HardwareVRSony’s new XR headset has me more hyped than Apple Vision ProWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
HardwareVRSony’s new XR headset has me more hyped than Apple Vision ProWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Sony)
It’s been just under a year sinceSonylaunched PlayStation VR 2. With that in mind, nobody in the world suspected that the Japanese tech giant would reveal another headset at CES 2024. Nevertheless, that’s exactly what happened.
Now, before you get too excited, this new device isn’t in the PlayStation family. In fact, it isn’t targeted at a gaming audience at all. The visor, which doesn’t even have a name yet, was initially shown off during the Siemens keynote presentation and got a brief mention in Sony’s own CES talk as well.
Speaking honestly, these were both pretty future-facing presentations that didn’t offer up much for us gamers to get excited about - besides one Sony exec bringing an AI-controlled car out on stage using a DualSense controller.
And yet, as a gamer and a lover of thebest VR headsets, I got very excited when they rolled the concept trailer for Sony’s new XR headset. It may be geared at 3D content creation and businesses, but it made me more hyped than theApple Vision Pro’s reveal.
(Image credit: Sony)
Putting its intended audience to one side, this new headset looks like a stunning piece of kit. It sports Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon XR2 Plus Gen 2 processor that’s said to be faster than theMeta Quest 3’s and is rumored to appear inSamsung’s upcoming headset. Sony’s new display features two 4K mini OLED panels, and it flips up and down so you can exit and re-enter the virtual space without the faff of taking off and putting on the headset.
No uncanny valley eyes poking through the front display to tell people around you how immersed you are.
For gaming, that display would be incredible, especially if you could hook it up to one of thebest gaming PCs. In ourPSVR 2 review, I found that the OLED display made a world of difference to visual fidelity in VR games, but also when playing non-VR games in Cinematic mode.
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But the flip-up and flip-down feature? That would make the world of difference if you were mid-game and you needed to go and answer a knock on the door, or, like many people, you suffer from motion sickness and just need a sit-down.
(Image credit: Sony)
Perhaps the thing that made me most envious of 3D content creators, is the controllers this headset comes with because they aren’t your run-of-the-mill VR controllers. In one hand you hold a small pointer you feed your index finger through, using its tip as a touchpad. With your other hand, you wear a ring that looks like it can help to pivot and reorient things in front of you. The two combine using gestures and various touchpad controls to allow you to interface with the virtual world.
(Image credit: Sony)
Understandably, older VR controllers like theMeta Quest 2’s are getting a bit clunky and out of date, but I don’t think we should abandon them entirely. I think a minimalistic style of controller like Sony’s seems to be the perfect halfway house. If that ring provides haptic feedback you can combine the natural feeling of hand controls with the tactility of PSVR 2’s Sense Controllers.
Sony’s second headset in as many years may not be a gaming device, but it’s the sort of product you want to see at CES every year. It points to a really exciting path forward for VR and XR technology - and that’s a market that’s already getting pretty exciting.
In association with ROG Ally.
