Series

Varjo has always aimed to create the most true-to-life virtual and mixed reality experiences possible. Their headsets are built to mimic and enhance human vision through technological innovation. The new XR-4 series represents their most ambitious endeavour yet.

Featuring an expanded 120° x 105° field of view, the XR-4 allows users to finally experience true binocular vision in XR. This creates a sense of depth and immersion unlike anything else in the industry today. Dual 20-megapixel front-facing cameras enable crisp video pass-through at an unheard of 51 pixels per degree, replicating how the human eye sees the real world. This allows for the seamless blending of virtual content into real environments.

The XR-4 also sports Varjo’s highest resolution displays ever at a stunning 28 million pixels per eye. Aspheric lenses work in conjunction with these displays to provide unparalleled visual clarity, with colour accuracy on par with real life. For mixed reality uses, the XR-4 Focal edition adds gaze-driven autofocus to bring virtual objects into perfect focus just as the human eye does.

By pairing with high-end gaming PCs and NVIDIA graphics cards, the possibilities are endless when it comes to software compatibility and performance. Varjo built the XR-4 to handle even the most demanding professional 3D applications with ease.

Once again, Varjo is showing they are the leader when it comes to mimicking and enhancing human vision through XR technology. The XR-4 series takes immersive virtual and mixed reality to exciting new heights.

 

The newest Oculus VR headset: The Quest 3

The Oculus Quests have been a staple of the VR, AR and XR communities from their conception. Meta reportedly holds a 49% market share of all things VR, making them a working monopoly within the industry, and with great reason. The Quest 2 was cheap, reliable, wireless, powerful and finally simple. I’m sure many readers have one, as do I, and I’m sure many readers have fond memories with it.

So when the Oculus Quest 3 was announced as the new standalone VR headset, it had great shoes to fill. It started shipping on October 10th 2023, selling around two and a half million units so far. It comes with either 128 gigabytes of storage or 512, with the latter being more expensive, and surprisingly possibly more popular. While it’s readily available in 128GB, sometimes the 512GB is out of stock, which is just something to keep in mind if you decide to purchase.

Leaps and bounds have been made in the comfort of the Quest 3. While weighing a measly twelve grams more than the Quest 2, for a total weight of 515 grams, the dragging effect of the headset is far more minimised on the Quest 3. Long-term veterans of the Quest 2 know that the strap will grow uncomfortable and need replacing, while the hard mesh that holds the goggles to your eyes will push into your head, leaving visible red rings. The Quest 3 solves this with a strap far better designed to shape the head and a far softer mesh that delicately holds your eyes in place, as all new vr headsets coming out do so well.

The Quest 3 has 2064×2208 pixels per eye and a 120 hertz refresh rate, using the Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2, and 8 gigabytes of RAM to deliver a stunning final product. The built-in audio is cleaner, although you can use bluetooth headphones if that’s your prerogative. The controllers are responsive and well-designed, the menus and set-up are just as easy to navigate, and the Quest 3 provides one of the simplest and most streamlined experiences of any headset.

In conclusion, with a price of £620 for 512GB, or of £480 for 128GB, the Quest 3 is incredibly cost efficient. It’s a standalone, wireless, consumer-friendly powerhouse, that’s able to run your favourite games with ease and is a must upgrade from the Quest 2.

For my final points, those with a PS5 may wish to look towards the PS VR 2, while those willing to pay premium prices and wait may want to look towards Apple or Samsung. The Valve Index VR Kit and Vive XR Elite will provide gaming experiences few can replicate, and for those more gaming-oriented may well be worth the money. While those who are casual, want something relatively cheap and well worth the money or simply want a quick and easy-to-use headset that allows for amazing experiences will want to affirm their gaze strictly towards the Quest 3.