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Playing your favorite sim racing games with a VR headset is like marrying the best of both worlds. VR headsets immerse you into the world and add realism as you play. You’ll experience the thrills of racing you didn’t think was possible. In this article, we’ve provided 10 of the best VR headsets that you can buy today to partner with your racing rigs.
Pimax Vision 5k Super VR Headset
Check The Current Price on Pimax
Pimax has another great VR headset with the Vision 5K. Like the 8KX, it has a super wide 200-degrees field of view so you can notice every single detail when playing with VR. It removes any unwanted binocular effect to deliver true-to-life VR, especially when playing high-octane action games such as Rally, F1, or NASCAR. The dual custom low persistence liquid crystal panels have a total resolution of 5120 x 1440 setting a new standard in VR quality. There’s no screen door effect visible when playing your games.
It has a lot of refresh modes to choose from to see what works best for you while playing. You can choose between 90Hz, 120Hz, 144Hz, 160Hz or go all the way to 180Hz to provide vivid life-like graphics giving you an advantage when playing first-person, action, or racing games. Lastly, it’s also equipped with face cowling, nose guard, and soft face foam to make it comfortable for you as you play.
Pimax Vision 8KX VR Headset
The Pimax Vision has a dual native 4K display that renders 3840 x 2160 resolution per eye. It’s currently one of the best VR’s with the highest fidelity in image and clarity by using industry-leading LCD panels for the display. By utilizing a large pixel count, this VR headset minimizes the annoying screen door effect creating the most impressive VR experiences possible today. It renders an ultra-wide 200-degree field of view that’s as close to a real FOV of the natural human vision.
The audio has a strong bass response as well as top-notch sound quality. It enhances everything for maximum immersion that you’ll always hear the roars of the engine like you’re really driving a real race car. All Pimax Vision headsets are bundled with a comfort kit and modular strap to ensure gamers will have a comfortable time when using the peripheral. This makes racing a very hassle-free experience even after long hours of playing.
HP Reverb G2 VR Headset
HP focused on smoother visuals and higher fidelity with their version of a VR headset. The Reverb G2 uses a high 2160 x 2160 resolution per eye with a refresh rate of 90Hz for racers to immerse gamers in an authentic VR experience. The compact display size of 2.89” is capable of up to 114-degrees of field of view so you can check the racetrack without moving around too much. It’s equipped with speakers and industry-leading senses straight from Valve to provide high-quality resolution and great spatial audio.
The headset has a lot of flexible material and a bigger cushion size that can be adjusted as needed. There are 4 cameras built into the VR gear to track more movement without any external sensors required to make you an active participant in any game you play. This VR headset is compatible with SteamVR as well as Windows Mixed Reality so you can enjoy other games when you’re not racing.
Sony PlayStation VR
The Sony PlayStation VR is recommended for owners of PS4 as well as Sony’s latest console the PS5. This VR delivers a new world of unexpected gaming experiences through the VR headset. You can just simply plug the headset and play to enjoy all your favorite games. It has an expansive 5.7” OLED 1080p display that’s actually lower in resolution when compared to other VR headsets on the list. Sony more than makes up for it though as it runs at a smooth 120 frames per second making you feel like you’re really in the cockpit when racing.
It utilizes 3D audio which means that you’ll instinctively pinpoint the source of any sound that comes your way and be able to judge the distance just like in real life. The only real drawback of using this VR is the companion PlayStation camera that also has to be connected every time you use the device.
Oculus Rift VR Headset
The Oculus Rift is a popular VR headset for sim racing games due to its comfortable and adaptable design. It has advanced display technology with a precise, low-latency tracking system to enable sensations when playing games. This VR has a memory of 8GB+RAM to utilize state-of-the-art optics designed specifically for VR. The Rift also features an integrated VR audio system to make your sessions authentic giving a sense of space and depth.
It works well for a lot of racing games because the Oculus Rift is very comfortable to use. Getting the rift also includes an Xbox One controller as a bundle. A Windows PC, as well as a stable internet connection, is required to use the Rift and you’ll also be required to log in to your Facebook account. It’s a pet peeve for some but it shouldn’t bother racers looking for an immersive and wide field of view when playing.
HTC Vive Pro Eye Virtual Reality Headset
The HTC Vive Pro is another great VR for gamers who want to immerse themselves in a wide field of view that produces little to no screen door effects. It has a resolution of 1440 x 1600 pixels per eye to bring incredibly realistic visuals as you play. This VR headset has a refresh rate that can go as high as 90Hz for incredibly smooth visuals. The field of view has a 110-degrees capacity so you can see what’s ahead and around you while playing your favorite racing games.
The Vive Pro has a built-in audio system for sound clarity when playing games. It also has a built-in microphone so there’s no need to wear anything extra during live play. This VR headset has one of the best weight distributions in the market making it comfortable to wear for long gaming sessions. It’s pricier than other VR headsets available but it’s definitely worth the money considering its high-end specs.
