PC-Powered VR

See also: Standalone VR and Phone-Powered AR

A PC-powered (tethered) VR headset, which connects to an external computer for processing.

PC-Powered VR, also known as the Discrete HMD or Tethered HMD, is a type of mostly virtual reality head-mounted display that supplies everything required for an immersive VR experience aside from the processing. It contains display, lenses, rotational tracking, positional tracking, audio and advanced input. For processing, Discrete HMDs are connected to PCs through cables. Certain Discrete HMDs such as the PlayStation VR use consoles instead of PCs for processing. While this type of HMD is less mobile than its 2 counterparts, it is able to deliver the best VR experience. To deliver positional tracking, Discrete HMDs utilize external sensors that are placed external to the user or HMD. They also have custom Input Devices built with 6DOF tracking in mind. Note that newer Discrete HMD such as Pico Neo 2 is not tethered to its PC, instead it wirelessly streams from the PC to the HMD.

Discrete HMDs require powerful PCs to run their demanding games and software. Not counting the cost of PC, Discrete HMDs is cheaper than Slide-on HMDs and more expensive than Standalone VR headsets.

How it works

A PC-powered headset acts as a high-quality output and input device rather than a complete computer. The headset houses the panels, optics, internal measurement sensors and headphones, while all of the heavy work, running the game engine, rendering each frame and applying lens distortion correction, is performed by the external host. The rendered frames are sent down a video cable to the headset, and the headset streams its sensor data (head pose, controller pose, button states) back to the host so that the next frame can be drawn from the correct viewpoint. Because nothing has to fit inside the headset's thermal and battery budget, a PC-powered design can drive higher resolutions, wider field of view and faster refresh rates than a self-contained unit of the same era.

This division of labour is why the category is called "discrete": the display and the processor are physically separate. It also means the experience is only as good as the host hardware. A weak GPU forces lower detail, dropped frames and discomfort, so manufacturers publish recommended PC specifications alongside each headset. When the first-generation Oculus Rift launched, Oculus standardised on a recommended baseline of an NVIDIA GTX 970 (or AMD Radeon R9 290) GPU, an Intel Core i5-4590 CPU, 8 GB of RAM, a compatible HDMI 1.3 output and several USB ports, a target it pledged to hold for the headset's lifetime so that the meaning of "VR ready" stayed stable.

Connection requirements

A tethered headset needs both a video link and a data link to the host. Early headsets split these across separate connectors: the original Oculus Rift CV1 used an HDMI cable for video plus a USB 3.0 cable for data and power, and each external tracking sensor consumed an additional USB port. Later PC headsets standardised on DisplayPort for video because it carries the bandwidth needed for high resolution and high refresh rate more comfortably than HDMI of the same generation. The Valve Index connects over DisplayPort plus USB, and professional headsets such as the Varjo Aero connect over DisplayPort together with a USB 3.0 port.

The practical consequence is that the host PC must have a dedicated GPU with a spare DisplayPort or HDMI output, plus free USB ports for data and for any external tracking base stations. Integrated graphics outputs and most laptop screens cannot drive a tethered headset directly, which is one reason PC VR is associated with desktop towers.

How tracking is delivered

PC-powered headsets are typically 6DOF systems and use one of two tracking approaches. Outside-in systems rely on external reference devices placed around the play space: the original Oculus Rift used desktop infrared camera sensors, while HTC Vive and the Valve Index use SteamVR Lighthouse base stations that sweep the room with timed infrared laser flashes, with two stations typically used to cover a play area. Inside-out systems instead place the cameras on the headset itself, removing the need for external sensors; many newer PC and hybrid headsets use this method. Either way, the headset reports its pose to the host, and the host renders the scene from that pose, so low latency in this round trip is essential to avoid discomfort.

Examples

The table below lists representative PC-powered (and console-powered) headsets. PlayStation VR is included as the most prominent console-tethered example.

Headset	Released	Resolution (per eye)	Refresh rate	Video connection
Oculus Rift CV1	March 2016	1080 x 1200 (OLED)	90 Hz	HDMI + USB
HTC Vive	April 2016	1080 x 1200 (OLED)	90 Hz	HDMI + USB
PlayStation VR (console)	October 2016	960 x 1080 (OLED)	up to 120 Hz	via Processor Unit to PS4
Valve Index	June 2019	1440 x 1600 (LCD)	up to 144 Hz	DisplayPort + USB
Varjo Aero	2021	2880 x 2720	90 Hz	DisplayPort 1.4 + USB
Bigscreen Beyond	September 2023	2560 x 2560 (micro-OLED)	90 Hz	DisplayPort + USB
Pimax Crystal QLED	2023	2880 x 2880 (QLED)	up to 120 Hz	DisplayPort + USB

The Oculus Rift CV1 and HTC Vive launched within weeks of each other in 2016 and defined the modern outside-in PC VR market. The Valve Index, released in June 2019, pushed refresh rate to as high as 144 Hz and a wider field of view for greater immersion. More recent designs emphasise compactness and clarity: the Bigscreen Beyond uses dual micro-OLED panels at 2560 x 2560 per eye and weighs about 127 grams, making it one of the lightest PC VR headsets, while Pimax and Varjo target the highest end with very high pixel counts aimed at flight and racing simulation and professional work.

PlayStation VR and console tethering

Not all discrete HMDs connect to a PC. Sony's PlayStation VR, released on October 13, 2016 at a launch price of $399 in the United States, tethers to a PlayStation 4 console rather than a desktop PC. A separate breakout box called the Processor Unit sits between the console, the headset and the television; it handles the video signal split and effects such as the social-screen output. The principle is the same as PC VR: the headset supplies the optics, panels and tracking markers while the console performs the rendering, which is why it is grouped with the discrete-HMD category.

PC VR over a standalone link

The boundary between PC-powered and Standalone VR has blurred. Several self-contained headsets can act as a PC VR display by streaming a compressed video feed from a host PC instead of relying on a fixed video cable. Meta's Quest Link does this over a USB-C cable: the headset is plugged into a USB 3 port and the PC's GPU renders and encodes the PC VR content, which the headset decodes and shows. Air Link performs the same job wirelessly over a (preferably 5 GHz) Wi-Fi network. The third-party app Virtual Desktop offers a similar wireless route, installing a streamer on the PC and a client on the headset; the PC compresses and encodes the frames in real time using its GPU's hardware video encoder, the headset decodes them, and head and controller movements are sent back, with the whole round trip completing in milliseconds.

