Upcoming VR Headsets to look out for in 2024

❘ Updated: 2024-03-25T16:04:49

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A woman wearing a VR headset on a dark bacground

Looking for upcoming VR headsets that are potentially coming in 2024? We’ve rounded up all the big hitters, such as Valve’s Deckard, the Quest 3 Lite, and more.

The launch of the Meta Quest 3 has made VR more affordable and accessible than ever, and Apple’s entry into the VR scene with the Vision Pro has reignited the industry and the market for high-end headsets.

Other hardware makers are keen to get involved thanks to this newly heightened interest. Many recognizable names such as Google, Samsung, and Valve are said to have headsets in the works, and some smaller companies have some very interesting projects planned.

Here’s a list of VR and XR headsets that we think deserve your attention as we continue through 2024.

Content

Bigscreen Beyond VR headset
Valve VR headset
Apple Vision Pro Lite
Project Moohan
Pico Project Swan
Unnamed Sony XR headset
Meta Quest 3 Lite

Upcoming Virtual Reality headsets

Bigscreen Beyond VR headset

Bigscreen Beyond VR headset results from a virtual reality software maker dabbling into hardware. The headset was showcased earlier this year, confirming the price, design, specifications, and critical features. It is expected to start shipping in May 2024.

This virtual reality headset comes with OLED displays with a resolution of 2560 x 2560 pixels per eye with up to 90Hz refresh rate. Weighing just 127 grams, it is highly compact and will cost $999.

Once you pre-order the headset, the company will reach out for a 3D scan of your face. This is used to custom-build the face cushion according to the user’s shape. The headset will be shipped directly to the user once it enters the shipment stage.

The headset comes with pancake lenses that help keep it compact and light in weight. It features a 90-degree field of view and fully supports VR games on Steam. You can also enjoy movies, play games, and hang out with friends in VR using Bigscreen’s app.

Valve Deckard VR headset

The makers of Steam Deck are working on a Valve Index successor. The company has confirmed that it is developing a second-gen VR headset but hasn’t revealed any specifics yet.

The company feels confident about virtual reality as it has the required experience to build new hardware and a library of games to utilize the prowess of the upcoming headset.

Valve’s game library and aggressive pricing is also the reason behind the success of the Valve handheld gaming console. The Valve Index headset, on the other hand, was released in 2019 and, despite being priced at $1000 for the complete kit, is doing decently well.

The upcoming VR headset from Valve could be an exciting gadget that could take on the headsets of Bigscreen, which look to benefit from Valve’s game library.

Apple Vision Pro Lite

Apple Vision pro side view with battery pack tether

Since the launch of the Apple Vision Pro, rumors have surfaced that Apple is working on a cheaper and smaller version of the headset. The leaks suggest that the upcoming headset will be an ‘entry-level’ version.

The main obstacle is the OLED displays, which are the most significant driver of the high cost of the headset. Reports say that Apple is attempting to find a cheaper alternative, possibly by finding a new supplier.

Rumors reported by online tipster Tech_reve suggested that the ‘entry-level’ Vision OPro could cost as little as $1,500. There has as of yet been no official confirmation or any word of a potential launch date.

Project Moohan by Samsung and Google

Various reports hint that Samsung and Google, already collaborating on Android and Wear OS, are coming together to counter Apple. The result of the joint effort could be a powerful XR headset called Project Moohan.

Reports suggest that this Extended Reality (XR) headset might carry Samsung’s hardware (and branding) while Google is prepping up Android XR software to power the headset. Both companies want to make an impressive headset that would take on Apple’s Vision Pro.

However, the teams of these two tech giants are reportedly frustrated over the delays and fear of making an inferior product.

On the hardware side, Google has a long list of failed AR-related products, including Google Glass, Cardboard, Daydream, Tango, and Iris, apart from software like ARCore, Tilt Brush, and several AR Google Maps features. This is why Samsung seems keen on taking control of the project and wants to ensure it sees the light of day.

The launch date of the Project Moohan is anyone’s guess at the moment. However, a Korean newspaper recently reported Samsung and Google have hit the reset button on their project and delayed the launch.

As per the outlet, Samsung is now planning to use higher resolution screens for its XR headset to match the 4K-in-each-eye (8K) displays offered by the Apple Vision Pro. This might push the headset’s launch to mid-2024.

Pico Project Swan

Pico is a smaller VR device maker owned by ByteDance. Reportedly the upcoming Pico 5 was cancelled in favour of a high-end mixed reality device that is hoped to rival the Apple Vision Pro.

Little is known so far about the specifics of this device, save that it is being developed under the codename ‘Project Swan’.

Sony MR Headset

At CES 2024, Sony unveiled a new Mixed Reality (MR) headset. The unnamed headset is set to feature dual 4K OLED displays and a range of sensors to allow real-world pass-through and is powered by a Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 processor.

Unlike the PSVR 2, this headset is a standalone unit and is said to be geared towards use by developers, rather than consumers. It has a unique set of controllers which are divided into a ‘pointer’ unit and an ‘interaction’ unit.

The headset is set to be released sometime in late 2024, though a price point is yet to be specified.

Meta Quest 3 Lite

Quest 3 Lite render on a bright background

Nothing has yet been officially announced regarding the Meta Quest 3 Lite, though there have been several persistent rumors.

It is generally believed that if the headset does exist, it will be a cut-down budget version of the existing Quest 3 headset. It could potentially take the Quest 2’s current place in Meta’s VR product lineup, and may even use the Quest 2’s cheaper Fresnel lenses instead of the newer Pancake lenses. It is also uncertain if the Quest 3 Lite will maintain the mixed-reality capability.

The name is also a point of debate, with some sources referring to it as the Quest 3 Lite, while others name the device as the Quest 3S.