Three virtual reality headsets are expected to roll out this year. These are the HTC Vive, the Oculus Rift and the PlayStation VR. There are a handful of already available virtual reality devices in the market right now. However, these three upcoming headsets are considered by tech analysts to be the cream of the crop.
First is the Oculus Rift, the flagship device from the Facebook-owned company Oculus VR. The headset costs $599 and is scheduled to be released on March 28. This virtual reality headset is one of the first consumer-targeted device. The headset has a 1080 x 1200 resolution on each eye and a 90Hz refresh rate. To fully immerse users into the virtual reality experience, it also comes with a powerful integrated headphone that supports 3D Audio effect.
As for its contents, titles like "Project CARS," "Elite: Dangerous," "Dirt Rally," and "Euro Truck Simulator 2" all announced that they have released support for the Oculus Rift.
The HTC Vive was released for preorder on Feb. 29. Recently, HTC claims that in just a matter of 10,000, the HTC Vive received more than 15,000 preorders upon its launch, according to IT Pro. The official release date of the Vive is on April 5.
Just like the Oculus Rift, the HTC Vive has a 1080 x 1200 resolution per eye and a refresh rate of 90Hz. Field of view is estimated to be about 110 degrees. Of the three virtual reality headsets, the HTC Vive, so far, is the most expensive at $800.
Both the HTC Vive and the Oculus Rift also requires a high-end desktop PC in order to fully render virtual reality environments.
Finally, the PlayStation VR, the upcoming virtual reality device from Sony Computer Entertainment. The flagship Sony virtual reality device was previously known as Project Morpheus.
Compared to the two previously mentioned devices, the PlayStation VR sits at the bottom in terms of specs. It has a 960 x 1080 resolution per eye. According to PC Advisor, despite its low video resolution, it does have a 120Hz refresh rate which many experts believe will help the device render a smooth virtual reality experience.
Sony has yet to confirm the official release date of the PlayStation VR although the company have already hinted to a possible first half release this year. Regarding its price, market analysts believe that the device will cost just as much as the PlayStation 4 which is around $399.