This streaming approach gives a standalone headset access to the much larger and more demanding library of PC VR software, but it trades the lossless image of a direct video cable for a compressed stream, so image quality and latency depend on the encoder, the link and (for wireless) the quality of the network. The Pico Neo 2 noted above followed the same pattern, using a dedicated streaming assistant to play SteamVR titles wirelessly from a host PC.

Advantages

• Rendering power and fidelity: offloading to a desktop GPU enables higher resolution, wider field of view, faster refresh rates and more graphically demanding games than a self-contained headset of the same generation can run.
• Upgradeable: the headset's visual quality can improve simply by upgrading the host PC, without buying a new headset.
• Largest software library: PC VR platforms such as SteamVR host the broadest and most advanced catalogue of VR experiences.

Drawbacks

• Tethered: a physical cable limits movement, can be a trip hazard and must be managed during room-scale play. Wireless streaming reduces this but introduces compression and network dependence.
• Cost: the headset is only part of the expense; a capable gaming PC is also required, and at the original Rift's launch a recommended-spec build was estimated at roughly $850 or more on top of the headset.
• Setup: external tracking base stations or sensors, cable routing, driver software and a free GPU video output make initial setup more involved than a Standalone VR headset.

Comparison with standalone VR

Main article: Standalone VR

Standalone VR headsets contain their own processor, battery and storage, so they need no host and no cable and are far more portable, but their mobile-class chips cannot match the rendering power of a desktop GPU. PC-powered headsets reverse that trade: they are less portable and depend on an external host, yet deliver the highest fidelity and access to the most demanding software. Many modern standalone headsets bridge the gap by also supporting a wired or wireless link to a PC, letting a single device behave as either a standalone or a PC-powered headset depending on the user's needs.

