PlayStation VR price and spec vs Oculus and Vive

The best VR headset

RTX2G33H — Los Angeles, UNITED STATESPeople try the new Sony VR headset during Sony Corporation's PlayStation 4 E3 2016 event in Los Angeles, California, U.S. June 13, 2016. Reuters/Mike Blake

Sony released PlayStation VR, earlier known as Project Morpheus, as its contender for the VR gaming market with a US$499 (AU$668) Launch Bundle. The Launch Bundle includes: The PlayStation VR headset, two PlayStation Move motion controllers, a PlayStation camera and a copy of PlayStation VR WORLDS. The bundle places PlayStation VR ahead in prices compared to Oculus Rift’s AU$793 for a headset and Vive HTC’s AU$899.

Look and Feel

PlayStation VR comes in a black and white colour design with blue LEDs, while both the Oculus Rift and Vive HTC are only currently available in black. This gives it a more distinct look from the two VR competitors.

The PlayStation VR uses an adjustable headset similar to headphones that goes around the head. Oculus Rift and Vive HTC have adjustable straps that goes around and above the head.

The PlayStation VR and Oculus Rift have a sleek rectangle body, while the Vive HTC is more round and bulkier on the front. The design gives the PlayStation VR and Oculus Rift a sleeker and cleaner look. Vive HTC tend to be heavier on the front given its design. Wires extend out of the headset and over the head, giving it a “cyber punk look.”

PlayStation VR headset weighs at 610g, while the Oculus Rift weighs at 470g and Vive HTC comes at 555g.

Power and Performance

Both Oculus Rift and Vive HTC headsets run in 1080x1200 resolution. The PlayStation VR, however, runs in 1920x1080 resolution. All three VR headsets utilise an OLED display.

The PlayStation VR uses nine positional LEDs and the PlayStation camera to track head movement. Oculus Rift, similarly, uses a separate sensor placed in front of the user to track the device. This enables the user to stand up and look around with the headsets.

Vive HTC, however, uses a different tracking method. The headset features a MEM gyroscope, accelerometer, laser pointers and over 70 sensors in conjunction with two “Lighthouses” that track position and movement. This enables the user to stand up and walk and move around an area.

While the PlayStation VR and Vive HTC focuses more on games, Oculus Rift has plans on social media use. Architectural firms have also been eyeing on the Rift as a tool to gain insight on building plans a normal monitor display could not give.

PlayStation VR is less hardware intensive as it only requires a PlayStation 4 to play. Oculus Rift and Vive HTC require PCs with the required specs.

Oculus Rift