Best VR Headset Under 500: Top 5 Plus Buyer’s Guide
VR headsets have become a hotcake in the entertainment gadget sector. Thousands of buyers are going this way for their everyday entertainment needs. Sometime in 2016, the cheapest VR headsets were going for more than $800. Today, you will find some high-end and immersive headsets going for a price lower than $500. We show you so you can take a pick for the best VR headset under 500.
Top 5 Best VR Headset Under 500 Reviews
#1 Oculus Quest 2 All-In-One Virtual Reality Headset
The best overall virtual reality headset in our list that stands out in performance, user-friendliness, and efficiency is Oculus Quest 2.
Rated 4.8 by over 32,000 happy consumers, Oculus Quest 2 surpasses every other VR headset in our list for good reasons. With the standard version that comprises a powerful processor and exemplary screen going for $299, these VR headsets display sharper images and support high-end games.
It features comfy and user-friendly controllers along with a lighter and stylish design. Though a standalone model, it can be plugged into a VR-ready PC to keep it charged and access more advanced games.
Oculus Quest’s second-generation headset has an internal storage of 64GB, 90 Hz refresh rate, a larger LCD screen, inside-out tracking, and four cameras.
Its high-resolution display and blazing-fast processor provide access to groundbreaking films, live concerts, and exclusive events with stunning and immersive content.
#2 Oculus Rift S PC-Powered Headset for Gamers
The best Bluetooth-enabled and PC-powered headset for gamers with impressive features.
There is a good reason the Oculus Rift S PC-powered headset has over 14,000 reviews with a rating of 4.4 out of ten. It’s a high-end and high-performance VR headset for gamers that provides exceptionally good virtual reality experiences coupled with larger games and high-grade graphics.
This headset for gamers requires a VR-ready PC, which adds to the total cost of setting up a fully-functional VR system. Oculus Rift S is designed to connect to your PC via a 3.0 USB port and a DisplayPort connection. For more flexibility and mobility, the tethering should be done with a lengthy cable.
The headset comprises a comfortable design and super accurate inside-out tracking features. As a standalone headset, it includes 2 OLED screens, accurate inside-out tracking coupled with four cameras, and 70 Hz refresh rates.
#3 PlayStation VR Mega Blood Headset
The most effective and high-performance VR headset for PlayStation 4 gamers.
PlayStation 4 lovers can never go wrong with the PlayStation VR mega blood headset. It has over 2200 reviews and a rating of 4.7 out of ten, making it an ultimate choice for those on a low budget. Priced at $350 for a complete package and $200 for the headsets, PSVR is entirely within everyone’s budget.
They are simply the most cost-effective and reliable headsets for those who have PS4 and wouldn’t want to dig deep into their pockets to buy a VR-enabled desktop.
The headset includes high-quality PlayStation VR move controllers, everybody’s golf VR game voucher, PlayStation cameras, Blood and truth disc, and demo 3.0 disc. It likewise supports RoomScale tracking, has 80 Hz Refresh rates, an OLED screen, and highly effective PS cameras.
#4 Oculus Go VR Headset – 32GB
Oculus Quest is the best gaming headset for first-time buyers and those not used to high-end gaming headsets.
With a rating of 4.4 out of 10 from over 7000 reviews, Oculus Go VR is the best Bluetooth-enabled headset that requires no additional hardware to operate. The headset has high-resolution screens and supports the Oculus VR store, where gamers can access a large collection of remarkable experiences and games.
This virtual reality game headset runs on a mobile process and contains 32 GB of internal storage spacing. Therefore, though a good choice of VR headset, it cannot generate the same high-end and impressive graphics common with the headsets we reviewed above.
However, it still standouts when it comes to precious gaming experiences, high-resolution ALOMED screens, and extra-accurate tracking. Users can plug the head into their VR-enabled PCs to boost the power and play high-end games with ease.
#5 Oriflame VR Headset with Remote Controller 3D Goggles
The best VR headset under 500 for hardcore iPhone and Android gamers
Though a newly introduced VR headset, Oriflame VR headsets remote controller 3D goggles have garnered a rating of 4.1 after over 270 reviews. Compatible with Android and iPhone smartphones, these virtual reality headsets offer comfortable distance adjustability. With this VR headset, you can experience virtual reality in a simple yet fun way without paying a fortune.
Oriflame VR headset gives dozens of awe-inspiring possibilities, including taking virtual vacations, watching movies, and playing favorite games. It’s one of the most comfortable and lightweight smartphone virtual reality headsets with high-definition lenses with anti-blue light features.
This state-of-the-art and high-performance VR headset have a functional trigger button and Bluetooth controller to provide the best VR interaction experiences. The touch buttons let you interact with virtually anything every time you feel like it. Additionally, this VR headset allows the user to adjust pupil distance and object distance along with the field of view to bring content to one’s close view.
Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best VR Headset Under 500
Now that you’ve familiarized yourself with the best VR headsets under $50, it’s time to know the qualities and specifications of the best VR headset. Read on to grasp the concept of choosing a virtual reality headset that meets your specific needs.
Related: Are Gaming Headsets Good for Music?
Types Of VR Headsets
Virtual reality headsets come in three main options, including tethered, smartphone, and wireless. In the reviews above, we have discussed all of them. Smartphone VR headsets are specially designed to connect to android and iOS-powered smartphones. Tethered virtual reality headsets are designed to be connected to VR-enabled PCs. They are mostly connected with high-speed USB cables. As for untethered VR headsets, they can be connected wirelessly to computers or gaming consoles via Bluetooth.
Resolution Per Eye
All the virtual reality headsets we reviewed have varying resolutions per eye. The headsets with higher resolutions will consistently deliver crisp, clear, and immersive viewing experiences. The high resolutions eliminate screen door effects and pixelation problems because they don’t leave visible gaps between the pixels.
The Field Of View
In choosing virtual reality headsets, you should check the headset’s field of view. In short, you have to check the extent of the environment the headset allows you to have a virtual view of. Consider VR headsets with a larger field of view since they would provide a more intriguing viewing experience. The best high-end virtual reality headsets have a field of view ranging from 100 degrees to 110 degrees.
The Display Type
VR headsets comprise three types of display technologies, including AMOLED, LCD, and OLED. This kind of display technology used in any VR headset determines the quality of the images and the user’s virtual reality experiences. LCD-operated VR headsets are pretty common because of their high speed and ability to display 90 frames per second. There are several types of LCD technologies available, including in-plane switching panels and twisted nematic panels.
OLED display types use organic LED panel technology. OLEDs can generate their light, which is achieved through thin screens that require no additional lighting layers. AMOLED display options are simply sub-types of OLED panels. These types of panels are made up of matric OLEDs arranged on a thin film transistor layer. They usually offer deep black and oversaturated colors. As a matter of fact, some of the VR headsets we reviewed above use this type of display technology.
Final Thoughts on the Best VR Headset Under 500
Whatever your budget provided it falls below 500, you can always secure yourself a high-quality virtual reality headset.
Experienced virtual reality headset users who wouldn’t mind spending $300 to get a high-end VR headset that stands out in performance, speed, and efficiency would find Oculus Quest 2 a great headset.
Those who would rather consider a Bluetooth-enabled standalone VR headset that can connect to VR-ready PCs will earn value for their money if they buy an Oculus Rift S PC-powered headset.