Devices	Requires	Display	Resolution	Refresh Rate	Field of View	Tracking	Rotational Tracking	Positional Tracking	Update Rate	Latency	Input	Connectivity
3Glasses Blubur S1		5.5" Low Persistence LCD	2880 x 1440 (1440 x 1440 per eye)			6DoF (external camera)					3Wand controllers	DisplayPort
3Glasses Blubur S2	Windows 10 PC; 3Glasses listed an Intel Core i5-7200U-class CPU, Intel HD Graphics 620-class graphics and 8 GB DDR3 memory as the entry-level configuration	Two LCD panels, one per eye; 706 PPI; response time ≤6 ms	1440x1440 per-eye	90 Hz	90° per eye (manufacturer figure)	Inside-out tracking, 6DoF (two front-facing cameras)					6DoF motion controllers (Bluetooth), Cortana voice commands	4 m cable
3Glasses D2		5.5" TFT-LCD	2560 x 1440 (2K)			3DoF					Touch field, control buttons	DisplayPort 1.2, USB 2.0
ANTVR	PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Smartphone	aspherical lens	1920 x 1080		100° diagonal	3DOF	Gyroscope, Magnetometer, Accelerometer				Transformable Controller	U2B (USB-2.4GHz and Bluetooth) module
ANTVR Cyclop	Windows PC (64-bit Windows 10) with an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970, AMD Radeon R9 290 or equivalent graphics card	2 x OLED binocular	1080x1200 per-eye	90 Hz	110° diagonal	6DoF, inside-out infrared camera with floor or desk markers					2 x controllers with trigger, four buttons and finger sensing	HDMI, 2 x USB 3.0
ASUS Windows Mixed Reality	Windows Mixed Reality compatible PC	Dual LCD	1440 × 1440 per eye (2880 × 1440 combined)	60Hz / 90Hz	95°	6DoF inside-out	Yes	Yes	90Hz	<20ms motion-to-photon	Windows Mixed Reality motion controllers (2 included)	HDMI 2.0, USB 3.0
Acer AH101	Windows Mixed Reality-ready PC with Windows 10 Fall Creators Update, HDMI and USB 3.0 ports, and Bluetooth 4.0 for the controllers	2 x 2.89-inch LCD	1440 x 1440 per eye (2880 x 1440 combined)	90 Hz (HDMI 2.0) / 60 Hz (HDMI 1.4)	95 degrees (Acer); about 100 degrees in reviews	6DoF (inside-out)					WMR Controllers (6DoF)	HDMI 1.4/2.0, USB 3.0
Acer OJO 500	Windows Mixed Reality-ready PC	Dual 2.89-inch LCD	1440 × 1440 per eye (2880 × 1440 combined)	Up to 90Hz	100°	6DoF (inside-out)	Yes	Yes	60Hz	<20ms motion-to-photon	Windows Mixed Reality motion controllers, Bluetooth	HDMI 2.0, USB 3.0
Acer Windows Mixed Reality	Windows 10 Fall Creators Update PC	Dual LCD	1440 × 1440 per eye (2880 × 1440 combined)	90Hz (HDMI 2.0), 60Hz (HDMI 1.4)	100° (up to 105°)	6DoF inside-out (2 cameras)	Yes	Yes	90Hz	<20ms motion-to-photon	Windows Mixed Reality controllers (sold separately or bundled)	HDMI 1.4/2.0, USB 3.0
Acer Windows Mixed Reality Headset	PC	Dual LCD display	2880 x 1440 (1440 x 1440 per eye)	90Hz	95 Degree Horizontal	6DOF	Gyroscope, Accelerometer, Magnetometer	Inside-out tracking		Motion to Photon: Less than 10ms	Keyboard/Mouse,Xbox One GamePad, Motion Controllers	HDMI, USB
Arpara Tethered 5K	Windows 10 PC with an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 or better, or a compatible Android phone (Android 6.0 or later)	Dual 1.03-inch Micro-OLED (OLED-on-silicon, supplied by SeeYA)	2560 x 2560 per eye (5120 x 2560 combined)	Up to 120 Hz (at reduced resolutions); 70 Hz at 5088 x 2544	95 degrees	3DoF; 6DoF with the arpara Tracker and SteamVR Base Stations				Display 2 μs; sensor 1 ms (arpara figures)	Volume, 2D/3D and resolution buttons; SteamVR controllers with the Gaming Kit	USB-C (DisplayPort video); proprietary DisplayPort 1.4 cable for desktop PCs
Arpara VR	PC or phone (Tethered 5K)	Dual 1.03" Micro-OLED; 3514 PPI; 1,000,000:1 contrast; DCI-P3 90% (sRGB 127%)	5120 x 2560 (2560 x 2560 per eye); 32 PPD	Up to 120 Hz (Tethered 5K, at reduced resolutions); AIO 5K: 70 Hz at 5120 x 2560, 90 Hz at 3840 x 1920	95°	3DoF (Tethered; 6DoF with arpara Tracker) / 6DoF inside-out (AIO)					arpara 6DoF controllers (AIO 5K); HTC Vive or Valve Index controllers with the arpara Tracker (Tethered 5K)	DisplayPort 1.4 over USB Type-C (Tethered), wired and wireless streaming (AIO)
Asus HC102	PC	Dual LCD display	2880 x 1440 (1440 x 1440 per eye)	90Hz	95 Degree	6DOF	Gyroscope, Accelerometer, Magnetometer	Inside-out tracking		Low	Asus HC102 Motion Controller	HDMI, USB
Bigscreen Beyond	Gaming PC, SteamVR base stations	Dual micro-OLED (Samsung)	2560 × 2560 per eye (5120 × 2560 combined)	75Hz, 90Hz	90° (horizontal) × 93° (vertical)	6DoF outside-in (SteamVR Tracking)	Yes	Yes	1000Hz	<10ms motion-to-photon	SteamVR controllers (Index, Vive, etc.)	DisplayPort 1.4, USB-A
Bigscreen Beyond 2	VR-ready PC, SteamVR Base Stations, VR Controllers	Dual 1-inch Micro-OLED	2560 × 2560 per eye (5120 × 2560 total)	75 Hz (native), 90 Hz (upscaled via DSC from 1920 × 1920)	116° diagonal	SteamVR Tracking, (Outside-in via SteamVR 1.0 or 2.0 base stations, 6DoF)	Yes	Yes		Low-latency eye-tracking (on Beyond 2e)	Requires separate VR controllers, Valve Index Controllers	5 m fiber-optic tether to Link Box
Bigscreen Beyond 2e		2× Micro-OLED (RGB stripe)	2560×2560 per eye (13.1 million pixels total)	90 Hz	116°	Outside-in 6DoF (SteamVR Base Stations)						DisplayPort, USB
