You might be curious about the price of a VR headset now that it is gradually becoming more widely used. Since technology is becoming more affordable and there is a greater desire for affordable equipment, these gadgets are no longer as pricey as they once were. In fact, the greatest VR headsets are now available at relatively affordable costs.
What does a low-cost VR headset cost?
The Google Cardboard, a $9.99 box constructed of (you guessed it) cardboard, used to be the most affordable VR headset. The idea was to simply wrap your phone in the card and place it on your head.
Numerous low-cost gadgets have entered the market since the demise of Google’s initial incarnation. A smartphone headset with a comfortable strap, ventilation in the padding, and anti-glare lenses that should help with any motion sickness is available for less than $50 / £50. It also runs off your smartphone.
These inexpensive gadgets, which can run as low as $15, do not provide the immersive VR experience that is currently being promoted. Since very few of these less expensive devices come with controllers or body tracking, your options will be limited to smaller gyro-based minigames, 360° video apps, and social spaces.
However, there is no harm in playing around with one of these more novelty-focused gadgets if you want to test out this technology before spending more money on a headset. You’ll be able to determine if it’s a playstyle you can support, but it’s important to remember that you’ll probably encounter more visual disruptions.
What is the cost of a midrange VR headset?
There aren’t many VR headsets for PCs available for between $100 and $300. The experience for PC owners is considerably different from console-specific sets like the Nintendo Switch Labo system and PlayStation VR (PSVR 2 will probably cost a little more), which will sit a lot cheaper.
There is no way to scale down these components and yet offer acceptable value for money, despite the fact that this technology is undoubtedly becoming more affordable. We wouldn’t advise spending this much money on a headset that will still be powered by your smartphone because the experience wouldn’t be worth it.
The Oculus Quest 2 is the most affordable mid-range headset as a result. The most popular headset on the market, priced at $299.99 / £299.99, is the one we’d suggest to the great majority of first-timers. Quest 2 is the standard option for most people. It is a self-contained unit that utilizes its own CPU while still being able to connect to a PC or laptop for more demanding games.
Although you’re not spending extra money on high-end tracking or a more opulent display resolution, there is enough power under the hood to provide a solid virtual reality experience. The price of a midrange VR headset can reach as high as $600. Both the HP Reverb G2 and the HTC Vive Cosmos Elite belong to this category.
However, the former does have a few limitations that blur the line between mid-range and top-of-the-line. We frequently observe this with headsets costing more than $500; while the device itself can be purchased for this mid-range price, additional monitoring stations will set you back another $200 to make the product genuinely premium.
How much does a premium VR headset cost?
You should budget upwards of $800 if you want the best of the best. The $799 HTC Vive Pro 2 improves your experience over less expensive devices with a higher 2448 x 2448 per eye resolution and improved motion tracking.
However, the complete Valve Index kit will cost you $999, which is at the very top of the price range. Although the headset costs $499.99 on its own, it cannot function without the costly tracking stations and controllers. With the most advanced display and tracking technologies and the capacity to run extremely demanding games, this is the top-of-the-line.
If you are interested in more articles like this, here’s one about how to make augmented reality art.