VR headsets are the gateway to the Metaverse. Also, these are the new ways of gaming, VR headsets that can take the gaming experience to a whole new level. But why do these headsets cost more than you think?
As a brand-new technological product, there are many things to learn here; the price of new products relies on many different reasons, and you don’t need to worry about finding them. I have gathered and compiled this post, so you don’t have to look elsewhere.
Let’s go into more depth about each of them.
What Is VR?
VR is a virtually created and simulated environment by computer technology. It’s a three-dimensional environment that can be similar to or totally different from the real world that a user can only experience after putting on a particular type of head-mounted display called a VR Headset.
Also known as Virtual Reality (VR) and one of the forms of extended reality or XR.
VR technology is used for multiple reasons, such as gaming, art and modern science.
Here Are The Applications Of Virtual Reality:
| Aerospace | Entertainment | Marketing and Advertising | Religion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Events, conferences and meetings | Medicine | Retail |
| Automotive | Fashion | Metaverse | Robotics |
| Aviation | Fitness | Military simulated situation training | Scientific Visualization |
| Aviation | Gaming | Mining | Social Media |
| Construction | Healthcare | Modern Art | Social science and Psychology |
| Data Visualization | Interior design | Museums | Space engineering and training |
| Digital Marketing | Interior design | Music | Sports |
| Dining | Law Enforcement | Occupational Safety | Telecommunications |
| Education | Learning and development | Real Estate | Tourism |
| Education | Manufacturing | Recruitment | Travel |
Related contents you should read about VR Oculus Quest 2: troubleshoot hand tracking issues.
Why Are VR Headsets So Expensive?
The reasons for VR headsets being expensive are not only one, there are plenty of causes and reasons behind them. A VR headset can cost from $500 then up to $1000, depending on the brand and features available. And the only reason for this is that VR technology is a new startup business.
And new business costs a lot in the production phase because these things are not being mass-produced.
Although thanks to Metaverse and new games like Half-Life: Alyx, VR is becoming popular nowadays, still, compared to phones, computers and consoles, the number of VR users is limited.
Virtual Reality is expensive because it is a sophisticated technology that comes with unique display panels, motion sensors and high-quality lenses.
Additionally, you need to spend more money not only for the VR headset itself but also you will be needing a solid gaming setup to run the VR games in satisfying quality. In other words, the VR experience is expensive as a whole.
Here Are The Top Reasons Why VR headsets are so Expensive:
New Technology
Despite VR being introduced in the mid-1980s to early-mid 1990s, the technology is new to people, unlike Smartphones, which everybody has and knows how to use. From that perspective, VR is reasonably new; many people do not know what it is or how it can be used.
Recent advancements in VR technology pile up the price because it requires complex engineering to develop and manufacture these VR headsets.
VR headsets function with the help of an Inside-Out tracking system that extends the reality technology and gives users a good experience.
Room Scale Technology is a major technological breakthrough. With it, people can have a great experience of different locations and environments just from being in their living room.
Room Scale Technology is being quickly adopted in various mediums, and there is a gaming arcade in Los Angeles that gives you this authentic viewing experience firsthand.
In this arcade, you have to wear every gadget for the VR experience (VR headset, Headphones, And Bodysuit with Haptic Feedback technology sensors.), and you can move freely in the empty room, but in VR, you will experience a totally different environment.
Which can change depending on the stage or gaming you are playing. Many arcade goers have stated that this was the most surreal experience ever, and they couldn’t tell the difference between the real world and virtual gaming.
Although, you should know that all VR games don’t provide this experience. There are other VR Lobby games that have graphics quality, just like Playstation 2 games.
Features
The growing features of VR headsets are also one of the main reasons these headsets are expensive.
No matter the type of VR, whether it can be for full-fledged gaming or a normal mobile VR headset, these additional features raise the cost of manufacturing.
| VR Headset Features | |
|---|---|
| 120-degree spatial systems | Kinect-like camera |
| 3D viewing experience | Microelectronics technology |
| 3D-enabled spatialized sound | Multi-dimensional view |
| Advanced HD view | Network technology |
| Computer graphics | Other high-tech integration |
| Computer technology | Sensing and measurement technology |
| Computer vision | Simulation technology |
| Customization options for sound and viewership | Speech recognition |
| Gyroscopes | Stereo display technology |
| Human T smart technology | Synthesis technology |
| Human-machine interface technology | |
It also allows you to move/roam freely with the headset in a predetermined range since most VR headset connections are made over Bluetooth.
However, All of these are relatively too new for others, so there isn’t much production available in the marketplace.
Numerous Different Components
In order for a VR headset to work properly, a large variety of internal and exterior components are needed in the headset; these also pile up the price.
Lenses & Screen
The lenses are the main factor of VR and also the reason for the significantly increased price.
These devices use stereoscopic lenses between the screen and the user’s eyes.
Multiple lenses are combined together to create the stereoscopic lens. And the creation of these best optimal VR headsets heavily depends on stereoscopic lenses.
Because VR is all about viewing or experiencing something new and exciting with your own eyes, this is why the best of the best lenses & screens are chosen for creating a VR headset.
Check out the easiest way to get custom prescription lenses for your VR headset.
Stereo Sound
Sound is also a vital part of VR headsets in order to ensure the best experience available and the best sound systems are chosen.
The stereo sound system VR offers a multi-dimensional sound that helps users to feel very real.
Motion Sensors & Controllers
Without Motion Sensors and Controllers, thinking VR is impossible, it allows users to adjust the viewing experience according to the user’s movement.
