虚拟现实技术曾多次尝试打入主流，但直到 2016 年，一切努力都失败了。直到那一年才成为一种可行的消费产品，因为那是移动计算机技术解决了 VR 头戴设备一直面临的许多问题的时候。
四年后，现代 VR 取得了惊人的进步。Oculus Rift等头戴设备首次推出时留下的少数粗糙边缘已基本打磨掉。然而，今天寻找最好的 VR 耳机可能是一个充满不熟悉的技术术语和设计的雷区。这(Which)就是为什么我们认为现在是发布简单、明智的 VR 购买指南的最佳时机。
您将在本指南中找到什么
为了帮助您更快地找到所需的信息，以下是本指南中预期内容的细分：
- VR头显的三种主要类型
- 重要技术规格
- 虚拟现实控制器
- 虚拟现实耳机推荐
如果您只想知道我们推荐的最好的 VR 头戴设备，请直接跳到文章的最后一部分。但是，如果您想自己做出明智的购买决定，那么整个指南肯定对您非常有用。
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VR头显的三种主要类型
虚拟现实耳机有各种形状和大小，但从买家的角度来看，我们认为有三类是最重要的。每个人都有自己的长处和短处。最重要的是，这些耳机类型中只有两种在今天仍然具有真正的相关性。
智能手机 VR 耳机外壳
由于高端 VR 最初是一种很少有人买得起的产品，因此很快就出现了其他选择。最成功的例子是Google Cardboard。这是一个简单的纸板外壳，您可以将智能手机滑入其中。然后， VR 智能手机应用程序(VR smartphone apps)将屏幕分成两个独立的图像，您可以通过廉价的镜头查看它们。
很快，其他公司开始在Cardboard理念的基础上发展，最终推出了基于智能手机的高端解决方案，例如三星 Gear VR(Samsung Gear VR )或Google Daydream。可悲的是，这种 VR 方法带来了很多妥协，并且在独立移动 VR 耳机价格实惠的世界中不再有意义。
具有讽刺意味的是，与智能手机 VR 外壳最相关的形式仍然是最初的Cardboard。它使企业和学校能够以相对较低的成本轻松共享基本的移动 VR 体验或媒体，例如360 度视频(360-degree videos)。对于个人用户来说，它也很便宜，但现在它最终还是一个新奇事物。
独立 VR 耳机
独立式 VR(Standalone VR)耳机是一种相对较新的 VR 耳机类别。他们将智能手机技术与高级 VR 耳机设计相结合，提供价格合理的主流 VR 解决方案。这些耳机不需要电话、电脑或任何其他设备即可工作。堪比智能手机或游戏机。该设备直接连接到互联网，你将应用程序下载到它的内存中，只要电池有电，你就可以在任何地方进入 VR。
虽然这些头戴式设备提供的 VR 体验与高级的系留式 VR 头戴式设备不同，但它们明显优于基于智能手机的 VR。为什么？尽管与某些旗舰智能手机相比，这些耳机的规格可能适中，但它们仅用于一个目的。
这意味着板载硬件也不必像电话一样工作。内置显示器也针对 VR 进行了调整，并且它们比超薄手机具有更大的热空间，这意味着移动处理器可以更努力地推动。最终的结果是一些非常令人印象深刻的 VR，而且价格非常合理。
系留式 VR 耳机
当谈到最好的 VR 头显时，最重要的是那些与电脑相连的头戴设备。由于游戏笔记本电脑和台式机的处理能力如此之强，因此这些耳机可以使用金钱可以买到的最好的 CPU 和GPU技术。也就是说，如果您拥有具有这些规格的计算机。
这也意味着您可以在多个计算机升级周期中保留同一个耳机。通过这种方式，您可以从权力的每一代飞跃中受益。系留式 VR(Tethered VR)头戴式设备往往具有更好的光学和人体工程学，因为它们不包含任何处理硬件、电池或您在独立模型中可以找到的其他组件。
然而，这些耳机是进入 VR 的最昂贵的方式，因为您需要一台相对高端的计算机来搭配昂贵的高级耳机。通过长电缆连接到计算机也限制了您在 VR 中的移动性，但市场上已经有使用无线连接的系留耳机。当然，要付出代价。
重要技术规格
既然我们已经介绍了 VR 耳机设计的主要类型，现在是时候查看任何 VR 耳机规格表中最重要的条目了。当然，总是有比我们列出的更多的考虑因素，但这些是最普遍的。
IPD - 瞳距
如果你想进入 VR，那么瞳距(InterPupillary Distance)( IPD ) 是你会经常听到的东西(a lot)。这基本上是直视前方时瞳孔之间的距离。
这很重要，因为 VR 耳机中的每个镜头都有一个特定的焦点，屏幕可以正确对焦。由于我们都有不同的IPD(IPDs)，因此必须移动镜头才能找到完美的焦点。VR 耳机将列出它支持的IPD范围。(IPDs)
如果您的IPD超出该范围，您将无法获得清晰的图像。互联网上有各种指南显示如何测量IPD，但任何验光师都可以快速为您提供正确的数字。
视野（水平）
VR 头显的视野是(field of view is)一个数字（i 度），表示头显占据了多少视野。这可能是感觉就像您站在广阔的开放空间或戴着马眼罩之间的区别。通常在列出此规范时，它指的是水平视野。
普通人的周边视觉范围刚好超过 180 度。除非你的后脑勺有眼睛，否则这大约是 VR 头戴式设备需要达到的程度。
虽然有些 VR 头戴设备可以接近人类的全部视觉范围，但消费级 VR 头戴设备仍有一段路要走。经验法则是 90 度是沉浸式仍然可以接受的绝对最小视野。最好的 VR 耳机的黄金标准是 110 度或更好。
显示面板规格
