Virtual reality is the most popular system in the current world of entertainment. Today, I’ll walk you through the 12 best VR headsets to buy in India right now.
What is virtual reality?
Virtual reality, also known as “VR”, allows a person to interact with an artificial world.
Virtual reality as the name suggests it is virtual, not physical, a 3D environment that is ‘near-reality’. It gives me the experience of being in some other place or place that is completely different like those in sci-fi movies, these are called simulated environments created by computer technology.
It alters all of our major senses like vision, hearing, touch, and smell, the virtual reality devices are a gateway to the artificial world created by computers.
In easy terms, VR technology makes your senses experience the virtual environment or places as if you’re really there. Also, it makes it possible to interact with virtual elements.
For further reading on VR technology, refer to this article.
What are Virtual Reality headsets?
The most common virtual reality device that you’ll see in the market is the head-mounted display variant. They are the gateway to the virtual world for the people wearing them.
This device gives the user a computer-generated 3D environment. Virtual reality is now popular in education, industry, travel, film, and games.
By attaching your smartphones to VR headsets, you can explore the world of virtual reality.
It could be something like swimming in the ocean, an adventure ride on a roller coaster, being near wild animals, etc.
You can download various VR video apps from App Store or Google Play Store for free.
VR devices are manufactured by different companies, each having a variety of features, specifications, and prices according to it.
Typically Virtual Headsets have the following tracking sensors:
- Head Motion Tracking Sensors
- Gyroscopes
- Accelerometers
- Magnetometers
- Eye-tracking Sensors
- Some Have Gaming Controllers
Top Virtual Reality Headset Brands in India
- Oculus
- HP
- HTC
- Lenovo
- Samsung
- PlayStation
Here in this article, I have chosen the Best VR headsets in India which are affordable and worth their price.
- Standalone VR Headsets
- VR headsets with controllers
- VR Headset for Smartphones
- VR Headsets for PC
Final Verdict:
Category | Recommended Product |
---|---|
Best Overall | Meta Quest 2 |
Best for Gamers | Valve Index |
Best for PS5 Gamers | PlayStation VR2 |
Best for Enterprise | HP Reverb G2 |
Best Budget Option | Oculus Go |
Let me know if you’d like me to make any adjustments!
Top 5 VR Headsets in India with their specs:
Product | Meta Quest 2 | Valve Index | PlayStation VR2 | HP Reverb G2 | Oculus Go |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Price | ₹34,999 | ₹74,999 | ₹49,999 | ₹59,999 | ₹24,999 |
Resolution | 1832 x 1920 per eye | 1832 x 1920 per eye | 2000 x 2040 per eye | 2160 x 2160 per eye | 1832 x 1920 per eye |
Refresh Rate | Up to 90Hz | Up to 144Hz | Up to 120Hz | Up to 90Hz | Up to 72Hz |
Controllers | Touch Pro Controllers | Index Controllers | DualSense Controllers | Motion Controllers | Oculus Go Controller |
Compatibility | Standalone | PC-based | PS5 console | PC-based | Standalone |
Weight | 470g | 809g | 600g | 520g | 470g |
Field of View | 89° | 135° | 110° | 114° | 100° |
Tracking System | Inside-out tracking | Outside-in tracking | Inside-out tracking | Inside-out tracking | Inside-out tracking |
Audio | Spatial audio | 3D audio | 3D audio | Spatial audio | Spatial audio |
Storage | 64GB, 128GB, 256GB | 128GB, 256GB | 256GB | 128GB, 256GB | 32GB, 64GB |
Battery Life | Up to 4-5 hours | Up to 2-3 hours | Up to 4-5 hours | Up to 3-4 hours | Up to 2-3 hours |
Note: Specifications may be subject to change and may not be comprehensive. Please refer to the manufacturer’s website for the latest and detailed specifications.
12 Best Virtual Reality Headsets in India
Let’s get into the details.
PS VR with Camera Bundle
This is truly made for gaming, all you have to do is just plug & play. Sony PlayStation VR2 is one of the best VR headsets in the world.