By swiftly converting a 2D image into a 3D view, Motion Sensors play a crucial part in creating an immersive view experience. So many headsets use multiple sensors to have the best experience possible.
Controllers for VR are made in a way to give the full power of customizing. Users can operate them using the buttons outside the VR headsets because they are built-in.
With the features of adjusting via a connected smartphone, nowadays, users can control the VR headsets using pressure sensors thanks to the recent upgrade from Meta.
Limited Production
Production for VR headsets is limited due to less demand for the product. According to new information from the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Augmented and Virtual Headset Tracker.
The global market for augmented reality and virtual reality (AR/VR) headsets rose 92.1% in 2021, with shipments exceeding 11.2 million units, which is very low compared to other digital products.
This is also a reason for VR Headsets being expensive. However, these numbers are changing daily, and interest in VR is increasing as I speak, thanks to the many VR Chatrooms, Games, Streamers and Meta.
Responsiveness
The response time of VR headsets needs to be more accurate to provide the best experience possible; for this, VR headsets have superior response times compared to other screen viewing-devices.
Almost all of the good VR headsets in the market have response times of less than 50 ms, which significantly improves the overall experience.
Companies give a greater focus on these things than can provide real-time viewership to increase performance, low latency and excellent response time. So they spend a lot of money to produce the best VR headsets, which plays a factor in increasing the price.
Battery
High-end batteries are required for running VR headsets wirelessly; without them, you might end up tripping over the dangling wires.
These high-quality batteries cost a lot, and VR headsets use lithium polymer batteries, which offer a long battery life and rapid charging with features like 960 mAh battery cell, 1,100 mAh lithium polymer, 900 mA fast charging, Valve index and Heat adaptability.
With all these features, a Headset lasts only two to three hours. After that, you have to charge it again.
This wasn’t the problem for the old generation of VR headsets because those were powered with wires, but wiring limited the experience. Hence, the new generation of VR started adopting battery technology.
But before that, go through our epic guide on why are computer cases so expensive?
Accessories
VR accessories are costly because Virtual Reality is not limited; you can have a good experience just by lying on your couch. Also, you can get other accessories with haptic sensors and go into a battlefield.
Many VR accessories are available in the market, but it is not necessary you have to buy everything at once because it can cost more than a hundred thousand dollars.
Some Of The VR Accessories Are
3D Mouse
This mouse is a unique pointing and controlling mouse that is made specifically for virtually three-dimensional environments. Accelerometers, Multi-axis sensors and Infrared sensors are used in this mouse to deliver the best experience.
Motion Controllers
With the use of motion controllers, users can interact with virtual reality. Motion controllers have one benefit above gestures: they can be precisely positioned in space, enabling fine-grained interaction with digital objects.
Omnidirectional Treadmills
These treadmills look like regular treadmills, but unlike the usual treadmills, you can walk or run in every direction. This is why it is called Omnidirectional Treadmills, which are used for combat gaming and simulations.
Optical Trackers
Using visual data, optical tracking devices keep track of the user’s eye movement. Optical Trackers are the most popular methods for VR systems to monitor and track objects or persons.
What Are the Different Types of VR Headsets?
Currently, three types of VR headsets are available in the market, and anyone can buy them. Even though these work as VR Headsets on paper, these three are totally different from each other.
But, before that, do check our latest post on why are Xbox Controllers so expensive?
Here Are The Three Types Of VR Headsets:
Standalone VR Headsets
Standalone or All-in-one VR headsets are wireless VR headsets with very little external interaction. And they come along with a built-in battery, display, processor, and storage memory.
Being wireless gives the users the advantage of moving freely without worrying about the wires. Hence, the reason it got its name All-in-one.
The downside of Standalone VR Headsets is they provide less refresh rate and average graphics quality. And they aren’t as great as the Tethered VR Headsets.
Tethered VR Headsets
Tethered VR Headsets are the best and most immersive compared to All-in-one VR headsets. They are the opposite of Standalone VR Headsets and need to be physically connected to a system via USB or HDMI.
These headsets can provide top-notch video and sound quality, but to accomplish that, you will need a powerful as well as an expensive high-end gaming rig and enough space for wired cable connections.
Tethered VR Headsets can cost a lot because to get the ultimate VR experience, you need to buy various accessories such as cameras, controllers and sensors.
Smartphone VR Headsets
The name is pretty self-explanatory. These are created for getting the VR experience into a Smartphone. It uses smartphones to deliver the virtual reality experience to you.
You have to insert the phone into the headset, and after inserting the phone, you will see the screen in front of your eyes through a set of lenses that give you the illusion of depth.
Compared to the other two VR headsets, Smartphone VR Headsets are cheaper. But you will need the most updated smartphone with every VR/AR feature in it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a decent VR can cost?
A decent VR headset can cost from $700 to over a thousand dollars.
What are the best games to play in a VR setup?
One of the best games to enjoy in VR is Half-Life: Alyx, Cites VR, Hitman 3, Jurassic World: Aftermath, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Iron Man VR, Doom, Resident Evil 7: Biohazard and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR.
Are VR games expensive?
Some VR games are free, and some will cost you from $10 to $70, just like usual console games.
Conclusion
I hope you have understood why VR headsets are expensive; the cost of VR headsets depends on various reasons altogether, and depending on the type of VR headset, the price differs.
As a common person, if you want to enjoy a VR experience, you can go to VR arcades or buy a low-cost headset as an easygoing user, but this will provide you with a minimum amount of VR experience.
Have any further questions? Shoot them in the comment box, and I am all ears to answer.
