List the latest HWs for VR/AR/MR

Here are some of the hardwares that I think are great:t

• Valve Index
• Sony Playstation VR
• Oculus Rift S
• HTC Vive Cosmos
• Oculus Quest 2
• Magic Leap One
• Microsoft Hololens

As a student deciding my most preferred device, I look out for the price. Since VR/MR technology still isn’t as mainstream as regular gaming consoles, their prices can be extremely high. For example, the Valve Index (full kit) costs more than $3,000 (see on Amazon).

I am also concerned about convenience. As someone who prefers wireless devices, I would avoid heavy devices that require a lot of cables as they may feel bulky and messy.

Most Preferred VR Device

Oculus Quest 2

Device	Valve Index	Sony Playstation VR	Oculus Rift S	HTC Vive Cosmos	Oculus Quest 2
Starting Price (USD)	$999	S$299	$399	$699	$299
Resolution	1600 x 1440	1920 x 1080	2560 x 1440	1700 x 1440	1920 x 1832
Field of View	130°	100°	115°	110°	90°
Refresh Rate	120hz	120hz, 90hz	80hz	90hz	60hz, 72hz, 90hz
Weight	809g	600g	500g	645g	503g
Charging	Rechargable	Rechargable	AA batteries	AA batteries	AA batteries

The Oculus Quest 2 product is a successor to the Oculus Quest. It is slimmer and cheaper, containing all the basic features of its predecessor. Some of the significant improvements include a more responsive experience with the improved RAM (4GB → 6GB) and resolution (1600 x 1440 → 1920 x 1832) (source).

Immediately, the price is a huge plus point to me as it is one of the cheapest VR headsets out there. Although the Playstation VR comes close, you will need a Playstation console to use the Playstation VR. As someone who just wants to experience VR, the Quest 2 (which is just a standalone unit) will suffice.

Another plus point for the Quest 2 would be its convenience. As mentioned earlier, it is a standalone device which means you only require the device itself to play. On the other hand, the HTC Vive Cosmos or Valve Index, for example, requires connection to a computer which means dealing with cables. The Quest 2 offers a tethered experience as well with a $100 cable. Moreover, the Quest 2 runs on AA batteries as opposed to charging, which means you simply have to replace the batteries when it gets low, as opposed to waiting for it to charge sufficiently. This is great for someone like myself who cannot keep track of charging my devices.

Although many reviewers list the requirement of a Facebook account as a con of using the Quest 2 (this article considers this a reason to avoid using), I am indifferent to it as I already have a Facebook account and I have any qualms using my Facebook account for games.

Most Preferred MR Device

Microsoft HoloLens 2

Device	Microsoft HoloLens 2	Magic Leap One
Starting Price (USD)	$3,500	$2,295
Resolution	2040 x 1080	1280 x 1960
Field of View	52°	50°
Refresh Rate	240hz	120Hz
Weight	566g	316g
Charging	Rechargable	Rechargable

Regarding price, despite the HoloLens 2 is being expensive, it seems that it was priced with enterprise-use in mind. For example, airline mechanics could be shown how to carry out a certain repair, or have a handsfree manual with them (source). Hence, I was not too strict on judging the price of the HoloLens 2. Given the great features packed into the HoloLens 2, the price difference from the Magic Leap One is well justified.

In terms of convenience, the HoloLens 2 is completely wireless and allows users to experience MR handsfree with the help of its 4 head tracking and 2 eye tracking sensors. This is opposed to the Magic Leap One where users have to operate the device with a hand-held navigation controller attached to the headset with a cable.

Although I do not wear glasses, one con of the Magic Leap One agreed upon by many reviewers was that it would not fit well on users with glasses. Hence, users who wear glasses might want to opt for contact lenses when using the device. Alternatively, Magic Leap offers prescription inserts for their “shortsighted visionaries”.