Latest news with #PCVR
Tom's Guide
3 days ago
- Tom's Guide
5 Meta Quest 3 accessories to upgrade your VR setup — starting from just $19
As much as I enjoy using my Meta Quest 3, it's far from perfect. Any VR user will know that the Quest 3 and Quest 3S aren't exactly the most comfortable headsets, nor do they have the longest battery life. But a few add-ons can sort that out. I've been using Meta's VR headset to try out a bunch of its unique features lately, including setting up 3 virtual monitors through a Windows PC and learning how to draw using its mixed-reality capabilities. Oh, and satisfyingly beating up some thugs in Batman: Arkham Shadow. But I wouldn't have nearly enjoyed any of that as much if I didn't have the VR accessories to give the Quest 3 (or Quest 3S) the upgrades it deserves. From head straps with battery packs that offer hours of extra playtime while giving your head miles more comfort, to cables that give you lag-free access to PC VR, these aren't just handy add-ons — many are downright essential. Whether you're looking to give your Quest 3 or Quest 3S new life or are just about to grab the best VR headsets you can get today (I highly recommend it), I've rounded up the VR accessories that you won't want to miss — and some even come with a discount. Seeing as the Quest 3 was $649, it's a great time to grab the best VR headset for $499. It's an excellent choice, and the fact it's more affordable is a definite win. It also comes with the fantastic Batman: Arkham Shadow and 3-month subscription to Quest+ at no extra cost, which we think is exceptional value. The Meta Quest 3S is the best entry-level VR headset you can get. It comes packed with the same performance as its pricier sibling with the only real difference being it uses the same fresnel lenses as the Meta Quest 2, which means lower resolution. Otherwise, if you're looking to get into VR, grab this excellent bundle deal. Now, onto the the accessories that will make using your Meta Quest 3 or Quest 3S shine. Want to go beyond Meta's offering of VR games and apps? Get the PC VR experience with a gamer-ready laptop by using this INIU Link Cable. At 16 feet, you're getting plenty of length to move freely despite being tethered, and it also offers an alternative way to charge your Meta Quest headset indefinitely while it's attached. This is the Link Cable you'll want. Even been so absorbed in a VR game that you end up punching a wall? Well, I have, and it hurts, and I'd prefer not to ruin the Quest's controllers too. The AMVR Touch Controller Grip Covers are the solutions, though, and they're the best knuckle straps for the Meta Quest 3 and 3S. Expect protection and more control, and the comfortable grips make sure the controllers stick to your hands, especially when you're furiously punching the air. I'm not a fan of the Meta Quest 3 and Quest 3S' head strap that comes in the box. It does the job, but it can feel tight after long, active VR sessions. So, to elevate that comfort for longer VR sessions, you'll want to upgrade to the K4 Comfort Headstrap. It's extremely easy to set up, and gives you extra support when playing more movement-intensive games or apps. Better yet, it's now down to $34. Why not combine that comfort with a longer battery? That's exactly what the Kiwi Design K4 Boost Battery Head Strap offers, and you can expect an extra 3 hours of play with this fitted on. I'm a big fan of the Kiwi Design H4 Boost Halo strap, but this model is more affordable (and currently has a discount!). A set of earbuds made for virtual reality? That's what the Final VR3000 offer, and they even come with a solid microphone and plenty of comfort. We've tested the Final VR3000 Wireless earbuds, which are also a great shout if you're looking to cut the cord. But for something more affordable, and with the same immersive in-game sound quality, these wired buds will do the trick.
