4.0

I recently had the opportunity to compare two virtual reality headsets, the Microsoft HoloLens 2 and the Oculus Rift. Both of these headsets have their own unique features and advantages, so I wanted to get a good understanding of which one is better for various scenarios.

Starting with the Microsoft HoloLens 2, it has a field of view (FOV) of 52°, which is narrower than that of the Oculus Rift at 110°. This could be seen as a pro or con depending on your needs; if you are looking for an immersive experience then obviously having a wider FOV would be preferable but if you are going for something more compact then you may appreciate the lesser FOV in order to save space. The resolution on this headset is 2048 x 1080 px, which gives good clarity to visuals but not quite as much detail as its rival’s offering of 1080 x 1200 px. Additionally, it operates at 60 Hz refresh rate whereas the Oculus Rift offers 90 Hz. In terms of tracking capabilities they both offer room scale and 360 degree tracking so there isn’t much difference there either way.

Turning our attention towards the Oculus Rift now, we can see that its FOV stands out with 110° providing an almost fully encompassing experience when playing games or watching movies etc. In terms of resolution it does have an advantage over its competitor at 1080 x 1200 px and also offers higher refresh rate with 90 Hz compared to 60Hz from HoloLens 2. It also requires a beefier system compared to Microsoft’s option in order to run optimally – requiring Intel i3-6100/AMD Ryzen 3 1200 processor and Nvidia GTX 1050Ti/Radeon RX 470 graphics card or greater respectively.

Having used both headsets personally I must say that my preference would go towards using Oculus Rift due to its superior FOV and resolution leading me into believing that I am truly inside whatever world I am exploring rather than just being aware that I am sat in front of some computer screens wearing bulky goggles! That said however, each headset brings something unique to the table; whilst one excels in one area another may succeed elsewhere so ultimately it depends on what kind of experience you want from your VR headset before deciding between them both - although personally speaking I found myself most impressed by what was offered by Oculus Rift!