Aside from gaming and training, VR is a great way for creatives to do what they do best – create. Whether it be sculpting, painting or designing, doing so in a completely immersive environment undoubtedly takes your creativity to an elevated level. The ever changing VR industry can be a daunting place for beginners.
It can be difficult to navigate between not only all the different equipment but also the various VR art applications. So, to make it a little easier for you, we’ve compiled a list of the best VR equipment and VR art applications to get you started.
Keep in mind that the hardware you use does determine what applications you can use, so keep that in mind when deciding on which are best suited for you. For example, certain apps require headsets with 6 degrees of freedom (6DoF) while others only require 3DoF.
Equipment: Top VR Headsets
1. Oculus Quest 2
The Oculus Quest 2 experience is like no other – offering an incredibly sharp display, larger RAM and a lighter weight for user comfort. The heightened visual experience is also paired with a very fair price point. The Oculus Quest 2 is a great investment, going for around $299-$399 depending on whether you prefer the 64GB or 256GB storage model.
Pros:
- Very fair price point
- Comfortable
- Ease of use
- Increasingly immersive experience
- Large app library
Cons:
- Requires the link of a Facebook account
2. Sony PlayStation VR
Mainly intended for console gamers, this set sets itself apart from its competitors. Tethered to a PlayStation rather than a PC gaming setup, this is the obvious choice for those who happen to already have a PlayStation console.
The Sony PlayStation VR has a slightly less immersive experience due to its downsize. It uses one sensor as opposed to two, which lowers tracking capabilities. This set has made tremendous sales, making a serious contender within the market at an affordable price. It’s currently available for $461, making it quite a lot more expensive than the Oculus Quest 2, especially if you consider you need a PlayStation console to use it.
Pros:
- Price point (if you own a PlayStation)
- Ideal for gamers
- Near PC quality performance
- Ease of use
- Good selection of games
Cons:
- Light leaking
- Motion control tracking
- Price point (if you don’t own a PlayStation)
3. HTC Vive
With an extremely elevated immersive experience, the HTC Vive is one to watch. This can be attributed to its need to be tethered to a powerful desktop GPU. With 2 sensors installed in the corner of your room, the HTC Vive provides the ability to move around space (2×1.5m or so).
Included in this setup is 2 handheld controllers for added capabilities and a front facing headset camera for a heightened designers experience. If you’re looking for something even more advanced, look out for the HTC Vive Pro.
With a price tag over $1000 it doesn’t come cheap.
Pros:
- Highly immersive experience
- Ease of use
- Whole room VR
Cons:
- Requires a powerful PC setup
- Price point
- You need to use external sensors
4. Oculus Rift S
Released in April of 2020, Facebook’s Oculus Rift S brought with it many updates when compared to the original Oculus Rift headset.
The Oculus Rift S has a renowned insight tracking system as well improved port usage. However, the Oculus Rift S did not make any changes to their screens. For the price point, this headset is a great contender and is not likely to disappoint.
However we think the Oculus Quest 2 offers better value for money, because the Rift S will be discontinued this yea. Also the Quest 2 can be used stand-alone AND you can use it as a Rift and connect it to the computer (and use the Rift software).
Pros:
- Fewer ports required
- Large app selection
- Great tracking & accuracy
Cons:
- Slow refresh rate
- No updated screen
- Slightly intrusive audio system
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