Crystal Cove		OLED with low persistence (Oculus: "modified OLED display")	1920 x 1080 (960 x 1080 per eye), as reported by press			6DoF; outside-in optical tracking with an external camera and infrared LEDs on the headset
DPVR E3 4K		5.5" JDI Fast LCD	3840 x 2160 (1920 x 2160 per eye)			3DoF (6DoF with NOLO)					NOLO controllers (optional)	HDMI
DPVR E3B	Windows PC with one HDMI port and two USB ports	Single 5.7-inch Samsung AMOLED binocular	1280x1440 per-eye (2560 x 1440 panel)	72 Hz	110° horizontal, 60° vertical	3DoF (rotational only); no positional tracking					PC gamepad (no controllers included)	3-in-1 cable to PC
DPVR E3C	Windows PC with an HDMI output and two USB ports	Single LCD binocular	1280x1440 per-eye	90 Hz	110° horizontal, 60° vertical	3DoF (rotational only)						3-in-1 cable (HDMI and two USB)
DPVR E4	VR-ready PC (GTX 1060+ / i5 / 8GB RAM)	Single Fast LCD	3664 × 1920 (1834 × 1920 per eye)	72Hz, 90Hz, 120Hz (adjustable)	116° diagonal, 94° horizontal	6DoF (inside-out, 4 cameras)	Yes	Yes	Up to 120Hz	<20ms motion-to-photon	6DoF controllers (Quest-style)	DisplayPort 1.2+, USB 3.0
DPVR E4C		Single LCD binocular (5.46-inch Fast LCD)	1832x1920 per-eye (3664 x 1920 panel)	72/90 Hz	116°	3DoF (rotational only)						Single 6 m cable; DisplayPort 1.2 and USB 2.0
DecaGear	VR-ready PC (SteamVR compatible)	Dual LCD	2160 × 2160 per eye (4.6MP)	90Hz	114°	6DoF (inside-out, 4 cameras)	Yes	Yes	90Hz	<20ms (announced)	6DoF controllers with finger sensing, DecaMove hip tracker	USB-C (optional wireless DecaAir addon)
Dell Visor	Windows 10 Fall Creators Update PC	Dual Sharp LCD	1440 × 1440 per eye (2880 × 1440 combined)	90Hz	110°	6DoF inside-out (2 cameras)	Yes	Yes	90Hz	<20ms motion-to-photon	Windows Mixed Reality controllers	HDMI 2.0, USB 3.0
EMagin Z800 3DVisor		2 x OLED (SVGA)	800 x 600 per eye			3DoF (MEMS accelerometers and gyroscopes)					Head tracking	USB
FOVE	PC	5.8 inch low persistence OLED	2560 x 1440	60 - 90 Hz	100°	Eye Tracking	IMUs	Their own system	Eye Tracking: 120 FPS			USB 3.0, Display port, 3.5mm headphone port
Forte VFX1		2 x 0.7" Active Matrix LCD (Kopin)	263 x 230 per eye			3DoF					Cyberpuck controller (2DoF + 3 buttons)	ISA VIP board, VESA feature connector
Fujitsu FMVHDS1	PC running Windows 10 Fall Creators Update or later, with HDMI or DisplayPort 1.2 output, a USB 3.0 Type-A port and Bluetooth 4.0	2 x 2.89-inch LCD binocular	1440x1440 per-eye (2880x1440 combined)	90 Hz on Windows Mixed Reality Ultra PCs; 60 Hz on other PCs	100 degrees or more on Windows Mixed Reality Ultra PCs; 90 degrees on other PCs	Inside-out tracking, 6DoF					Windows Mixed Reality Motion Controllers (Bluetooth 4.0, left and right)	4 m USB 3.0 Type-A / HDMI Type-A combo cable
HP Reverb G1	Windows 10 PC (October 2018 Update or later) with DisplayPort 1.3 and USB 3.0	2 x 2.89-inch LCD with Pulse Backlight technology, RGB stripe subpixels	2160 x 2160 per eye (4320 x 2160 combined)	90 Hz	Approx. 114 degrees (diagonal, manufacturer figure)	Inside-out tracking, 6DoF					Windows Mixed Reality Motion Controllers	2-in-1 cable with DisplayPort 1.3 and USB 3.0; quick-release connector; DisplayPort to mini-DisplayPort adapter
HP Reverb G2	Gaming PC with DisplayPort, Windows 10/11	Dual LCD (mura-free)	2160 × 2160 per eye (4320 × 2160 combined)	90Hz	114°	6DoF inside-out	Yes	Yes	90Hz	<20ms motion-to-photon	HP Motion Controllers	DisplayPort 1.3, USB 3.0
HP Reverb G2 Omnicept Edition	Windows PC with DisplayPort 1.3 and USB 3.0 Type-C; Windows 10 May 2019 Update or later	2 x LCD (2.89 in diagonal each)	2160x2160 per-eye	90 Hz	~114 degrees (HP figure)	Inside-out tracking, 6DoF, four cameras (two front-facing, two side-facing)					Two motion controllers (Bluetooth, two AA batteries each)	6 m 2-in-1 headset cable
HP VR1000	Windows 10 PC with HDMI or DisplayPort video output and a USB 3.0 port	2 x LCD binocular (2.89-inch diagonal each)	1440x1440 per-eye	90 Hz	95° horizontal, 91° vertical	6DoF inside-out tracking with two front-facing cameras					Windows Mixed Reality Motion Controllers	2-in-1 cable with HDMI 2.0 and USB 3.0 plugs; removable extension cable
HP Windows Mixed Reality	Windows Mixed Reality compatible PC	Dual LCD	1440 × 1440 per eye (2880 × 1440 combined)	60Hz / 90Hz	95°	6DoF inside-out	Yes	Yes	90Hz	<20ms motion-to-photon	Windows Mixed Reality motion controllers (2 included)	HDMI 1.4/2.0, USB 3.0
HTC Vive	PC	Dual Panel	2160 x 1200 (1080 x 1200 per eye)	90 Hz	110° (diagonal)	6DOF	Gyroscope, Accelerometer, Laser Position Sensor	Base Stations	Rotational: 1000Hz, Positional: 60Hz	Motion to Photon, 7ms (no load), 15ms (medium load)	Controllers in both hands	2 HDMI ports, 2 USB ports, 1 headphone jack
HTC Vive Cosmos	Gaming PC with DisplayPort, USB	Dual LCD (RGB stripe)	1440 × 1700 per eye (2880 × 1700 combined)	90Hz	110°	6DoF inside-out (6 cameras)	Yes	Yes	90Hz	<20ms motion-to-photon	Vive Cosmos Controllers	USB 3.0, DisplayPort 1.2
HTC Vive Cosmos Elite	VR-ready PC, SteamVR base stations	Dual LCD	1440 × 1700 per eye (2880 × 1700 combined)	90Hz	110°	6DoF (SteamVR Tracking 1.0)	Yes	Yes	90Hz	<20ms motion-to-photon	Vive Controllers, SteamVR controllers	DisplayPort 1.2, USB 3.0