Yahoo
02-03-2025
- Yahoo
These three VR headsets should arrive in 2025 — and they have me excited about VR again
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Earlier this week, a prominent Valve leaker promised we'd finally see Valve's wireless VR successor to the Index, codenamed Deckard, in 2025. With Meta fully targeting the low end with budget hardware and free-to-play games, I'm relieved that at least three XR companies are swooping in to keep VR power users happy in 2025. According to Gabe Follower, several people "have confirmed" Deckard will arrive "by the end of 2025," running the same SteamOS as Steam Deck and priced at a whopping $1,200 for the full bundle with "in-house games" — and it'll still "be sold at a loss" despite that price. Unlike Valve Index, its long-awaited successor will be wireless and won't require a separate PC to play games. Valve clearly recognized the mass appeal of wireless, standalone Quest headsets and the recent popularity of portable PCs like Steam Deck when designing Deckard. The key difference from Quest is that Meta makes strategic design cutbacks to target the lowest possible price point for mass appeal, while Deckard isn't holding anything back, with a price that reflects that philosophy. Does that make Deckard irrelevant? Former Meta CTO John Carmack recently trivialized PC VR as a "boutique niche" and downplayed the critically acclaimed Half-Life: Alyx as less "important" than Beat Saber. Right now, mainstream VR fans are flocking to the Meta Quest 3S and spending all their time playing Gorilla Tag and Horizon Worlds. Meta itself pivoted to prioritize free-to-play content because microtransactions make more money than high-quality Quest games. So, in that context, you might assume that the ultra-powerful Deckard will be nothing but a PC VR novelty for a tiny ecosystem of vocal fans with too much money. But I'd argue it represents much more than that. For starters, even if PC VR sales are much lower than Quest's, that was always in part because of the effort required to get Steam Link working and the extra PC cost. An all-in-one device with native Steam Link — instead of Meta's often-irritating and buggy wireless workaround — will give PC VR the same mainstream appeal as the Meta store. And we could see more VR-2D crossplay with Steam games like Among Us 3D bridging the gap. More importantly, with PSVR 2 flopping and Apple's unclear XR future after the exorbitant Vision Pro, we need more competition in the VR gaming space. Specifically, I think we need a AAA alternative to Quest to remind gamers that VR isn't fully becoming a kiddie metaverse. The "boutique niche" matters, at least to keep developers invested in the space. Valve Deckard is just one potential Quest "rival" that'll provide a much-needed breath of fresh air for consumers and developers, even if its raw sales can't compete with the eventual Quest 4. Another competitor is Project Moohan, Samsung's premium headset powered by Google's Android XR platform, which could cost even more than Deckard. Google and Samsung have assured devs that they want to support VR games on Moohan; even if it's more of a Quest Pro or Vision Pro analog, Samsung's headset should appeal to people who want a better balance of games and apps, as well as a high-res virtual desktop space. In some ways, I'm most intrigued by the third-party Meta Horizon OS headsets, like the upcoming ASUS ROG VR headset. Meta is sharing its software and gaming library with companies like Lenovo and ASUS, and the latter is specifically making a "performance gaming headset." Prominent VR leaker Lunayian claims this headset is codenamed Tarius and that it "will likely be one of the first 3P Horizon OS HMDs to ship." Tarius allegedly has eye and face tracking, as well as advanced displays with either "QD-LCD with local dimming or μOLED." Whether we get micro-OLED on par with the Apple Vision Pro or simply get local dimming like the original Quest Pro offered, it'll be a step up on most Quest headsets, not to mention eye tracking for improved performance via foveated rendering and better avatars for social VR with face tracking. I wouldn't be surprised if this version ends up costing twice as much as the Quest 3, but it'll feel like a version of Quest that's no longer holding back in terms of performance and cameras. Meta's concept art above seems to suggest the ASUS ROG headset will have an Elite-style strap built in, which any premium headset should have by default. Best of all, your Quest library will carry over to this headset because of Meta Horizon OS. We don't know if this headset will arrive in 2025 like Moohan and Deckard, but we have a strong reason to hope! Our best VR headsets list has been too short and Quest-dominated for a long time. It's not that I dislike Quest, but I believe that competition is desperately needed to keep the VR space fresh and exciting. I'm increasingly hopeful that 2025 will be the year that the VR world is shaken up. Aside from Valve Deckard, Samsung Project Moohan, and ASUS ROG Tarius, we have Sony's productivity headset running Android XR and Lenovo's productivity headset running Meta Horizon OS. The latter two aren't especially exciting to me personally, but I know they'll appeal to folks who couldn't afford the Vision Pro. Personally, based on the leaked info above, I'm going to take a long, hard look at my budget to see if I'll be able to afford Deckard later this year.
