

The smartphone is then responsible for providing the various apps and games to the end user, much like a PC does but on a smaller scale. These devices work by attaching the smartphone to the front of the headset to use as the display. Mobile headsets are the most budget-friendly option when it comes to VR. This and the fact the devices themselves are very pricey. This is the main drawback of PC headsets and is the reason sales figures for the headsets have been lower than initially expected. However, as previously mentioned, these headsets do require a powerful PC to run them. Although PC headsets are generally far more expensive than mobile and standalone headsets, they do offer more performance and usually a better VR experience overall. PC headsets were the first to arrive on the market with the Oculus Rift receiving somewhat mixed reviews when it officially launched. All three have their own pros and cons which we will get into but essentially they all aim to do the same thing, that is to deliver an immersive experience to the end user. There are three main types of VR headsets currently available on the market. As such, it has been chosen as our top pick as it provides a great VR experience without being held back by other devices. This is the only device on this list that doesn’t require further investment into a high-end PC or smartphone. This guide is going to look at the best budget-friendly headsets on the market and hopefully, it should help to clear up a lot of the confusion that users may have about VR and the different headsets that are available. Manufacturers are very aware of this problem, which is why so much time and effort is being put into developing VR headsets that either requires a smartphone or can simply run by themselves. However, high-end headsets aren’t perfect, mainly because they require a powerful PC to run on and this is something that not all users have. This means that, although the user will get a decent VR experience, it won’t be the same as the experience they could have if they were using a high-end headset. The issue here is that cheaper VR headsets usually require the use of a mobile device and whilst these headsets are generally very good, they don’t quite offer the same level of performance or functionality as more expensive headsets such as the Oculus Rift or HTC Vive. This can make it quite tricky for users as they are often left spoiled for choice, not knowing whether to go for a cheaper headset or invest in a high-end model if they can find a good enough deal. Every year new models hit the market claiming to offer something new to the space, and many of the more premium headsets regularly receive price-drops and discounts.

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