HTC Vive Developer Editions	PC	Dual Panel	2160 x 1200, 1080 x 1200 per eye	90 Hz	110° (diagonal)	6DOF	Gyroscope, Accelerometer, Laser Position Sensor	Base Stations	??	??	Controllers in both hands	2 HDMI ports, 2 USB ports, 1 headphone jack
HTC Vive Focus Vision	PC for PC VR mode; VIVE Wired Streaming Kit for DisplayPort mode	2 x LCD (fast-switch)	2448 x 2448 per eye (4896 x 2448 combined)	90 Hz; 120 Hz in DisplayPort mode (beta, added December 2024)	Up to 120 degrees	6DoF inside-out (4 cameras)					Controllers, hand tracking, eye tracking	Wi-Fi 6/6E, Bluetooth 5.2 + BLE
HTC Vive Pro	PC	Dual Panel	2880 x 1600 (1440 x 1600 per eye)	90 Hz	110° (diagonal)	6DOF	Gyroscope, Accelerometer, Laser Position Sensor	Base Stations	Rotational: TBC, Positional: TBC	Motion to Photon, TBC	Controllers in both hands	DisplayPort 1.2, USB-C 3.0 port, Bluetooth (Version TBD) (TBD: 1 headphone jack???)
HTC Vive Pro 2	Gaming PC with DisplayPort	Dual RGB LCD	2448 × 2448 per eye (4896 × 2448 combined)	90Hz, 120Hz	120°	6DoF outside-in (SteamVR Tracking 2.0)	Yes	Yes	1000Hz (tracking)	<10ms motion-to-photon	VIVE Controllers or SteamVR controllers	DisplayPort 1.4, USB 3.0
HTC Vive Pro Eye	VR-ready PC, SteamVR base stations	Dual AMOLED	1440 × 1600 per eye (2880 × 1600 combined)	90Hz	110°	6DoF (SteamVR Tracking 2.0)	Yes	Yes	90Hz	<20ms motion-to-photon	Vive Controllers, SteamVR controllers	DisplayPort 1.2, USB 3.0, proprietary link box
HTC Vive XR Elite	VIVE account, optional PC for PCVR	Dual LCD	1920 × 1920 per eye (3840 × 1920 combined)	90Hz	110°	6DoF inside-out	Yes	Yes	90Hz	<20ms motion-to-photon	VIVE controllers, hand tracking, voice	Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, USB-C
IIS VFX3D		2 x Color LCD	380 x 337 per eye (360,000 pixels)			3DoF (VOS solid-state sensors)					3DoF controller	USB
Immersed Visor	Windows, macOS, or Linux PC (tethered or wireless)	Dual micro-OLED	~3840 × 3840 per eye (4K per eye)	90Hz	100°	6DoF (inside-out, 6 cameras)	Yes	Yes	90Hz	Low latency	Hand tracking (gaze-and-pinch), Smart Touch	USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
LG 360 VR	LG G5	1.88" IPS LCD x 2 EA, 920 x 720 per Eye, 639 ppi Real RGB	960x720 pixels at 693ppi (per eye)	60Hz						Motion to Photon: over 50ms
LG VR Headset	PC	OLED, single panel	1440×1280 per eye	90Hz	110 Degree			Lighthouse		Low	Vive Controller, LG Controller	DisplayPort, USB
Lenovo Explorer	Windows 10 Fall Creators Update PC	Dual LCD	1440 × 1440 per eye (2880 × 1440 combined)	90Hz	110°	6DoF inside-out (2 cameras)	Yes	Yes	90Hz	<20ms motion-to-photon	Windows Mixed Reality controllers, Xbox controller, keyboard/mouse, Cortana voice	HDMI 2.0, USB 3.0
Medion Erazer X1000	Windows 10 PC with the Fall Creators Update	Two 2.89-inch (7.34 cm) LCDs	1440x1440 per-eye	Up to 90 Hz	Up to 105 degrees horizontal (manufacturer figure)	Inside-out tracking, 6DoF					Two Medion Erazer X1001 motion controllers (included)
NVIS nVisor SX60	PC/Workstation with dual-link DVI or VGA	LCOS (Liquid Crystal on Silicon)	1280x1024 per eye (SXGA)	60 Hz	60° diagonal	3 DoF (6 DoF with optional external trackers)	Yes	Optional (with external trackers)	Up to 180 Hz (tracker-dependent)			DVI, VGA, RS-232
OSVR HDK1	PC	5.5 inch LCD (1.0), 5.5 inch low-persistence OLED (1.1 - 1.3)	1920 x 1080, 960 x 1080 per eye	60 Hz (1.0 - 1.2), 120 Hz (1.3)	100° (nominal), 90° (H and V)	3DOF, 6DOF	Gyroscope, Accelerometer, Magnetometer	IR-LED faceplate and External Infrared Camera	Rotational: 400Hz, Positional: 100 Hz	??	Gamepads, Mouse and Keyboard, Leap Motion	1 external and 2 internal USB 3.0 ports
OSVR HDK2	PC	5.5 inch OLED	2160 x 1200 (1080 x 1200 per eye)	90 Hz	110 degrees	3DOF, 6DOF	Gyroscope, Accelerometer, Magnetometer	???	Rotational: 400Hz, Positional: 100 Hz	??	???	1 external and 2 internal USB 3.0 ports
Oculus Rift	PC	Dual OLED Panels	2160 x 1200 (1080 x 1200 per eye)	90 Hz	110° (diagonal)	6DOF	Gyroscope, Accelerometer, Magnetometer	Oculus Sensor	Rotational: 1000Hz, Positional: 60Hz	Motion to Photon: less than 5ms	Xbox One controller, Oculus Touch, Oculus Remote	HDMI, USB
Oculus Rift CV1	Oculus-ready PC, Oculus account	Dual OLED (PenTile)	1080 × 1200 per eye (2160 × 1200 combined)	90Hz	110°	6DoF outside-in (Constellation)	Yes	Yes	90Hz	<20ms motion-to-photon	Oculus Remote (included), Xbox One controller (included), Oculus Touch (separate)	HDMI, USB 3.0
Oculus Rift DK1	Gaming PC	LCD (RGB stripe)	640 × 800 per eye (1280 × 800 combined)	60Hz	110° diagonal (90° horizontal)	3DoF (rotational only)	Yes	No	60Hz	50-60ms motion-to-photon	Xbox controller, mouse/keyboard	HDMI/DVI (via control box), USB
Oculus Rift DK2	Gaming PC with compatible GPU	Samsung Galaxy Note 3 OLED (repurposed)	960 × 1080 per eye (1920 × 1080 combined)	75Hz (low persistence)	93°	6DoF (IMU + external camera)	Yes	Yes (external camera)	75Hz	~20ms motion-to-photon	Xbox controller, mouse/keyboard (no motion controllers)	HDMI, USB 2.0
Oculus Rift S	VR-Ready PC	Fast-switch LCD	2560×1440 (1280×1440 per eye)	80Hz	115°	Inside-out tracking, (6DOF)	Yes	Oculus Insight			Oculus Touch	DisplayPort 1.2, USB 3.0