Sony was among the world’s leading companies that were working on virtual reality technology.
PS VR comes with the camera bundle, you’re getting all the necessary attachments.
The HMD has a 5.7-inch big OLED 1080p resolution screen with an FoV of 100 degrees.
The refresh rate is 120Hz which is really cool. To make the immersion experience even better it has 3D audio technology.
So you’re looking for some great VR gaming experience then PS VR2 can deliver that with a 6 axis motion sensing system i.e. 6DoF.
Pros:
- Seamless integration with PS5
- Advanced controllers with haptic feedback
- High-resolution graphics
Cons:
- Limited content library compared to PC-based headsets
- Requires a PS5 console
Specs:
Display | OLED. |
Refresh Rate | 120Hz, 90Hz. |
Field of View | 100 degrees |
Sensors | gyroscope, accelerometer |
Screen Size | 5.7 inches |
Resolution | 1920×1080 |
Suitable for | Gaming |
Verdict: The PlayStation VR2 is a great choice for PS5 gamers seeking an immersive gaming experience.
Meta Quest 2
- Price: ₹34,999
- Resolution: 1832 x 1920 per eye
- Refresh Rate: Up to 90Hz
- Controllers: Touch Pro Controllers
The Meta Quest 2 is a standalone VR headset that offers an immersive experience without the need for a PC or console. With a vast content library and improved graphics, it’s an excellent choice for casual users and gamers.
Pros:
- Standalone, no PC or console required
- Improved graphics and performance
- Touch Pro Controllers offer intuitive hand tracking
Cons:
- Limited content compared to PC-based headsets
- No support for PC VR games
Verdict: The Meta Quest 2 is an excellent choice for those seeking a hassle-free, standalone VR experience.
2. Valve Index
- Price: ₹74,999
- Resolution: 1832 x 1920 per eye
- Refresh Rate: Up to 144Hz
- Controllers: Index Controllers
The Valve Index is a high-end PC-based VR headset that offers exceptional graphics and a wide field of view. With advanced tracking and controllers, it’s perfect for enthusiasts and gamers.
Pros:
- Exceptional graphics and performance
- Wide field of view and advanced tracking
- Index Controllers offer precise hand tracking
Cons:
- Expensive
- Requires a powerful PC
Verdict: The Valve Index is ideal for those seeking a premium PC-based VR experience.
HP Reverb G2
- Price: ₹59,999
- Resolution: 2160 x 2160 per eye
- Refresh Rate: Up to 90Hz
- Controllers: Motion Controllers
The HP Reverb G2 is a PC-based VR headset that offers high-resolution graphics and a comfortable design. With advanced tracking and controllers, it’s suitable for enthusiasts and enterprise applications.
Pros:
- High-resolution graphics
- Comfortable design and advanced tracking
- Suitable for enterprise applications
Cons:
- Expensive
- Requires a powerful PC
Verdict: The HP Reverb G2 is ideal for those seeking a high-resolution PC-based VR experience.
5. Oculus Go
- Price: ₹24,999
- Resolution: 1832 x 1920 per eye
- Refresh Rate: Up to 72Hz
- Controllers: Oculus Go Controller
The Oculus Go is an entry-level standalone VR headset perfect for casual users. With a affordable price tag and simple design, it’s a great introduction to VR.
Pros:
- Affordable price
- Standalone, no PC or console required
- Simple design
Cons:
- Limited content library
- Lower resolution and refresh rate
Verdict: The Oculus Go is an excellent choice for those new to VR or seeking a budget-friendly option.
Samsung Gear VR Virtual Reality Headset (SM-R322NZWA)
Another contender for the top 10 VR headsets in India but with a certain limitation that is Samsung Gear VR Virtual Reality Headset is only compatible with Samsung smartphones.
They should have made it accessible to other android smartphone brands, this is a setback for non-Samsung phone users.
But in terms of immersion experience it leaves no one behind, it has very low latency with head tracking.