VR头显中最重要的组件之一是它的显示器。毕竟，这是您在使用设备时不断盯着的部分。如果您已经熟悉LCD或OLED显示技术，那么这些数字听起来很熟悉。
分辨率是首先要注意的。每只眼睛都有自己的分辨率空间，这意味着您可能会看到两个数字。一个用于整个显示面板，一个用于每只眼睛。有些耳机可能使用两个面板，而不是一分为二，因此请相应地阅读数字。
什么是好的分辨率？第一代高级 VR 头戴式设备每只眼睛提供 1080×1200 像素。我们建议将其用作最低工作量。
刷新率对于 VR 所需的视觉流动性也很重要，但这并不是全部。如果您正在查看使用LCD显示技术的耳机，那么 90Hz 应该是 VR 的最低标准。但是，如果它是OLED面板，它的低持久性意味着较低的刷新率也可以正常工作。80Hz 或 72Hz OLED面板可以在市场上一些最好的 VR 耳机中找到。
内部跟踪还是外部跟踪？
跟踪头部运动是 VR 工作方式的一个关键方面。跟踪必须非常精确，没有明显的滞后。如果你的头部动作与屏幕上的内容不匹配，那就是晕车的原因。
VR 头戴设备使用不同的方式来跟踪您的运动，但有两种重要的主要跟踪类型会对您的 VR 体验产生重大影响。使用外部追踪器的 VR 耳机只能在追踪器可以看到的区域内工作。这也意味着无论走到哪里，您都需要随身携带外部跟踪摄像头。这是一种您只能在较旧的 VR 耳机上看到的跟踪方法。外部跟踪正在迅速被所谓的“由内而外”跟踪所取代。
这种内部跟踪系统使用安装在耳机外部的摄像头来查看您周围的房间。然后，使用复杂的机器视觉技术，它会根据房间在您周围的移动方式计算出您的头部运动。这意味着你可以自由地四处走动，如果你想将你的 VR 设置移动到其他地方，只需要随身携带耳机（也许还有一台电脑）。
这两个跟踪系统允许沿“六个自由度”进行跟踪。换句话说，它可以沿着 X、Y 和 Z 轴跟踪您的头部运动。智能手机 VR(Smartphone VR)系统和一些入门级的独立耳机不提供完整的六个自由度。它们只跟踪您头部的基本旋转。虽然这适用于基本的 VR 体验，但在沉浸感方面非常有限。
虚拟现实控制器
当 VR 耳机将您的眼睛、耳朵和头部带入虚拟世界时，您身体的其他部分呢？虽然有完整的 VR 紧身衣裤，但这些并不适合消费者。主流 VR 的控制器稍微谦虚一点，但它们越来越令人印象深刻。
最基本的 VR 控制器是普通的老式控制台游戏手柄。大多数 VR 游戏都支持使用标准控制器。虽然它可能不是最身临其境的控制系统，但它仍然非常实用，你很有可能已经拥有一个。
目前最好的解决方案是一对运动控制器。这些可能仅与某些耳机一起使用，或者它们可能是通用的。一些 VR 头显在包装盒中附带一对或作为附件提供。
这些控制器不仅为您提供一组传统的游戏手柄控件，还可以跟踪您的手部动作。它们可能还具有压敏“抓握”功能，可让您以更自然的方式拾取和操纵 VR 对象。
虚拟现实耳机推荐
有了您应该了解的基本规格和设计功能，让我们看看适合不同预算和需求的最佳 VR 耳机的具体建议。VR 耳机市场上的大多数人应该对以下这些优秀型号之一感到非常满意。
最佳休闲 VR 耳机：Oculus Go(The Oculus Go)（230 美元以上）
Oculus Go是第一款真正引人注目的独立移动 VR 耳机。虽然它缺乏完整的位置跟踪等高级 VR 功能，但它的质量远高于从旗舰智能手机获得的移动 VR 质量，而旗舰智能手机的价格要高出许多倍。
Go 非常适合坐式、引导式 VR 体验以及移动 VR 应用程序。它包括基本的 VR 游戏和 VR 实用程序，例如小组会议应用程序(meeting applications)。与往常一样，一切都与应用程序有关。如果 Go 运行您喜欢的应用程序，这是可以买到的最好的休闲耳机。
最通用的 VR 耳机 ——Oculus Quest(The Oculus Quest)（600 美元以上）
当Oculus Quest首次推出时，它与市场上所有其他独立耳机完全擦肩而过。作为独立游戏机的 VR 产品出售，它在发布时具有旗舰规格，以及分辨率、传感器、控制器和光学器件，甚至超过了高级有线耳机。它使用由内而外的跟踪，可以使用随附的运动控制器或通过基于相机的手动扫描。
真正的关键是最近推出的Oculus Link。通过将Quest连接到您的计算机，您可以畅玩(Quest)Oculus Rift和Steam VR游戏的完整库。这意味着Quest是有史以来用途最广泛的耳机。如果您只有一个头显的预算，这是最好的 VR 头显，只需做出一些妥协即可满足您的所有需求。
最佳高级 VR 耳机：Valve Index(The Valve Index)（全套套件(Full Kit)2400 美元以上，耳机(Headset)仅 999 美元以上）
如果金钱不是问题，而您只是想要最好的全方位优质 VR 体验，那么Valve Index就是您的最佳选择。我们在上面链接的完整套件包括先进的Valve运动控制器和壁挂式传感器，可实现房间规模的 VR 体验。
Valve Index具有最先进的功能。例如，它的LCD显示面板可以达到 144Hz 的刷新率，并且它的视野是惊人的，达到 130 度。
虽然Index完整套件目前代表了消费者 VR 的巅峰之作，但如果您已经拥有HTC Vive或Vive Pro的设备，例如控制器或基站，它们将与Index一起使用。当涉及到完整套件令人眼花缭乱的价格标签时，这提供了一点缓解。无论如何(Regardless)，Index是第二代现代消费级VR的体现。如果你有它的预算，这是最好的。
