Video games have been around for some time now and over the years they have undergone a series of changes and undergone a great evolution that seems to have reached its peak today with virtual reality. So naturally, the latter is gradually imposing itself in all game genres and the Sim-racing sector is no exception.
Virtual reality is a fascinating way to travel using only the power of technology. With a headset and a motion tracking system, it allows you to walk through a virtual space as if you were there or play a game as if you were there.
If you’re looking for a next-level simulation racing experience, there’s no better addition to your setup than a VR headset. There are many choices, but some are much better than others.
In this article, we will talk about the aspects to consider when choosing a VR headset and we will also present our selection of the 5 best VR headsets for Sim-racing.
The best VR headsets for Sim Racing at a glance
What should I consider when choosing a VR headset?
When purchasing your virtual reality headset, there are many things to consider. To help you in this process, here is a list of all the features to consider so you can make a purchase you won’t regret.
Range of motion and degrees of freedom (DoF)
These are two key factors to consider when purchasing a VR headset. The range of motion will generally be 360°, which means you can look all around you while you play.
The DoF basically refers to the number of types of movements you can perform. Three DoF is pretty standard, and it allows you to look up and down, left and right while standing or sitting in the same place. If you move around the room, these movements will not be tracked and therefore will not affect your gaming experience.
Some high-end VR headsets offer six DoFs, allowing you to move through physical space and track your movements. This is less important for Sim-racing, as you will normally be sitting in the car at all times. So you don’t necessarily need to spend more money on three extra DoFs that you won’t fully enjoy.
The field of view (FOV)
FOV is one of the most important features of a VR mask for Sim-racing, the degrees of field of view are crucial to having the best racing simulator experience. A larger FOV allows us to see more into the cockpit, while a smaller FOV will make us move our heads more to look in the rearview mirror.
Also, a wider FOV is more natural, as it resembles the field of view of our eyes. We therefore recommend that you opt for a wider FOV for a better gaming experience.
Screen and sound
This factor is a bit difficult to assess for players who are not very tech-savvy. To simplify the process of choosing a display, keep an eye on the resolution of each screen (per eye) and the refresh rate offered. As far as sound is concerned, you can find VR headsets with built-in speakers and some may also include a microphone too. Choose the configuration that suits you best.
Compatibility
Compatibility refers not only to your platform but also to the games you want to run. Most of the VR headsets on the market run smoothly under Windows, but when it comes to games, you should always refer to the brand’s official website because not all sim-racing games are compatible with virtual reality.
Always check beforehand, so you don’t waste your money on a VR headset that you won’t be able to fully use.
Comfort and ergonomics
When choosing a VR headset for Sim-racing, you need something light and comfortable to forget you are wearing it, to get a more immersive feel. Look for fully adjustable virtual reality headsets to avoid neck strain while driving your car.
The price
High-end VR headsets are definitely much better for simulation racing, with cheaper ones tending to limit the experience and sense of immersion. But the price of VR headsets for Sim-racing varies a lot, and while the best ones are usually the most expensive, you can find quality models and brands at more affordable prices.
The 5 best VR headsets for Sim-racing
We decided to present our selection of the 5 best VR headsets for Sim-racing, ranked in order of preference.
Oculus Quest 2
Oculus is the company that pioneered the introduction of virtual reality to the consumer market and, once acquired by Facebook, continues to invest to improve and advance. The Oculus Quest 2 headset is the modernization of its first autonomous model. L’Oculus Quest 2 allows connection to the PC via Oculus Link and relaying to the headset at high frequency for use like other advanced headsets.
Portability is the great strength of this VR headset, not to mention its screen, its resolution of 1832 x 1920 per eye, its refresh rate up to 120 Hz and an average field of view of 100º. With all this, this headset guarantees to offer us a very natural virtual reality experience.
TheOculus Quest 2 is lightweight, weighing only 600 grams, making it one of the most comfortable VR headsets for sim-racing. Moreover, it does not need external sensors, cables or any accessory that hinders our movements. To play iRacing, Project Cars or Assetto Corsa, we will simply have to connect it to the PC with the USB-C cable.
Its Advantages
- Light and comfortable.
- Very good quality-price ratio.
- Great image quality.
Its Disadvantages
- Poor resolution at distant points.
- Not the best performing on the market
Sony – Playstation VR
This option Sony has 3D audio capabilities and a 100° field of view. For this reason, it is an ideal device if you want to enter the world of virtual reality, especially for PlayStation. It also contains an interface for connection with an HDMI and USB cable.
