Skip to main content
Tech Radar TechRadar the technology experts
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
RSS
Asia
flag of Singapore
Singapore
Europe
flag of Danmark
Danmark
flag of Suomi
Suomi
flag of Norge
Norge
flag of Sverige
Sverige
flag of UK
UK
flag of Italia
Italia
flag of Nederland
Nederland
flag of België (Nederlands)
België (Nederlands)
flag of France
France
flag of Deutschland
Deutschland
flag of España
España
North America
flag of US (English)
US (English)
flag of Canada
Canada
flag of México
México
Australasia
flag of Australia
Australia
flag of New Zealand
New Zealand
  • Phones
  • Computing
  • TVs
  • AI
  • Streaming
  • Health
  • Audio
  • VPN
  • More
    • Cameras
    • Home
    • News
    • Reviews
    • Opinion
    • How to
    • Versus
    • Deals
    • Coupons
    • Best
Tech Radar Pro
Tech Radar Gaming
Trending
  • Back to school
  • Nintendo Switch 2
  • Best VPN
  • ChatGPT
  • NYT Wordle today
  • Best laptop
  • Best web hosting
Recommended reading
A ship docked on a red and blue planet, littered with bulbs of glowing light and dense foliage
Virtual Reality Gaming Best VR games in 2025
Best VR headsets
Virtual Reality Gaming The best VR headsets in 2025: top virtual reality headsets from Meta, Valve and more
Meta Quest 3S hands on
Virtual Reality & Augmented Reality Meta Quest 4 reportedly delayed until 2027 – and we could see a whole new kind of Meta VR headset
The Valve Index VR headset
Virtual Reality & Augmented Reality Valve deckard VR headset described as ‘quite amazing’ but there’s still no word on its launch
An orange Meta Quest 3 and its controllers on a blue plastic plinth in front of a blank wall
Virtual Reality & Augmented Reality Meta Quest 4: 5 things I want to see from Meta's next VR headset
A variety of Android XR headsets and glasses users in a collage
Virtual Reality & Augmented Reality Google finally gave us a closer look at Android XR – here are 4 new things we've learned
Google Android XR, Glasses, and Project Moohan
Virtual Reality & Augmented Reality Google’s Android XR glasses look like its most exciting gadget in years – but the headset leaves me wanting more
  1. Gaming
  2. Virtual Reality Gaming

4 VR headsets that could blow away Oculus Rift and HTC Vive

News
By Jon Porter published 8 July 2016

Virtual Reality's future: PlayStation VR, Hololens and more

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Introduction

Introduction

Thanks to the release of the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift the age of VR has already begun, but there's still a lot more to look forward to on the horizon.

From the debut of console VR with the PlayStation VR to Razer's open-source headset, there's much more that we haven't seen from virtual reality yet, and that's without even mentioning Microsoft's long-awaited foray into augmented reality, the Hololens.

We've assembled a list of the Best VR headsets that are available right now, but read on if you can't wait to see what's just around the corner...

Page 1 of 5
Page 1 of 5
1. PlayStation VR

1. PlayStation VR

The Oculus Rift and HTC Vive are excellent pieces of hardware, but the kind of PC you need to run them is an expensive piece of kit. This is where Sony's PlayStaion VR might just end up having a huge advantage, you can power it using a standard PlayStation 4.

But don't rush out to pre-order one just yet. Rumours have been circulating that the upcoming PS4 refresh, the PlayStation 4.5 may come about to offer a more complete VR experience.

The PSVR hardware itself also stands out: the latest model is the most stylish and comfortable VR headset we've used. The internal components are also of a high quality, and special mention has to go to the headset's 120Hz refresh rate, which really helps to eliminate motion sickness.

The best PlayStation VR preorder deals

Read our hands on review: PlayStation VR

Page 2 of 5
Page 2 of 5
2. Microsoft Hololens

2. Microsoft Hololens

Microsoft raised a lot of eyebrows a couple of years ago when it first showed off the HoloLens, which technically isn't VR, but rather a holographic computing device, it's 'Augmented Reality' if you will.

Instead of immersing the player in an entirely computer-generated world, HoloLens adds interactive holograms to the space you already inhabit. Microsoft showed demos of people building Minecraft structures on top of their tables, exploring objects such as a motorbikes, or being able to create video feeds on any surface you like.

It's impressive technology, but its uniqueness could also be its weakness: while most VR games are being made to work across multiple VR platforms, HoloLens is a very distinct proposition.

It also seems like one that Microsoft is positioning as an office productivity device in addition to a gaming device, and this may end up hurting its chances with gamers.

With no word yet on a consumer version's release date or pricing, Microsoft's HoloLens is still a bit of an unknown at this point, but we'll be very interested to see if AR ends up being as big of a deal as VR feels right now.

Read our hands on review: Microsoft HoloLens

Page 3 of 5
Page 3 of 5
3. Razer OSVR HDK 2

3. Razer OSVR HDK 2

OSVR stands for Open Source Virtual Reality, so everything about the platform is open and freely available. You can even download the 3D files and create your own headset, if you like.