最佳控制台 VR 耳机：Playstation VR(The Playstation VR)（399 美元）
默认情况下，索尼 PSVR(Sony PSVR)是最好的控制台 VR 耳机，因为它实际上是市场上唯一的控制台 VR 耳机。好消息是，尽管如此，它实际上非常好。如果您拥有 Playstation 4 或（最好是）Playstation 4 Pro，那么PSVR提供了一种非常实惠的方式来进入高级 VR 体验世界。
虽然PS4与典型的游戏 PC 相比相形见绌，但它仍然领先于智能手机芯片中的图形处理能力。索尼(Sony)和各种PSVR游戏开发商也找到了尽可能多地从这款流行游戏机中榨取能量的方法。
即使您没有PS4 ， PSVR和控制台本身的总成本仍然低于典型的联机 PC VR 系统。PSVR还拥有令人印象深刻的游戏库。这里的主要缺点是游戏是您可以在此系统上运行的唯一类型的应用程序。
现在是购买VR 耳机(VR Headset)的最佳时机
现在是进入 VR 的最佳时机。虽然有许多令人兴奋的创新即将出现，但当今市场上的主流产品本身就非常出色。开发人员已经解决了迄今为止阻碍 VR 发展的最重要问题。因此，如果您一直犹豫不决，那么是时候踏入您梦寐以求的虚拟世界了。
Best VR Headset Buying Guide: What You Should Look For
Virtual reality technology has made a few attempts to break into the mainstream, but until 2016 evеry effort has failed. It took until that year to become a viаble consumer product, because that’s when mobile computer teсhnology solved the many problems that VR headsets have always ѕuffered from.
Four years later, modern VR has advanced an astonishing amount. The few rough edges that remained when headsets like the Oculus Rift were first launched have been largely sanded off. However, finding the best VR headset today can be a minefield of unfamiliar technical terms and designs. Which is why we think this is the perfect time to put out a simple, sensible VR buyer’s guide.
What You’ll Find In This Guide
In order to help you find the information that you need more quickly, here’s a breakdown of what to expect in this guide:
- The Three Main Types of VR Headsets
- Important Technical Specifications
- VR Controllers
- VR Headset Recommendations
If all you want to know is which are the best VR headsets we recommend, then feel free to skip straight to the last section of the article. However, if you want to make your own informed buying decision, then the whole guide is sure to be very useful to you.
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The Three Main Types Of VR Headset
Virtual reality headsets come in all shapes and sizes, but there are three categories we think are most important from a buyer’s point of view. Each one has its own strengths and weaknesses. Most importantly, only two of these headset types still have real relevance today.
Smartphone VR Headset Enclosures