It has a super AMOLED display for higher quality. The field of view, a.k.a. FoV is 96 degrees. This is the newest model, which is more lightweight than the previous gen.
So if you’re a Samsung loyalist then you can definitely check this one out.
This model has no controller, it has an in-built touchpad on the side of the HMD.
Specs:
Display Type | Super AMOLED |
FoV | 96 degrees |
Weight | 318 grams |
Sensors | Accelerometer, Gyro Sensor, Proximity Sensor |
Suitable for | Entertainment |
Also Read: Best Wireless Headphones for Working Out
Samsung Gear VR With Controller
This is a premium VR headset from Samsung which is powered by Oculus. Samsung Gear VR is designed for comfort & fit so that while you go on virtual adventures, moving here and there, the device doesn’t come off.
Also, the weight distribution makes it good to wear for a longer time.
The controller makes it easy to navigate, play/pause movies, and games. Gear VR has both micro USB & USB type-C compatibility so if your device doesn’t have type-c USB, no need to worry about it.
Samsung Gear VR is also compatible with larger-screen smartphones like the Galaxy Note series, be sure to check out the list of devices it supports.
The app store has over 1000 apps and games apart from VR-ready movies. So, there is no shortage of entertainment for you.
Specs:
Display Type | Super AMOLED |
FoV | 101 degrees |
Weight | 345 grams |
Sensors | Gyro Sensor, Proximity Sensor |
Suitable for | Entertainment & Gaming |
Check it out: Top 8 Best Budget Smartphones in India
Lenovo Mirage Solo with Daydream
Lenovo Mirage Solo with Daydream was one of the anticipated Virtual Reality headsets as Lenovo was also among the few companies that are actively involved in the latest VR technology.
This is a standalone VR headset, as already discussed these devices do not require any external device like smartphones or pc.
Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 Mobile VR Platform, it can easily process high-quality videos like 4k, imagine how you’d feel immersed in any 4k environment?
The list isn’t needed here it also has 3D audio with WorldSense technology that provides 6 degrees of freedom, it can track all of your bodily movements.
Designed to be ultra-lightweight for very long hours of the immersion experience.
Specs:
Display | 5.5 inches |
Display Type | QHD |
Processor | Snapdragon 835 |
DoF | 6 degrees of freedom |
FoV | 110 degrees |
Suitable for | Entertainment & Gaming |
Also Read: Best In-Ear Headphones with Mic
HTC Vive Cosmos
Along with Oculus, HTC VIVE is the leading premium & commercial VR headset manufacturer in the world right now.
HTC Vive has both business & consumer editions of its devices. The one we’re talking about is for consumers, HTC VIVE Cosmos.
This is a tethered virtual reality headset meaning you’ll need a VR-ready desktop or laptop to use it.
More the powerful a desktop/laptop you have, the more powerful will the immersion be.
HTC Vive cosmos has a very wide field of view of 110 degrees, not only that this model also has 6DoF, not only enjoys virtual reality but also interacts with it.
With this model get two controllers [left & right].
HTC Vive Cosmos is a very feature-packed tethered VR headset for pc to buy in India 2021.
Specs:
Screen | 3.4 inches |
Sensors | G-sensor Gyroscope Eye Comfort Setting (IPD) |
FoV | 110 degrees |
Refresh rate | 90Hz |
Oculus Go
Oculus is the leading company in the field of virtual reality technology. Many big companies like Samsung use their technology to make their VR devices.
This particular model, Oculus Go, is the lowest-priced VR headset from this brand. This is also a standalone VR headset type so the performance will be very satisfactory.
Diving into the technical features you’re getting a quad fast switch LEd screen specially developed for improving visual clarity and reducing the screen-door effect.
The screen has to some extent anti-glare properties so that it doesn’t hurt the eyes that much.
There are speakers built with the headset, and the audio technology they’re providing is integrated spatial audio. Oculus Go is the best virtual reality headset in India under 30k INR.