Pimax 4K	PC	Customized low-persistence 4K panel (manufacturer description)	3840 x 2160P (1920 x 2160 per eye)	60 Hz; advertised as up to 90 Hz with "binocular frame technology"	110 degrees (manufacturer claim)	3DOF	Gyroscope, Accelerometer, Magnetometer		Rotational: 1000 Hz	18 ms motion-to-photon (manufacturer claim)		HDMI 1.4b, USB 2.0/3.0
Pimax 5K Plus	Gaming PC, SteamVR Tracking	Dual LCD (CLPL)	2560 × 1440 per eye (5120 × 1440 combined)	90Hz, 120Hz, 144Hz	200° (diagonal), 170° (horizontal)	6DoF outside-in (SteamVR/Lighthouse)	Yes	Yes	Up to 144Hz	<25ms motion-to-photon	SteamVR controllers (Valve Index, VIVE), Pimax controllers	DisplayPort 1.4, USB 2.0
Pimax 5K Super	Windows PC, SteamVR Tracking base stations	2x LCD (RGB stripe matrix), customized low persistence liquid (CLPL)	2560x1440 per eye (5120x1440 combined)	90 Hz, 120 Hz, 144 Hz, 160 Hz, 180 Hz (experimental)	200° diagonal, 170° horizontal, 115° vertical (varies by mode)	6DoF (SteamVR Lighthouse 1.0/2.0)					SteamVR-compatible controllers (sold separately)	DisplayPort 1.2, USB 3.0 (data), USB 2.0 (power)
Pimax 5K XR	Windows PC with NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 or AMD equivalent or better, 8 GB+ RAM, DisplayPort 1.4; SteamVR tracking base stations	2 x Samsung OLED	2560 x 1440 per eye (5120 x 1440 total)	82 Hz (Pimax store listing); 85 Hz in 2018-2019 specifications	200° diagonal (selectable: 120°/150°/max)	6DoF (SteamVR 1.0/2.0)					SteamVR controllers compatible	DisplayPort 1.4
Pimax 8K X	Windows 10 or later PC with a DisplayPort output; SteamVR base stations for 6DoF tracking	2 x LCD (CLPL, customized low persistence liquid), RGB stripe	3840 x 2160 per eye (native mode); 2560 x 1440 per eye input upscaled to 3840 x 2160 (upscale mode)	60 Hz, 75 Hz and 90 Hz native (90 Hz on supported NVIDIA GeForce RTX 30-series GPUs); up to 114 Hz in upscale mode	200 degrees diagonal, 170 degrees horizontal, 115 degrees vertical (manufacturer figures)	SteamVR Tracking 1.0 and 2.0 (6DoF); 9-axis mode for seated use without base stations					SteamVR controllers such as Valve Index Controllers or HTC Vive controllers; Pimax Sword Controllers	4.5 m combined DisplayPort and USB cable
Pimax Artisan	Windows 10 PC with NVIDIA GTX 1050 Ti/1060 or better, Intel i5-4590 or AMD FX 8350 or better, 8 GB RAM, DisplayPort 1.4 output and one USB 2.0/3.0 port (recommended); at least one SteamVR Lighthouse base station for room-scale tracking	2 x RGB stripe LCD	1700 x 1440 per eye	72/90/120 Hz (selectable)	170° diagonal / 140° horizontal (manufacturer figures)	6DoF, SteamVR Tracking (Lighthouse 1.0/2.0)					SteamVR Tracking-compatible controllers (sold separately)	4.5 m DisplayPort/USB cable
Pimax Crystal Light	VR-ready PC (RTX 2080+ minimum, RTX 3070+ recommended)	QLED + Mini-LED LCD	2880 × 2880 per eye (16.6 megapixels combined)	72Hz, 90Hz, 120Hz (variable)	115° (up to 130° diagonal)	6DoF (inside-out or SteamVR Lighthouse)	Yes	Yes	Up to 120Hz	<15ms motion-to-photon	SteamVR controllers, Pimax controllers	DisplayPort 1.4, USB 3.0
Pimax Crystal QLED		QLED (quantum dot LCD) with Mini-LED backlight and local dimming	2880x2880 per-eye	72, 90 and 120 Hz; 144 and 160 Hz in a testing mode		6 DoF Inside-out via 4 integrated cameras				15 ms motion-to-photon (manufacturer figure)	2 x Pimax Reality Controller
Pimax Crystal Super	Gaming PC with DisplayPort	QLED with Local Dimming 2.0 or Micro-OLED	3840 × 3840 per eye (29.5 million pixels total)	72Hz, 90Hz, 120Hz (lab mode)	106° (57 PPD) / 140° (50 PPD)	6DoF inside-out (SLAM)	Yes	Yes	120Hz	<20ms	Controllers, eye tracking, SteamVR controllers	DisplayPort 1.4
Pimax Crystal Super 8K Micro-OLED	Gaming PC with DisplayPort (Pimax lists RTX 2080 minimum, RTX 3070 or higher recommended)	2 x Sony Micro-OLED binocular	3840x3552 per-eye	72 / 90 Hz	116° horizontal, 128°+ diagonal (manufacturer figures)	Inside-out SLAM with four cameras; SteamVR Lighthouse optional (Lighthouse faceplate)					6DoF controllers	DisplayPort 1.4a + USB 3.0 (split cable to PC)
Pimax Dream Air	PC with DisplayPort output; Pimax lists an RTX 2080 minimum and RTX 3070 or higher recommended	2 x 1.35-inch Sony Micro-OLED	3840x3552 per-eye	72 Hz / 90 Hz	110° horizontal, 120°+ diagonal (Pimax figures)	SLAM inside-out (four cameras) or Lighthouse (SteamVR Tracking), depending on version					Pimax controllers (SLAM version); hand tracking; SteamVR-tracked controllers (Lighthouse version)
Pimax Dream Air SE	Windows 10/11 PC with a DisplayPort 1.4a output; SteamVR base stations for the Lighthouse version	2 x Micro-OLED binocular	2560x2560 per-eye (5120 x 2560 total)	72 Hz native; 90 Hz with upscaled rendering	105 degrees horizontal (Pimax figure)	Inside-out SLAM (four cameras) or SteamVR Lighthouse (outside-in)					Two 6DoF controllers (SLAM version); SteamVR controllers (Lighthouse version)
Pimax Reality 12K QLED	High-end VR-ready PC (PC VR mode), Standalone capable	Dual QLED with mini-LED backlighting	5760 × 3240 per eye (6K, PC mode), 3840 × 2160 per eye (4K, standalone)	Up to 200Hz	200° horizontal (PC), 150° horizontal (standalone)	6DoF inside-out + SteamVR optional	Yes	Yes	Up to 200Hz	<20ms motion-to-photon	SteamVR controllers, hand tracking, eye tracking	Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth, USB-C, DisplayPort