Since premium VR started out as a product few could afford, other options soon emerged. The most successful example is Google Cardboard. This is a simple cardboard enclosure into which you slide your smartphone. VR smartphone apps then split the screen into two separate images and you view them through inexpensive lenses.
Quickly, other companies started building on the Cardboard idea, culminating in premium smartphone-based solutions such as the Samsung Gear VR or Google Daydream. Sadly, this approach to VR comes with plenty of compromises and doesn’t make a lot of sense anymore in a world where standalone mobile VR headsets are affordable.
Ironically, the most relevant form of smartphone VR enclosure is still the original Cardboard. It makes it easy for businesses and schools to share basic mobile VR experiences or media such as 360-degree videos for a relatively low cost. It’s also inexpensive for individual users to try, but it’s ultimately a novelty now.
Standalone VR Headsets
Standalone VR headsets are a relatively new category of VR headsets. They combine smartphone technology with premium VR headset design to offer an affordable mainstream VR solution. These headsets don’t need a phone, computer or any other device to work. Comparable to a smartphone or gaming console. The device connects to the internet directly, you download apps to its internal memory and can enter VR anywhere, as long as there’s charge in the battery.
While these headsets don’t provide quite the same class of VR experience as premium, tethered VR headsets, they are significantly better than smartphone-based VR. Why? Although these headsets may have modest specifications compared to some flagship smartphones, they are designed for only one purpose.
Which means that the onboard hardware doesn’t also have to do the job of being a phone. The built-in displays are also tuned for VR and they have much more thermal headroom than razor-thin phones, which means the mobile processors can be pushed much harder. The end result is some very impressive VR, for a very reasonable price.
Tethered VR Headsets
The top of the pile, when it comes to best VR headsets, are those which tether to a computer. Since gaming laptops and desktops can pack so much processing punch, these headsets have access to the very best CPU and GPU technology that money can buy. That is, if you have the computer with those specifications.
