Head-mounted display: Difference between revisions

Also known as All-in-One (AIO) HMDs, these devices contain all necessary components, displays, optics, sensors, processing (CPU/GPU, often based on mobile chipsets like Qualcomm Snapdragon XR series), memory, storage, battery, and tracking, within the headset itself. They require no external PC or console, offering greater freedom of movement and ease of use. Processing power is typically lower than high-end PC VR setups. Many standalone HMDs can optionally connect to a PC via cable (e.g., Meta Link) or wirelessly (e.g., Air Link, Virtual Desktop) to function as a PC VR headset.

These were an early, low-cost entry point to VR, consisting of a simple enclosure (often plastic or cardboard) with lenses, into which a compatible [[smartphone]] was inserted. The smartphone provided the display, processing, and basic 3DoF tracking (using its internal IMU). While popular initially due to accessibility (e.g., [[Google Cardboard]], [[Samsung Gear VR]], [[Google Daydream View]]), they suffered from limitations like lower display quality, higher latency, potential overheating, limited interaction (often just a single button or touchpad), inconsistent experiences across different phones, and generally only 3DoF tracking. This category is now largely obsolete, superseded by standalone HMDs.