It has two lenses and 3D depth sensors, so it tracks the position of the helmet wherever you are and whatever movements you make. Just use the PlayStation Camera, which tracks LED lights throughout the helmet.
It has a 360° view for a total immersion and it has a 3-axis gyroscope and a 3-axis accelerometer of high precision.
Its OLED screen measures 5.7 inches and allows you to enjoy hyper realistic 3D environments. Finally, we must also highlight its 120 frames per second playback capacity. It is precisely this combination that allows you to enjoy your racing video games with the best image quality and no latency.
It includes a built-in microphone so you can organize your online games with your friends and you can also project the image of the device on the TV screen.
It is considered a very good device even if it doesn’t have all the advantages that you can have with a VR headset for PC. It guarantees an excellent gaming experience and is compatible with many games.
Its Advantages
- Immersive VR experience.
- Works with non-VR applications and games.
- Support for motion control.
- Very simple installation.
Its Disadvantages
- Its high price.
- You can only use it with your PlayStation console.
- Its weight is more than 2 kg.
HP Reverb G2
The HP VR headsets are known to have as a priority to offer a fluid and faithful image. The HP Reverb G2 is no exception as it features two LCD panels with 2160 × 2160 resolution, bringing the total resolution to 4320 × 2160.
It also has a resolution of 2160 x 2160 per eye, with a refresh rate of 90 Hz and a field of view up to 114º.
The HP Reverb G2 has 4 cameras built into the headset that track our movements without the need for external sensors. This VR headset is fully compatible with SteamVR and Windows Mixed Reality so you can fully enjoy your simulation games.
HP and Valve have teamed up to bring the G2 in-ear speakers to a level similar to the Valve index. The result is a powerful display and excellent audio quality.
The headset can also be adjusted to fit any size or shape of head and only needs a USB 3.0 cable and an HDMI connection to work.
Its Advantages
- 4K resolution.
- Independent, without external sensors or base stations.
- Easy to install.
Its Disadvantages
- The screen refresh rate could be better.
Oculus Rift S PC-Powered VR
We have chosen to include the Oculus Rift S headset to our selection for its incredible accuracy.
This model includes a detection system so you can move through space in any direction. It does not integrate external sensors and its configuration is one of the simplest on the market.
The design is fully ergonomic thanks to the HALO design, designed to optimize the experience in terms of speed. To adjust it, you simply turn the adjustment wheel, which is ideal for gaming sessions where you tend to make sudden movements.
TheOculus Rift S includes Oculus Touch controllers so you can optimize your gaming experience. It also incorporates other accessories, such as integrated speakers or sensor systems.
Its new generation screen offers the sharpest and brightest image and this model also guarantees a reduced grid effect during playback.
The Oculus Rift S headset is in our opinion one of the best options for those on a medium budget who are looking for something versatile, suitable not only for Sim-racing, but also for any type of virtual reality gaming.
Its Advantages
- Very good image quality.
- Very comfortable.
- Very good quality-price ratio.
Its Disadvantages
- You must optimize your computer for Oculus with Windows 10 and have at least 8GB of RAM.
- The controls require batteries.
HTC VIVE Pro
Finally, we present the HTC VIVE Pro VR headset , which is by far our favorite model and the best alternative in our selection.
This futuristic VR headset offers a 2880 x 1600 px image quality that you can enjoy with total clarity on its 3.5-inch screen.
It has a110º field of view so you can see everything around you without having to turn your head hardly. Another of its qualities is that it includes headphones capable of projecting sound in 3D.
In addition, it has external sensors for Steam VR tracking, G-Sensor gyro and proximity.
The HTC VIVE Pro headset incorporates an accessible adjustment wheel that allows a very good adaptability and guarantees a very high comfort. It also offers a ventilated surface that prevents excessive sweating.
This model is more for experienced players or for professional purposes. This is a good option if you’re looking for a device that will serve you for a few years, playing video games or other virtual reality applications. Keep in mind that you need at least a PC with a Windows 10 operating system and 4GB of RAM.
Its Advantages
- Excellent display and material.
- Built-in speakers and microphone.
- Excellent motion tracking sensors.
Its Disadvantages
- High price.
- On PCs, somewhat demanding minimum requirements are necessary.
In brief / Conclusion
We hope you have found a VR headset model for Sim-racing that suits you in our model selection.
As we have just seen together, there are several good options with different features, but there are some key elements to consider before fixing our choice.
Price is not always important, but it can be a deciding factor. That’s why we recommend that you take the time to test the different headsets available, especially if you’re going to spend a significant amount of money.
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