Today’s best VR headset dealsMeta Quest 3$512ViewSee all pricesMeta Quest 3 512GB$649$579.99ViewSee all pricesSony PlayStation VR2$549.99$449.90ViewSee all pricesLow StockOculus Quest 2 128GB$322$259.95ViewSee all pricesOculus Quest 2 256GB$599$529ViewSee all pricesHTC Vive Pro 2$699$498.99ViewSee all pricesDeal endsWed, Jan 1, 2025HTC Vive Pro 2 Full Kit$1,199.99$1,024.99ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best VR headset dealsMeta Quest 3$512ViewSee all pricesMeta Quest 3 512GB$649$579.99ViewSee all pricesSony PlayStation VR2$549.99$449.90ViewSee all pricesLow StockOculus Quest 2 128GB$322$259.95ViewSee all pricesOculus Quest 2 256GB$599$529ViewSee all pricesHTC Vive Pro 2$699$498.99ViewSee all pricesDeal endsWed, Jan 1, 2025HTC Vive Pro 2 Full Kit$1,199.99$1,024.99ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best VR headset dealsMeta Quest 3$512ViewSee all pricesMeta Quest 3 512GB$649$579.99ViewSee all pricesSony PlayStation VR2$549.99$449.90ViewSee all pricesLow StockOculus Quest 2 128GB$322$259.95ViewSee all pricesOculus Quest 2 256GB$599$529ViewSee all pricesHTC Vive Pro 2$699$498.99ViewSee all pricesDeal endsWed, Jan 1, 2025HTC Vive Pro 2 Full Kit$1,199.99$1,024.99ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best VR headset deals
Meta Quest 3$512ViewSee all pricesMeta Quest 3 512GB$649$579.99ViewSee all pricesSony PlayStation VR2$549.99$449.90ViewSee all pricesLow StockOculus Quest 2 128GB$322$259.95ViewSee all pricesOculus Quest 2 256GB$599$529ViewSee all pricesHTC Vive Pro 2$699$498.99ViewSee all pricesDeal endsWed, Jan 1, 2025HTC Vive Pro 2 Full Kit$1,199.99$1,024.99ViewSee all prices
Meta Quest 3$512ViewSee all prices
Meta Quest 3$512ViewSee all prices
Meta Quest 3
Meta Quest 3
$512View
$512
$512
See all prices
Meta Quest 3 512GB$649$579.99ViewSee all prices
Meta Quest 3 512GB$649$579.99ViewSee all prices
Meta Quest 3 512GB
Meta Quest 3 512GB
$649$579.99View
$649$579.99
$579.99
See all prices
Sony PlayStation VR2$549.99$449.90ViewSee all prices
Sony PlayStation VR2$549.99$449.90ViewSee all prices
Sony PlayStation VR2
Sony PlayStation VR2
$549.99$449.90View
$549.99$449.90
$449.90
See all prices
Low StockOculus Quest 2 128GB$322$259.95ViewSee all prices
Low Stock
Low Stock
Low Stock
Low Stock
Low Stock
Oculus Quest 2 128GB$322$259.95ViewSee all prices
Oculus Quest 2 128GB
Oculus Quest 2 128GB
$322$259.95View
$322$259.95
$259.95
See all prices
Oculus Quest 2 256GB$599$529ViewSee all prices
Oculus Quest 2 256GB$599$529ViewSee all prices
Oculus Quest 2 256GB
Oculus Quest 2 256GB
$599$529View
$599$529
$529
See all prices
HTC Vive Pro 2$699$498.99ViewSee all pricesDeal endsWed, Jan 1, 2025
HTC Vive Pro 2$699$498.99ViewSee all prices
HTC Vive Pro 2
HTC Vive Pro 2
$699$498.99View
$699$498.99
$498.99
See all prices
Deal endsWed, Jan 1, 2025
Deal endsWed, Jan 1, 2025
Deal endsWed, Jan 1, 2025
HTC Vive Pro 2 Full Kit$1,199.99$1,024.99ViewSee all prices
HTC Vive Pro 2 Full Kit$1,199.99$1,024.99ViewSee all prices
HTC Vive Pro 2 Full Kit
HTC Vive Pro 2 Full Kit
$1,199.99$1,024.99View
$1,199.99$1,024.99
$1,024.99
See all prices
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Genuinely thinking of picking up 3D content creation so you can make use of this headset? Take a look at thebest gaming laptops, thebest gaming monitors, and thebest ultrawide monitors.
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More about vrMeta Quest 3S review: “Maybe the best entry-level VR device ever created”This headstrap can add comfort and battery to your Meta Quest 3 this Black Friday
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Meta Quest 3S review: “Maybe the best entry-level VR device ever created”This headstrap can add comfort and battery to your Meta Quest 3 this Black Friday
Meta Quest 3S review: “Maybe the best entry-level VR device ever created”
Meta Quest 3S review: “Maybe the best entry-level VR device ever created”
This headstrap can add comfort and battery to your Meta Quest 3 this Black Friday
This headstrap can add comfort and battery to your Meta Quest 3 this Black Friday
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1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1
Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2
Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
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Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
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Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
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Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
1
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
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Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
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4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
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2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
2
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3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
3
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4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
4
Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”
5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”
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Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”