However, Razer has done the hard work for you with its own OSVR hardware, which will see the release of its second Dev Kit in July 2016 for $399. The hardware is pretty impressive given that low price: the 2160 x 1200 resolution dual-display is on par with both the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift, as is its resolution and field of view. That said however, with just one camera tracking movement, the OSVR's solution isn't as sophisticated as the Vive's.

The OSVR consortium is also backed by some big names, including Leap Motion, who make one of the better motion controllers on the market, and Gearbox Software, developer of the excellent Borderlands series.

After spending some time with the OSVR HDK 2 at this year's E3 we can honestly say that while this one may not give the Vive or Oculus Rift a run for their money in a one-on-one fight, it might have potential as a cheap, DIY VR headset for enthusiasts.

Read our hands on review: Razer OSVR HDK 2

Page 4 of 5
Page 4 of 5
4. Sulon Q

4. Sulon Q

The Sulon Q is a combination of an augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR), but what's really interesting is that it offers this all while being completely tether-less, meaning it has no wires connecting you to your PC or console

The result is a greatly increased amount of freedom, but the downside is that the Sulon Q has to include a battery pack and processor on its rear to power the headset. With no consumer version released we don't yet know how long the headset's battery life with last.

With a 2,560 x 1,440 resolution screen the Sulon Q is actually higher resolution than both the Vive and the Rift, but we'll have to wait until it's released to see if it's onboard processing can compete with the power of a full desktop PC.

Read our first impressions: Sulon Q

Page 5 of 5
Page 5 of 5
Jon Porter
Jon Porter
Social Links Navigation

Jon Porter is the ex-Home Technology Writer for TechRadar. He has also previously written for Practical Photoshop, Trusted Reviews, Inside Higher Ed, Al Bawaba, Gizmodo UK, Genetic Literacy Project, Via Satellite, Real Homes and Plant Services Magazine, and you can now find him writing for The Verge.

Read more
A ship docked on a red and blue planet, littered with bulbs of glowing light and dense foliage
Best VR games in 2025
Best VR headsets
The best VR headsets in 2025: top virtual reality headsets from Meta, Valve and more
Meta Quest 3S hands on
Meta Quest 4 reportedly delayed until 2027 – and we could see a whole new kind of Meta VR headset
The Valve Index VR headset
Valve deckard VR headset described as ‘quite amazing’ but there’s still no word on its launch
An orange Meta Quest 3 and its controllers on a blue plastic plinth in front of a blank wall
Meta Quest 4: 5 things I want to see from Meta's next VR headset
A variety of Android XR headsets and glasses users in a collage
Google finally gave us a closer look at Android XR – here are 4 new things we've learned
Latest in Virtual Reality Gaming
The Meta Quest 3S Xbox edition
Move over ROG Xbox Ally – the real first portable Xbox is here, and it’s a gorgeous VR headset
Girl wearing Meta Quest 3 headset interacting with a jungle playset
I test Meta Quest 3 games for a living – here are my 6 favorite deals from Meta's Mega Summer Sale
Hamish wearing Xreal glasses holding the Nintendo Switch 2
Xreal already 'working on a solution' to Nintendo Switch 2's devastating lack of AR glasses support
The Meta Quest 3S on a red background with text saying Big Savings.
Snap up the excellent Meta Quest 3S with Batman: Arkham Shadow for a record-low price at Best Buy
Deadpool with his head split open as drawings circle around him
I can’t believe Deadpool is finally making his gaming return, and it’s as a hilarious Meta Quest 3 exclusive
an image of a guard in a courtyard in Thief VR: Legacy of Shadow
PS5’s Thief VR could make me love my PSVR 2 again
Latest in News
Dominic McLaughlin dresses as Harry Potter
HBO’s Harry Potter TV show begins production, and one first-look costume is already spot-on
Elmo gets hacked
Elmo didn't love this – hackers took over his account and it's probably because of a mistake you can easily avoid
The Dynamic Island on a yellow background
The iPhone’s Dynamic Island will get a “significant evolution,” one leaker says, but I’m skeptical about their claims
A PC gamer celebrating, sat in a gaming chair in front of a monitor
Nvidia's free speed boost for all PC games is no longer exclusive to its newest GPUs – here's which older cards are about to get it
6-year-old Falcon stuck underneath the UFO balloon
Trainwreck has dominated Netflix’s top 10 for weeks, but Balloon Boy might be the series’ most unhinged installment yet
Giant eye watching at man working at the computer. Surveillance, hacking, internet security concept. Flat vector illustration.
The Spanish Government wants Huawei to monitor for system wiretaps
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. 1
    Google Gemini can be hijacked to display fake email summaries in phishing scams
  2. 2
    HBO’s Harry Potter TV show begins production, and one first-look costume is already spot-on
  3. 3
    The top 10 most-streamed TV shows of 2025 so far are missing some of my favorites – here are 5 series you shouldn’t ignore
  4. 4
    This Bluetooth DAC and headphone amp with cool VU meter looks like super-luxe audio upgrade, but it's actually stunningly well-priced
  5. 5
    No trade needed - one of last year's best foldable smartphones is free with a plan at Total Wireless today

TechRadar is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Web notifications
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...