Tech: 3 top trending VR headsets of 2021

Virtual reality gives us a fascinating way to travel while sitting on the couch. Armed with a headset and motion tracking, VR users get transported to an imaginary world that feels real. 2020 and 2021 saw a VR headset boom with the lockdown pushing restless teens, kids and young adults towards experiencing games, not just playing them. We have listed headsets by the market leaders, and all of them are worth the money.  

Oculus Quest 2  
The Oculus Rift was the first big name in the VR headset market, and Oculus continues to hog the limelight. The Quest 2 is different from the previous versions of Oculus since it’s not tethered, so you will need to buy an accessory cable to connect it. And if you do not want tethering, then Quest 2 offers a wonderful wireless experience. Oculus has also upgraded their chipset, so the better processor offers an incredibly high resolution 1,920 by 1,832 megapixels. It offers 2 motion controls with full head and hand tracking, making it a gamer’s delight.   

Sony PlayStation VR  
Sony PlayStation is so famous that many Indian store owners use the word ‘PlayStation’ generically to mean any VR headset. The latest PlayStation VR is compatible with PlayStation 4 and the PlayStation Camera (which most PlayStation VR bundles are now including in the box). It is also compatible with the PlayStation 5, and Sony had been giving out free adapters with their Camera to make it work on PS5.  The motion control is not as smooth as Oculus, since Sony has not been upgrading its motion control options since PS3. But most gamers are familiar with PS controls, so it’s not a show stopper. Sony has announced that it’s working on a new PSVR with redesigned controls, so you may want to keep a tab on it, and buy the new one.  

HTC Vive Pro 2  
HTC Vive Pro 2 is a headset with the highest resolution on the block at a whopping 2,448 by 2,448 mega pixels. It’s also quite expensive for the Indian market, though it’s selling very well online. HTC has its own VR software store, the Viveport. You may want to check out their Infinity membership offer which is providing unlimited access to their VR experiences menu through a subscription.