Pimax Vision 8K Plus	Windows 10 PC with NVIDIA RTX 2060 or above, Intel i5-9400 or above, 8 GB RAM or more; SteamVR base stations	2 x LCD, RGB stripe; customized low persistence liquid (CLPL)	3840 x 2160 per eye (upscaled from 2560 x 1440 input)	72 Hz, 90 Hz, 110 Hz (110 Hz listed as beta or tentative)	200° diagonal, 170° horizontal, 115° vertical (manufacturer figures)	6DoF SteamVR Tracking (Lighthouse 1.0 and 2.0); 9-axis 3DoF mode					Power and volume buttons; SteamVR-tracked controllers (sold separately)	Tethered 3-in-1 cable: DisplayPort 1.2, USB 3.0, 12 V power
PlayStation VR2	PlayStation 5 or compatible PC with PS VR2 PC adapter	OLED	2000 x 2040 pixels per eye	90Hz, 120Hz	Approximately 110 degrees (axis not specified by Sony)	Inside-out tracking, (6DoF)	Yes (Six-axis motion sensing system)	Yes (via 4 embedded cameras)	90Hz / 120Hz		PlayStation VR2 Sense controllers, Eye tracking, DualSense	USB Type-C (to PS5), Bluetooth 5.1 (Controllers)
QWR VRone PC		Fast LCD, 5.46 inch	1832 x 1920 per eye (3664 x 1920 combined)	72, 90 or 120 Hz (2025 specification); 120 Hz (2026 specification)	116 degrees	6DoF, inside-out tracking with four greyscale global shutter cameras	Yes	Yes			Two 6DoF controllers (external batteries)	Tethered (DisplayPort and USB-A cable to PC; USB-C via adapter)
Relativty		5.5-inch LCD (Relativ builds); 2K dual display (2020 reference build); any PC-compatible display can be used	2560 x 1440 (original build)	120 FPS (2020 reference build, per the creators)		3DoF rotational head tracking; experimental webcam-based body tracking
Roscosmos XR-2		2 x LCD binocular	2880 x 2880 per eye (5760 x 2880 combined)			6DoF (laser-based positional tracking)					6DoF controllers
Samsung Odyssey	Windows 10 Fall Creators Update PC	Dual Samsung AMOLED	1440 × 1600 per eye (2880 × 1600 combined)	60Hz-90Hz	110°	6DoF inside-out (2 cameras)	Yes	Yes	90Hz	<20ms motion-to-photon	Windows Mixed Reality controllers (included)	HDMI 2.0, USB 3.1 Gen 1
Samsung Odyssey Plus	Windows Mixed Reality compatible PC	Dual 3.5" AMOLED	1440 × 1600 per eye (2880 × 1600 combined)	60Hz, 90Hz	110°	6DoF inside-out (2 cameras)	Yes	Yes	90Hz	<20ms motion-to-photon	Windows Mixed Reality Motion Controllers	USB 3.0, HDMI 2.0
Shiftall MeganeX	High-end VR-ready PC (NVIDIA RTX 20+), SteamVR base stations (for outside-in)	Dual micro-OLED (Kopin)	2560 × 2560 per eye (5.2K), 3552 × 3840 per eye (8K Mark II)	90Hz	~96° (estimated)	6DoF (inside-out or SteamVR outside-in)	Yes	Yes	90Hz	<20ms motion-to-photon	SteamVR controllers (GripVR, FlipVR, Valve Index)	DisplayPort, USB
Shiftall MeganeX Business Edition	Windows PC with DisplayPort 1.4	Dual 1.3-inch Micro-OLED (Kopin)	2,560 x 2,560 pixels per eye (5,120 x 2,560 combined)	120Hz		6DoF Inside-out tracking (optional SteamVR Lighthouse tracking via adapter)	Yes	Yes				DisplayPort 1.4, USB Type-C, USB 2.0 (via converter box)
Shiftall MeganeX Superlight 8K	Windows 10 PC with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 or higher (NVIDIA only, no AMD support); SteamVR Base Station 1.0 or 2.0	2× 1.35" Micro-OLED (4K per eye), made by BOE	3552×3840 per eye (8K total)	90 Hz	Not officially published by Shiftall	Outside-in 6DoF (SteamVR Lighthouse)						DisplayPort 1.4 + USB 2.0 to the PC through the included converter box; USB Type-C at the headset
Simula One	None (standalone), PC for tethered mode, Bluetooth keyboard & mouse (optional)	Dual 2448×2448 RGB-stripe LCD high-fidelity panels	2448×2448 per eye (4896×2448 total)	90 Hz (up to 120 Hz capable panels mentioned previously)	≈100° diagonal	Inside-out tracking, (6DOF)	Yes (3DOF via IMU)	Yes (6DOF)			Keyboard and mouse compatible (via Bluetooth or USB)	Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2
Skyworth W1 Pro	PC with Intel Core i3 (7th generation) or above, 4 GB memory or more, NVIDIA 1050Ti graphics or above	2 x LCD binocular	1600x1600 per-eye	72 Hz	94° diagonal						Confirm and Return buttons; optional VR controller
Somnium VR1	Gaming PC, SteamVR Tracking base stations	Dual QLED Mini-LED Fast LCD	2880 × 2880 per eye (5760 × 2880 combined)	90Hz (base), 120Hz, 144Hz (upgradeable)	130° horizontal, 105° vertical	6DoF outside-in (SteamVR Lighthouse)	Yes	Yes	Up to 144Hz	<20ms motion-to-photon	SteamVR controllers (Valve Index, VIVE), Ultraleap hand tracking	DisplayPort 1.4, USB 3.0
StarVR	PC	Dual 5.5" LCD Quad HD Displays	5120 x 1440 (2560 x 1440 per eye)		210° (horizontal), 130° (vertical)	6DOF	Gyroscope, Accelerometer, Magnetometer	External optical sensor with fiducial markers
Steam Frame	Compatible PC for PC streaming; standalone play also supported	Two LCD panels	2160 x 2160 per eye	72-144 Hz (144 Hz experimental)	Up to 110 degrees	Camera-based inside-out tracking					Steam Frame Controllers
