Virtual Reality (VR) and Mixed Reality (MR) have helped provide a different digital experience to consumers, lowering the barriers between the real and virtual worlds and allowing people to interact with the virtual environment beyond what was thought to be possible in the past. 

As a kid and a computer game enthusiast, I have always wanted to experience what it is like to be in the virtual world and be in the video game characters’ shoes. By the time I was a teenager, although there were breakthroughs in the VR and MR fields, the headsets were still heavy and clunky, and the low resolution and refresh rate did not help make the experience better. Now, while I am in my 20s, VR and MR have improved by leaps and bounds within the span of a few years, and are not just limited to entertainment but have also extended to medical, education and engineering fields.

In this post, I will be analysing the latest VR and MR devices and sharing which of these devices are my favourites. As part of my analysis, I will be comparing the devices based on two main criteria – Price and User Experience

Virtual Reality: 

User Experience: 

	Oculus Quest 2	HTC Vive Cosmos	Valve Index	Oculus Rift S
Weight	499g	702g	809g	500g
Display	1832×1920px 2x	1080×1200px 2x	1440×1600 px 2x	1280x1440px 2x
Refresh Rate	72Hz	90 Hz	144 Hz	80 Hz
Field of View	100°	110°	130°	115º
Wireless?	Yes	No	No	No

Price: 

	Oculus Quest 2	HTC Vive Cosmos	Valve Index	Oculus Rift S
Price (SGD)	$431	$1,229	$1327	$588

Best VR Device: Oculus Quest 2

Although Oculus Quest 2 has the lowest Refresh Rate and Field of View than the other 3 VR devices, its much better display resolution could provide a much better viewing experience for the user. Furthermore, being the lightest device out of the 3, and its ability to operate wirelessly, without needing to plug into a computer, not having the user’s movements restricted, Oculus Quest 2 provides the best user experience.

Furthermore, Oculus Quest 2 is the cheapest out of the other 3 devices, way cheaper than HTC Vive Cosmos and Valve Index.

Overall, I choose Oculus Quest 2 to be my go-to VR device due to its low price, and much better user experience.

Trailer for Oculus Quest 2:

Mixed Reality:

User Experience:

	Nreal Light	Microsoft Hololens 2
Weight	106g	566g
Display	1920 × 1080px 2x	2048 x 1080px 2x
Refresh Rate	–	240Hz
Field of View	52°	52°
Wireless?	Yes	Yes

Price:

	Nreal Light	Microsoft Hololens 2
Price (USD)	$499	$3500

Best MR Device: Nreal Light

Although Nreal Light has a lower display resolution than Hololens 2 and possibly a lower refresh rate, it is lighter than Hololens 2 by more than 80%, providing a much more comfortable wearing experience for the users. Furthermore, it’s sunglasses-like design will be more familiar to the users. Overall, Nreal Light will provide a much better user experience than Hololens 2.

Finally, Nreal Light is more than 85% cheaper than Hololens 2, making it a great entry-level MR device for general consumers.

Overall, I pick Nreal Light to be my go-to MR device due to its much lower price, and much better user experience. It is the best value-for-money MR device for general consumer.

Trailer for Nreal Light:

References:

1. https://sea.pcmag.com/consumer-electronics-reviews-ratings-comparisons/10991/the-best-vr-headsets-for-2020
2. https://www.tomsguide.com/us/best-vr-headsets,review-3550.html
3. https://www.toptal.com/designers/ui/augmented-reality-vs-virtual-reality-vs-mixed-reality
4. https://www.republicworld.com/technology-news/gaming/what-do-you-need-to-run-the-oculus-quest-2.html
5. https://www.amazon.sg/Oculus-Quest-Advanced-All-One/dp/B08F7PTF53
6. https://www.aniwaa.com/buyers-guide/vr-ar/best-mixed-reality-headsets/
7. https://www.nreal.ai/light/
8. https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/10/21362407/nreal-light-ar-glasses-lg-uplus-samsung-galaxy-note-retail-launch-availability-price
9. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60yP8f5E-B4&ab_channel=Oculus
10. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zneAnphf44&ab_channel=Nreal