Samsung HMD Odyssey+ Mixed Reality Headset
The HMD Odyssey+ VR headset by Samsung uses a pair of 3.5” AMOLED display screens capable of 3K resolution to bring your games to life with hyper-realistic graphics. The display resolution is 1440 x 1600 pixels per screen with a high refresh rate of 90Hz. Having a high refresh rate is a plus to negate feelings of motion sickness especially when playing racing games. It has a 110-degree field of view angle to immerse you with crisp details as you race on the track.
The sound is tuned by AKG with 360-degree spatial sound built-in on the VR headset to make you hear everything from all directions. The HMD Odyssey+ also has an adjustable headband and is 10% lighter than before. It’s made with more comfortable materials so you can play as long as you want. Lastly, this VR headset has its own cooling fabric so you don’t have to worry about the lenses fogging up during long hours of play.
GOOVIS Young Personal Immersive 4K Headset
The GOOVIS Young only weighs 200g and is one of the lightest VR headsets on the market. The adjustable strap makes the VR closer to your eyes than other headsets as it provides brilliant color and brightness to your games. It uses two 1920 x 1080 M-OLED displays to produce realistic cinema experiences with one of the smallest optical distortions at only 1.5%. The GOOVIS Young fits into a wide range of head sizes and doesn’t give any weight pressure especially when watching or playing for long hours.
This VR headset works well across multiple devices such as laptops, desktops, drones, mobile phones, as well as consoles. It uses a USB-C interface without any need for app installation making this a highly versatile device. This immersive 4K headset lets you watch your favorite movies, play racing games, or browse the internet and enjoy anything you want for hours.
Oculus Quest 2 VR Headset
The Oculus Quest 2 features 50% more display than the original Quest thanks to its fast processor and better high-resolution display. This VR headset is powered by the Snapdragon XR2 processor to make you see every detail while using it. It has backward compatibility so you can explore titles from new and old favorites in the expansive Quest library. The Quest 2 also plays live concerts, classic movies, exclusive events, and even play your adventure, action, and racing games.
It utilizes 3D positional audio from powerful built-in speakers to make you feel like you’re really inside your VR world. You can explore far longer with the Quest 2 when compared to other VR headsets because of its long battery life of up to 3 hours. Lastly, it has 256GB capacity storage so you can enjoy all your games, entertainment, and experiences, all in one place.
Valve Index VR Headset
Last on our list of the best VR headset for sim racing is the Valve Index. Valve’s VR headset uses 1440 x 1600 LCD panels for each eye that operates up to 144Hz for incredible graphics and a life-like feeling when playing your favorite games. It has a maximum specified field of view of up to 130-degrees so that it’s easy to rotate your head when looking at your surroundings, especially when playing racing games.
This VR is extremely comfortable when worn and doesn’t tire you out easily even after hours of playing. It allows longer and stress-free playing sessions because it has an optimized eye relief adjustment greatly reducing the screen door effect for visual clarity and greater sharpness. The Valve is pricier compared to other VR’s on the list but if you’re looking for a high-quality VR then the Valve Index is one of them.
Buying Guide
Comfort
When choosing a VR headset for your racing games, you’ll want something that isn’t too heavy but not too small. Look for VR headsets that allow for optimal strap adjustment so that they can fit your head without being uncomfortable. A lot of high-end VR headsets can be quite heavy so your comfort while playing your racing games will be a problem. Protect your neck from unwanted strain when playing racing games in order to enjoy the experience to the fullest.
Compatibility
It’s easy to get confused on which VR headset to buy because they’re a lot of them when looking online. Not all VR headsets allow you to play racing games so look for those that work with PCs and Consoles. There are cheap VR headsets that only work for mobile so this is not recommended for sim racing.
Range of motion
Look for VR headsets that offer an ample amount of field of view to see your surroundings when playing sim racing games. It’s important for you to actually see what’s in front of you so you can calculate your turns when racing. Being able to look up, down, left, and right is essential in a quality VR headset.
Sound
A great VR headset should have a built-in mic and audio system. This is basically non-negotiable as you need to be able to hear the engine sounds as well as your surroundings in order to fully immerse yourself as you play.
Price
The price of VR headsets highly varies so look for one that fits your budget and research its features to see if it has what you’re looking for. The best VR headsets for sim racing tend to be expensive but a lot of manufacturers offer affordable versions that you can definitely get one within your price range.
FAQs
Why should I use VR for sim racing?
VR sim racing became the rage when it was implemented for racing games simply because the immersion is far better than what a TV screen can do. It’s almost as real as racing on a real track and it’s more challenging for hardcore racers.
Is sim racing with a VR headset comfortable?
The latest VR headsets available right now have addressed a lot of concerns from gamers regarding their comfortability. It’s the best time to invest in one if you want to experience realism on another level.