This also means you can keep the same headset over multiple computer upgrade cycles. This way you benefit from each generational leap in power. Tethered VR headsets also tend to have better optics and ergonomics, since they don’t contain any processing hardware, batteries, or other components you’d find in a standalone model.
However, these headsets are the most expensive way to get into VR, since you need both a relatively high-end computer to go with your pricey premium headset. Being attached to a computer with a long cable also limits your mobility in VR, but there are already tethered headsets that use a wireless connection on the market. At a price, of course.
Important Technical Specifications
Now that we’ve covered the main types of VR headset design, it’s time to go over the most important entries on any VR headset’s spec sheet. Of course, there are always more considerations than we could list, but these are the most universal.
IPD – Interpupillary Distance
If you want to get into VR, then InterPupillary Distance (IPD) is something you’re going to hear a lot. This is basically the distance between your pupils when looking straight ahead.
This matters, because the lenses in a VR headset each have a specific focal point where the screen is properly in focus. Since we all have different IPDs, the lenses have to move in order to find the perfect focus. A VR headset will list the range of IPDs it supports.
If your IPD is outside of that range, you won’t get a clear image. There are various guides on the internet that show how you can measure your IPD, but any optometrist can quickly give you the right number.
Field Of View (Horizontal)
A VR headset’s field of view is a number (i degrees) that indicates how much of your field of vision is filled by the headset. This can be the difference between feeling like you’re standing in a vast open space or wearing horse blinders. Usually when this specification is listed it refers to the horizontal field of view.
The average human being has peripheral vision that stretches just over 180-degrees. Unless you have eyes in the back of your head, that’s about as far as an VR headset needs to go.
While there are VR headsets that approach the full human visual range, consumer VR headsets still have some way to go. The rule of thumb is that 90-degrees is the absolute minimum field of view that’s still acceptable for immersion. The gold standard for the best VR headsets is 110-degrees or better.
Display Panel Specifications
One of the most important components in a VR headset is it’s display. After all, it’s the one part you stare at constantly when using the device. If you’re already familiar with LCD or OLED display technology, then these numbers will sound familiar.
Resolution is the first thing to pay attention to. Each eye gets its own resolution real estate, which means you might see two numbers. One for the entire display panel and one for each eye. Some headsets might use two panels rather than dividing one into two, so read the numbers accordingly.
What’s a good resolution? The first generation of premium VR headsets offered 1080×1200 pixels per eye. We’d suggest using this as a working minimum.
Refresh rate is also pretty important for the visual fluidity VR requires, but it’s not the whole story. If you’re looking at a headset that uses LCD display technology, then 90Hz should be the minimum standard for VR. If it’s an OLED panel however, it’s low-persistence nature means that lower refresh rates will work just as well. 80Hz or 72Hz OLED panels can be found in some of the best VR headsets on the market.
Internal Or External Tracking?
Tracking head movement is a key aspect of how VR works. The tracking has to be very precise, with no perceptible lag. If there’s a mismatch between your head movements and what’s on screen, that’s a recipe for motion sickness.
VR headsets use different ways of tracking your movement, but there are two important main types of tracking that have a major influence on your VR experience. VR headsets that use external trackers, can only work within the zone those trackers can see. It also means that you need to lug along your external tracking cameras wherever you go. This is a tracking method you’ll only see on older VR headsets. External tracking is rapidly being replaced by so-called “inside-out” tracking.
This internal tracking system uses cameras mounted on the outside of the headset to look at the room around you. Then, using sophisticated machine vision technology, it works out your head movement based on how it sees the room move around you. This means you’re free to move around and only need to take the headset (and maybe a computer) along if you want to move your VR setup somewhere else.
These two tracking systems allow tracking along “six degrees of freedom”. In other words, it can track your head movement along the X,Y and Z axes. Smartphone VR systems and some entry-level standalone headsets don’t offer the full six degrees of freedom. They only track the basic rotation of your head. While this works OK for basic VR experiences, it’s very limited in terms of immersion.
