VR: HTC Vive & MR: Samsung Odyssey+

Latest hardware in VR

  • HTC Vive
  • Oculus Rift
  • Oculus Go
  • Sony Playstation VR
  • Samsung Gear VR
  • Google Daydream View

Latest hardware in AR

  • Google Glass
  • Vuzix Blade Smart Glasses
  • Everysight Raptor
  • Solos AR
  • Epson Moverio
  • Sony SmartEyeGlass

Latest hardware in MR

  • Samsung Odyssey+
  • Lenovo Explorer
  • Microsoft HoloLens
  • Dell Visor

For VR, my preferred headset would be the HTC Vive.

The HTC Vive headset is extremely comfortable to wear and features soft, memory foam-esque material around the edges to avoid any kind of skin irritation when being worn. The material can be easily switched out thanks to the use of Velcro.

The HTC Vive features a beautiful high-resolution display (2160×1200) which when split across two eyes equates to two gorgeous 1080×1200 displays. The HTC Vive provides one of the best virtual viewing experiences out of all the headsets we’ve gone eyes-on with so far, with no real lens distortion or pixelation issues. The 90Hz refresh rate provides users with a beautifully smooth video feed, which helps to make the overall experience more immersive.

The VR headset itself features more than 70 sensors, which help the headset to track your head movement to 1/10 of a degree. This means that even the smallest head tilts are picked up by the headset and replicated in the virtual world with little to no lag.

Content is a vital part of the survival of any new technology, and the same rule applies to the HTC Vive. Steam is the go-to place for HTC Vive compatible content mainly due to the fact that Valve, the company that owns Steam partnered with HTC to create the Vive initially.

I like the fact that it is a headset that is created by HTC and Steam. With the support of Steam, it has an extensive library of games. This headset is also getting better in value as time goes by.

For MR, my preferred hardware would be the Samsung Odyssey+.

Although the HMD Odyssey is the most expensive Windows MR headset, it offers large dual AMOLED displays at 3.5 inches, and a high resolution of 1440×1600. At 110 degrees, the field of view is also wider than competitors, fixing a criticism of the HoloLens. Couple that with built-in AKG headphones for 360-degree sound and the HMD Odyssey quickly shapes up to be an intriguing prospect for digital explorers.