VPL EyePhone	High-end computer system (Silicon Graphics workstation), Polhemus magnetic tracker	Dual active-matrix LCD panels	185 × 138 (Model 1), 320 × 240 (Model 2 LX), 720 × 480 (Model HRX) per eye	30 Hz	90° (Model 1), 108° (Model 2 LX), 106° (Model HRX)	3 DoF electromagnetic (Polhemus FASTRAK)	Yes	No	60 Hz	less than 50 ms (with SGI rendering)	DataGlove, (sold separately)	Wired to computer (NTSC composite signals)
VRgineers VRHero 5K		2 x LCD	2560x1440 per-eye (5120 x 1440 combined)	60-90 Hz	150-170 degrees (depending on IPD and focus, per VRgineers)	Tracking-system neutral; extensions for OptiTrack, AR Tracking and HTC Lighthouse					8 programmable buttons	DisplayPort 1.2 video cable (up to 100 m); USB 2.0 for data
VRgineers VRHero 5K Plus		2 x 5.7-inch Quad HD OLED (one per eye), 518 ppi	2560x1440 per-eye (5120 x 1440 combined)	70 Hz	150-170 degrees (depending on IPD and focus settings, per VRgineers)	External 6DoF: SteamVR Tracking via HTC Vive Tracker, AR Tracking, OptiTrack					Leap Motion hand tracking, HTC Vive controllers, AR Tracking controllers
VRgineers XTAL 3	Windows 10 64-bit PC with an NVIDIA RTX-class GPU and at least 32 GB RAM	2 x LCD binocular (fast-switching 4K LCD)	3840x2160 per-eye	75 Hz at 3840x2160 per eye; 120 Hz at 2560x1440 (QHD) per eye	180° horizontal, 90° vertical (announced); 140° x 90° default, up to 180° x 120° maximum experimental (current spec sheet)	Inside-out (infrared cameras), Lighthouse (SteamVR), ART, OptiTrack, Polhemus, Vicon or custom						VirtualLink cable (5 m) or DisplayPort 1.4, USB 3.2 Gen 2, 12 V 3 A power
VRgineers XTAL 3 Mixed Reality		2 x LCD binocular (fast-switching 4K LCD panels)	3840x2160 per-eye	75 Hz at 3840x2160 per eye; 120 Hz at 2560x1440 per eye	180° horizontal, 90° vertical	Inside-out (two infrared cameras); compatible with OptiTrack, ART and Vicon external tracking
VRgineers XTAL 8K	High-end VR-ready PC (VirtualLink or DisplayPort)	Dual 4K LCD	3840 × 2160 per eye (7680 × 2160 total, 8K)	75Hz	180° diagonal (150° standard)	6DoF (SteamVR, multiple options)	Yes	Yes	75Hz	<20ms motion-to-photon	SteamVR controllers, hand tracking	VirtualLink (USB-C), DisplayPort
Valve Index	Windows 10, SteamOS, or Linux; NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 / AMD RX 480 or better	Dual 1440×1600 RGB LCD panels	2880×1600 (combined)	80/90/120/144Hz	~130 degrees (diagonal)	SteamVR Tracking, (Lighthouse 2.0)	6 DOF	6 DOF			Valve Index Controllers (included)	USB 3.0, DisplayPort 1.2
Varjo Aero	High-end PC	Mini-LED	3840×3744 per eye	90 Hz (120 Hz experimental)	120° × 105° (H×V)	Inside-out (4 cameras)	6DOF	6DOF	200 Hz	~22ms (passthrough), less than 15ms (VR)	Hand tracking, SteamVR controllers	USB-C (Thunderbolt 4 compatible)
Varjo VR-2	High-end PC	Dual OLED displays per eye (Bionic Display)	Focus: 1920×1080 per eye, Context: 1440×1600 per eye	90 Hz (both displays)	87°	SteamVR 1.0/2.0	6DOF	6DOF	1000 Hz	less than 20ms	Compatible with SteamVR controllers	DisplayPort 1.4, USB 3.0+
Varjo VR-3	High-end PC (NVIDIA RTX 2080 Ti or better), SteamVR base stations	Dual micro-OLED (focus) + dual LCD (peripheral)	2880 × 2720 per eye (context), 1920 × 1920 per eye (focus)	90Hz	115° horizontal	6DoF (SteamVR Tracking 2.0)	Yes	Yes	90Hz	<20ms motion-to-photon	SteamVR controllers, enterprise controllers	DisplayPort 1.4, USB-C 3.0, proprietary cable
Varjo XR-3	High-end PC	uOLED (focus) + LCD (peripheral)	Focus: 1920×1920 per eye, Context: 2880×2720 per eye	90 Hz	115°	SteamVR 2.0, Inside-out (beta)	6DOF	6DOF	1000 Hz	less than 20ms (VR), less than 20ms (passthrough)	Compatible with SteamVR controllers	DisplayPort 1.4, USB-C 3.0
Varjo XR-4	High-end PC	Mini-LED	3840×3744 per eye	90 Hz (120 Hz experimental)	120° × 105° (H×V)	Inside-out (4 cameras)	6DOF	6DOF	200 Hz	~22ms (passthrough), less than 15ms (VR)	Hand tracking, SteamVR controllers	USB-C (Thunderbolt 4 compatible)
Varjo XR-4 Focal Edition	Windows 10 (64-bit) or Windows 11 PC with an NVIDIA GPU, DisplayPort 1.4 and USB-C (10 Gbps)	2x 3.59-inch Mini-LED with local dimming	3840×3744 per eye (4K×4K)	90 Hz (75 Hz selectable)	120° × 105°	Inside-out; optional SteamVR (outside-in); ART and OptiTrack supported					Varjo Controllers (powered by Razer), hand tracking	DisplayPort, USB-C
Virtual Research VR4		2 x 1.3" LCD	742 x 230 per eye			3DoF
Vive Cosmos		LCD (RGB, dual)	1440x1700 per eye	90 Hz	110°	6DoF (inside-out, 6 cameras)
Vive Pro 2		LCD (dual)	2448x2448 per eye	120 Hz	116° (marketed 120°)	SteamVR 2.0 (outside-in)						DisplayPort, USB 3.0
Vive Pro Eye		OLED (dual)	1440x1600 per eye	90 Hz	110°	SteamVR 2.0 (outside-in)						DisplayPort, USB 3.0
Vuzix iWear VR920		2 x LCD (VGA progressive scan)	640 x 480 per eye (920,000 pixels)			3DoF (magnetic sensors + accelerometers)					Head tracking	USB, VGA
XEO BIG		2 x Micro-OLED binocular	3840x3552 per-eye	90 Hz	100° horizontal	6DoF inside-out
Z800 3DVisor	PC with a VGA (analog SVGA 800 x 600, 60 Hz) output and a USB port; Windows XP or Windows Vista	Two 0.59-inch SVGA-3D OLED microdisplays	800 x 600 per display	60 Hz input; 30 Hz per eye in frame-sequential stereo mode	About 40 degrees diagonal	Built-in head tracker (360 degrees horizontal, more than 60 degrees vertical)					Head tracking (mouse emulation)	VGA (PC D-Sub, analog RGB) video input; USB