Specs:
Screen | Quad fast Switching |
Field of View | 96 degrees |
Controller | One |
Sensors | Accelerometer Sensor, Gyro Sensor, Proximity Sensor |
Storage | 32gb, 64gb |
Verdict: The Oculus Go is an excellent choice for those new to VR or seeking a budget-friendly option.
HP Windows Mixed Reality Headset
HP Windows Mixed Reality headset is a very promising device. Some of you may wonder,
What is Mixed Reality?
Well, mixed reality is achieved by merging reality with a virtual environment, a medium where physical & digital objects both co-exists.
They’re very much helpful for designing & military training purposes.
While searching for VR devices I came across this on Amazon India. Never imagined an MR headset will be priced under 30k INR. That’s insane.
HP windows mixed reality headset offers some of the premium features that you’ll only get in higher pierced models like 2160×2160 resolution with a field of view of about 114 degrees.
The headset has mics that support smart assistants and also has an in-built integrated spatial audio system. It also has a 3.5mm output jack for external headphones.
Apart from this, the best part according to me is that the headset adapts itself to the hardware of your computer and sets the resolution according to that.
The better the higher-end configuration you have the better resolution you’ll get.
Specs:
Resolution | 1440×1440 |
Display Size | 2.89-inch |
Refresh rate | 60Hz, 90Hz |
Also Read: Best Truly Wireless (TWS) Earphones in India
How to choose the perfect VR headset? – Buyer Guide
There are a lot of technical factors to look at before you buy a VR headset like immersion, DoF, audio, controllers, and common features like weight & comfort.
First, you need to decide upon the type of VR headset you want to buy then narrow it down by the features & functions it is offering.
Factors to consider before buying a Virtual Reality Headset
Let me give you a basic concept of the above features & functions that you must check out before purchasing a VR headset.
Immersion
It is the degree of VR experience the device can offer.
DoF
The degree of freedom [DoF] is the number of movements the user can experience while in VR mode. Most of them use either 3DoF or 6DoF. Refer to this article by Google for more info about DoF.
FoV
The more field of view the better VR experience that the device will render. Typically the VR brands provide 100-degree FoV but few brands provide up to 200 degrees field of view.
Tracking
The headset show can perform the following tasks:
Head Tracking
Motion tracking
3D Audio
In a simulated environment, 3D audio makes the immersion more effective and surreal.
Controller
VR headsets with controllers are necessary if you’re buying them for gaming.
Weight
The head-mounted device should be as light as possible for wearing it for a longer period. Heavy makes it uncomfortable after a few minutes of usage.
Fit
This is very important especially for smartphone VR headsets as they don’t support all smartphone screen sizes. The minimum is 4.5 inches, the maximum is 6.3 inches.
How do virtual reality headsets work?
Well, apart from all the sensor tracking, the video is fed into the head-mounted display, the video may be fed to one or both the lens. They create a stereoscopic 3D image by compiling 2D images. The lens reshapes and focuses the images differently for each eye.
Different types of VR headsets
Tethered VR headsets
They use the PC’s hardware and are connected using an HDMI cable.
Standalone VR headsets
They are all-in-one virtual reality headsets, that do not require any outside device. They have their processor, battery, display, etc.
Smartphone HMD
These are the cheapest VR headsets that you can buy, they need to be connected to a smartphone to work.
Application of Virtual Reality Technology?
It is right now being used for entertainment, gaming, architecture designs, military, and aviation to train pilots. Also in rehabilitation processes and social sciences.
What’s the difference Between Virtual Reality, Mixed Reality, and Augmented Reality?
Virtual Reality: Here an artificial environment is created by software and computer technology, people can immerse into those virtual 3D dimensions and can also interact with the objects.
Mixed Reality: It is the merging of both real-world objects and virtual-world objects. In mixed reality, you can interact with both physical and digital objects.
Augmented Reality: Here, digital objects are directly created by your smartphone and are projected live. Like those animal filters on Instagram & Snapchat.
