Before You Buy | Are New Oculus VR Headsets Any Good?
These last few weeks have been outstanding for the development of the VR industry. First, Valve announced its brand-new Index VR Kit and now the reviewers’ samples of new Oculus VR headsets are finally getting enough attention on YouTube..
For those of you not in the know, these new Oculus Rift headsets start off at $399 for the entry-level models and could potentially revolutionize the VR industry as we know it. There are two main models to talk about, Oculus Rift S and Oculus Quest. Additionally, there are two versions of Quest, one with 64GB and one with 128Gb. The latter’s starting price is $499, which is still not even half of the price of Valve’s newly announced Index VR Kit (cca $1,000)..
That said, there’s a ton of people who’ve already bought these next-gen VR headsets. But, did they make the right decision and are these new Oculus VR headsets really the next generation of VR?
Let’s talk about that…
New Oculus VR Headsets – Are They Any Good?
Ever since Facebook bought Oculus, we were all hoping for a true next-gen device that’d further push the boundaries of VR. In terms of both graphical and tracking systems. However, from all I’ve heard, the high-end, next-gen Oculus device was pushed back in favor of Rift S and Quest..
Unfortunately, neither of these two new VR headsets can be rightfully called next-gen. Sure, they have certain advantages over the original Rift, but they’re not enough to justify their drawbacks. In fact, let’s skip this introductory paragraph and jump straight to the first of the new Oculus VR headsets we’ll be looking at today. The true successor to the original VR masterpiece, Oculus Rift S..
Oculus Rift S
Let’s start off by taking a closer look at the big boy in the room. What was supposed to be a true next-gen VR headset turned out to only be a slightly more polished device that requires fewer cables. Additionally, there’s also higher resolution (1280×1440 per eye), higher pixel density (600ppi vs 456ppi on the original), and revamped motion controllers. The same ones that come with the Oculus Quest too..
The biggest improvement over the original Rift is the brand-new internal tracking system. Thanks to five sensors located on the headset, this internal tracking system eliminates the need for external base stations. In other words, this means you’ll only need a single USB 3.0 port and DisplayPort to connect it to your PC. Fewer cables, more fun, right?
While that works in theory, actual execution often comes with different caveats. For starters, the internal tracking sensors can only track your controllers’ motion right in front of you. If you move your arms too much to the sides or behind you, the sensors won’t be able to follow them. This can result in gameplay issues and potential immersion breakage, neither of which should really be happening in a “next-gen” VR device..
Additionally, the original Rift features an AMOLED display whereas Rift S went with an LCD panel. Not to mention the fact it has a lower refresh rate (80hz in contrast to 90hz on the original Rift). On the bright side, the FOV is higher (115 degrees) and the screen-door effect is much less noticeable than on the original..
Oculus Quest
Now, if you aren’t blown away by what the new Oculus Rift S has to offer, bear with me here and let me tell you more about the Quest! In all honesty, I’m much more excited about this little bugger than I am for the fully-fledged VR experience offered by the Rift S. And here’s why….
For starters, Oculus Quest is an all-in-one VR headset, meaning it does not have to be tethered to your PC. It works as a standalone unit with no annoying cables to constantly trip over on. With internal camera-based tracking systems, no external base stations required and brand-new revamped touch controllers, Oculus Quest aims to bring virtual reality gaming to the masses..
As mentioned above, it comes in two versions, 64GB and 128GB, and the price difference is mere $100. Starting at $399 and with no additional costs (except the actual games), chances are Oculus Quest will push the VR industry into the mainstream. Fingers crossed that really happens as it would bring VR esports much higher popularity..
Obviously, the Quest does have some downside. For starters, it’s much heavier than the Oculus Rift S. However, that’s a price I’m willing to pay for a fully mobile and untethered VR experience. However, the second downside is the fact that the hardware it possesses won’t be able to provide with the graphical fidelity as fully-fledged PCs. That said, I reckon the quest won’t have as many games as the two Rift models, but will hopefully sport interesting exclusives aimed at newcomers to the immersive world of VR..
Should You Buy the New Oculus VR Headsets?
I guess there’s just one question left to be answered here. Should you buy these new Oculus VR headsets?
Well, for starters, if you already own an Oculus Rift or HTC Vive, I really don’t recommend buying the Rift S. The same goes for other Microsoft Mixed Reality devices. The Oculus Rift S just doesn’t have enough positives to justify its downsides..
Perhaps go for the AIO Quest model instead. It doesn’t require a PC and you can take it with you anywhere you go. The extra mobility is a huge factor here, one that should not be taken for granted..
That leads us to the second type of potential buyers – those who don’t possess a VR device. For them, I can’t help but recommend Oculus Quest. The fact that it does not require a beefy computer, has no annoying cables and can be used basically anywhere you want, means that it’s currently the ultimate VR headset for the masses..
If this new generation of VR headset aims to bring VR closer to the masses, then there is no doubt in my mind that Oculus Quest is going to be the most popular choice. Don’t get me wrong, it does have certain drawbacks when compared to the fully-fledged Oculus Rift S, but the majority of people won’t care for those nuances. All they’ll care for is how immersive the VR experience is… and from all I’ve seen, Oculus Quest passes that test with excellent marks.
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