- BEST HEADSET FOR GAMING AND MUSIC 2017 UPGRADE
- BEST HEADSET FOR GAMING AND MUSIC 2017 ANDROID
- BEST HEADSET FOR GAMING AND MUSIC 2017 SOFTWARE
The Oculus Rift is also easier to set up than the Vive, since its two sensors can be placed right around your monitor. You can always get room-scale performance later by adding another sensor. It's more comfortable, its controllers are far more compact and easy to hold, and it still works with SteamVR titles. While the Vive still has the advantage when it comes to room-scale VR experiences, overall the Oculus Rift remains the better option for most gamers. The HTC Vive costs $599, which is pricey but still a solid discount from its original $799 MSRP. The Rift is now just $399 bundled with its excellent Touch Controllers. The Oculus Rift and HTC Vive are still the main contenders, and while they haven't seen any major hardware upgrades since last year, they're both considerably cheaper than they were at launch.
Things get a bit more interesting when you look at high-end, PC-powered VR headsets.
BEST HEADSET FOR GAMING AND MUSIC 2017 SOFTWARE
It has not only a better controller but also a larger software library, thanks in part to some help from Oculus. While you'd have a good experience with the Gear VR and Daydream View, if you have the option, we'd recommend sticking with Samsung's platform. If you own a Galaxy S8, S8+ or Note8, though, you can choose between either VR platform. The main advantage with Google's Daydream platform is that it supports multiple phones: In addition to the Pixel phones, it also works with the Moto Z and Z2, LG V30, and a few others. Unfortunately, the Gear VR still only works with Samsung smartphones, so it's not the best option if you've recently upgraded to another model. In particular, it has a trigger button, which is essential for interacting with virtual reality environments. (You can get the Gear VR and controller together for $140.) While Google launched the Daydream View with a controller before Samsung, the Gear VR's version is better overall.
BEST HEADSET FOR GAMING AND MUSIC 2017 UPGRADE
It also costs just $40 on its own, making it a no-brainer upgrade for anyone who already owns Samsung's headset.
This year, Samsung finally released a motion controller for the Gear VR, which impressed us with its accurate tracking and comfortable design. The Gear VR has been around since 2015, and it's steadily evolved alongside the company's smartphones. Thanks to a bit of help from Oculus, Samsung enjoyed a big head start in this arena.
BEST HEADSET FOR GAMING AND MUSIC 2017 ANDROID
If you have a compatible Android smartphone, you can also choose from Google's Daydream View or Samsung's Gear VR. You don't need an expensive computer or PlayStation 4 to dip your toes into virtual reality. We've gone from having too few VR options to having too many. This year, VR headsets got cheaper, simpler (especially with Microsoft's new Mixed Reality platform) and more worthwhile, thanks to the launch of new immersive titles like Rez Infinite. It promised to be the biggest technological shift since the rise of smartphones - and potentially since the dawn of the internet. While the technology made its big consumer debut in 2016, with the launch of the Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and PlayStation VR, we also spent plenty of time anticipating its arrival. It's crazy to think how far VR has come over the past few years.