VR Controllers
While a VR headset puts your eyes, ears and head into the virtual world, what about the rest of your body? While there are full VR bodysuits, these aren’t meant for consumers just yet. Controllers for mainstream VR are a little more modest, but they are getting more impressive by the day.
The most basic VR controller is the plain old console gamepad. Most VR games support using a standard controller. While it may not be the most immersive control system, it’s still very functional and there’s a good chance you already have one.
The best current solution is a pair of motion controllers. These may only work along with certain headsets or they could be universal. Some VR headsets come with a pair in the box or offer them as add-ons.
These controllers not only give you a set of traditional gamepad controls, but also track the motion of your hands. They may also have a pressure-sensitive “grip” feature, which lets you pick up and manipulate VR objects in a more natural way.
VR Headset Recommendations
With the basic specifications and design features you should know about covered, let’s look at specific recommendations for the best VR headsets that suit different budgets and needs. Most people in the market for a VR headset should be perfectly happy with one of these excellent models below.
The Best Casual VR Headset: The Oculus Go ($230+)
The Oculus Go is the first genuinely compelling standalone mobile VR headset. While it lacks premium VR features such as full positional tracking, it stands miles above the quality of mobile VR you get from flagship smartphones that cost many times as much.
The Go is perfect for seated, guided VR experiences as well as mobile VR apps. It includes both basic VR games and VR utilities, such as group meeting applications. As always, it’s all about the apps. If the Go runs the apps you like, this is the best casual headset money can buy.
The Most Versatile VR Headset – The Oculus Quest ($600+)
When the Oculus Quest first launched, it completely wiped the floor with every other standalone headset on the market. Sold as the VR equivalent of a self-contained gaming console, it had flagship specifications at the time of launch as well as resolution, sensors, controllers and optics that even outshone premium tethered headsets. It uses inside-out tracking and can either work with the included motion controllers or via camera-based hand-scanning.
The real clincher is the recent introduction of Oculus Link. By connecting the Quest to your computer, you can play the full library of Oculus Rift and Steam VR games. That means the Quest is the most versatile headset ever. If you only have the budget for one headset, this is the best VR headset that will do everything you want with just a few compromises.
The Best Premium VR Headset: The Valve Index (Full Kit $2400+, Headset Only $999+)
If money is no object and you simply want the best all-round premium VR experience, then look no further than the Valve Index. The full kit, which we’ve linked above, includes advanced Valve motion controllers and wall-mounted sensors that allow room-scale VR experiences.
The Valve Index is packed with cutting edge features. For example, it’s LCD display panels can reach refresh rates of 144Hz and it’s field of view is phenomenal, at 130-degrees.
While the Index full kits represent the pinnacle of consumer VR right now, if you already own equipment from the HTC Vive or Vive Pro, such as controllers or base stations, they’ll work with the Index. This Provides a little relief when it comes to the full kit’s eye-watering price tag. Regardless, the Index is the embodiment of second generation modern consumer VR. If you have the budget for it, this is as good as it gets.
The Sony PSVR is the best console VR headset by default, since it is in fact the only console VR headset on the market. The good news is that, despite this, it’s actually very good. If you own a Playstation 4 or (preferably) a Playstation 4 Pro, then the PSVR offers a very affordable way to enter the world of premium VR experiences.
While the PS4 pales in comparison to the typical gaming PC, it’s still miles ahead of the graphics power found in smartphone chips. Sony and the various PSVR game developers have also found ways to squeeze as much power from this popular console as possible.
Even if you don’t have a PS4, the total cost of a PSVR and the console itself is still less than the typical tethered PC VR system. The PSVR also boasts an impressive library of games. The main downside here is that games are the only type of application you can run on this system.
Best Time To Buy a VR Headset Is Now
There has never been a better time to jump into VR. While there are many exciting innovations on the horizon, the mainstream products on the market today are excellent in their own right. Developers have solved the most important issues that’ve been holding VR back up until now. So if you’ve been on the fence, it’s time to step into the virtual world you’ve always dreamed of.