VR Headset Accessories: Enhancing Your Experience
- Controllers: Invest in additional controllers for multiplayer experiences.
- Headset Cases: Protect your headset with a durable case.
- Screen Protectors: Prevent scratches with a screen protector.
- Comfort Accessories: Enhance comfort with face pads, headbands, or eye masks.
- Audio Accessories: Upgrade your audio experience with 3D audio headphones.
VR Content: Exploring the Best Experiences
- Games: Explore popular VR games like Beat Saber, Job Simulator, and Superhot VR.
- Educational Content: Discover educational experiences like National Geographic Explore VR and Google Expeditions.
- Entertainment: Enjoy movies and TV shows with Netflix VR and Bigscreen Beta.
- Social Experiences: Connect with friends in VRChat and Facebook Spaces.
VR Headset Maintenance: Tips and Tricks
- Cleanliness: Regularly clean your headset and controllers.
- Software Updates: Keep your headset’s software up-to-date.
- Storage: Store your headset in a protective case.
- Battery Care: Properly charge and maintain your headset’s batteries.
The Future of VR: Emerging Trends and Technologies
- Advancements in Resolution and Refresh Rate: Expect higher resolutions and refresh rates.
- Improved Tracking and Controllers: Look forward to advanced tracking and controller technologies.
- Standalone Headsets: Standalone headsets will become more prevalent.
- VR Cloud Gaming: Cloud gaming will revolutionize VR gaming.
Conclusion
All the Virtual Reality headsets mentioned in this article are of premium quality and completely worth their price. Select the one that fits you the best, smartphone, standalone, or tethered VR headsets.
These headsets themselves can give you a great start on your immersion experience.
So grab the headset and start having fun with amazing VR movies and VR games.
Also, let me know your favorite VR headsets and your experience with virtual reality through the comment section.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the difference between PC-based and standalone VR headsets?
PC-based VR headsets require a powerful computer to operate, offering advanced graphics and a wider range of content. Standalone VR headsets, on the other hand, are self-contained and don’t require a PC or console, offering a more portable and hassle-free experience.
2. Can I use VR headsets with glasses?
Most VR headsets are designed to accommodate glasses, but it’s essential to check the specific headset’s compatibility. Some headsets offer adjustable IPD (interpupillary distance) settings, ensuring a comfortable fit with glasses.
3. How do I prevent motion sickness in VR?
To minimize motion sickness:
- Start with short VR sessions and gradually increase duration
- Take breaks every 20-30 minutes
- Adjust headset settings for comfort
- Avoid intense VR experiences if prone to motion sickness
- Stay hydrated and avoid VR on an empty stomach
4. Can I play PC VR games on a standalone headset?
No, standalone headsets are not compatible with PC VR games. However, some standalone headsets offer their own gaming libraries, and some PC VR games may be ported to standalone headsets in the future.
5. What is the recommended age for VR headset use?
Most VR headsets are recommended for users aged 13 and above, but it’s essential to check the specific headset’s guidelines. Some headsets may be suitable for younger users under adult supervision.
6. Can I use VR headsets with hearing aids or cochlear implants?
Some VR headsets are compatible with hearing aids or cochlear implants, but it’s crucial to check the specific headset’s compatibility and consult with a healthcare professional before use.
7. How do I clean and maintain my VR headset?
Regularly clean your headset with a soft cloth and avoid exposing it to extreme temperatures or humidity. Refer to the manufacturer’s guidelines for specific cleaning and maintenance instructions.
8. Can I wear a VR headset with a medical condition (e.g., epilepsy)?
Consult with a healthcare professional before using a VR headset, especially if you have a medical condition like epilepsy, as VR experiences may trigger seizures or discomfort.
9. Can I use VR headsets with prescription medication?
Consult with a healthcare professional before using a VR headset, especially if you’re taking prescription medication, as VR experiences may interact with certain medications.
10. What is the warranty and support offered for VR headsets?
Refer to the manufacturer’s warranty and support policies, which typically range from 1-2 years and offer online resources, customer support, and repair services.