How to pick out the best VR headset for you, even if you've never experienced virtual reality before

ready player one

Much of Stephen Spielberg's latest flick, "Ready Player One," takes place in the Oasis, a fantastical virtual landscape and society where a person can go anywhere they wish to go, do anything they are bold enough to imagine, and be anyone they dare to be.

And while the best aspects of the Oasis are not yet readily accessible in the real world, the film's sci-fi-inspired imagery is more than enough to tempt anyone to take a break from reality with one of the many real VR headsets available on the market today.

So if you're thinking about investing in VR equipment and aren't sure where to start, fear not! There are lots of choices for every type of VR enthusiast:

IF YOU'RE ON A TIGHT BUDGET

The single most important factor in choosing a VR headset is determining how much money you're willing to spend. Keep in mind that when it comes to VR equipment, you really do get what you pay for.

There are plenty of cheap-but-limited mobile VR headsets like the BlitzWolf or the Homido, which range between $20 and $80, respectively. If they seem too good to be true, it's because they are. These cheap headsets can be great for looking at 360-videos and still images, but since they don't usually come with a controller, that's about all they're good for.

Essentially, with these low-cost mobile headsets, you'll be able to step into the virtual world but you won't be able to interact with it or move through virtual space. You'll be standing in the middle of the action, watching it all move past you on every side, which can still be really exciting for first-time VR users, but I absolutely recommend splurging for the next step up.

IF YOU'RE JUST GETTING STARTED, OR LOOKING FOR AN ON-THE-GO HEADSET

On the first rung of true VR experiences, you'll find mobile headsets like the Samsung Gear VR, and the Google Daydream View, starting around $100. Both devices offer impressive graphics and a very intuitive single controller, which you'll use to point to objects in space, move through the menus, and play games.

The Gear VR is compatible with all of the Samsung Galaxy smartphones since the Galaxy Note 5. The Daydream can support all of the Google Pixel and Pixel 2 phones, as well as the Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+, Zenfone AR, LG V30, Moto Z, Z Force and Z2 Force, Axon 7, Mate 9 Pro, and the Huawei Porsche Design Mate 9.

While both headsets offer a great starting experience, they're limited to "stationary" VR, meaning they're intended to be used while sitting or standing in one place. This limitation prevents them from being truly comparable to the top-shelf headsets.

IF YOU WANT FULL IMMERSION

Not all VR headsets offer equally immersive experiences. The top-tier kits like the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift come with two controllers (one for each hand) and have room-scale location-tracking technology that mimics your real-life movements like walking around the room, in the virtual space.

While the more basic headsets can give you the feeling that you exist as a floating head in VR, the high-quality kits feel much more natural because they help to create a believable virtual body for the user.

However, since these VR headsets require pretty powerful processors and a high-speed internet connection, the best devices on this list are also the most expensive. The HTC Vive starts at $500, while the Oculus Rift + Touch (the newest Oculus model) starts at $400. The PlayStation VR is a great console-focussed alternative that also offers room-scale tracking and two optional controllers, starting at $300.

Important note: These prices do not include the costs of the computers and game consoles that are required to power the headsets. The HTC Vive and Oculus headsets require a complementary "VR-ready computer," with an Intel Core i5-4590 or greater, along with a GTX 970 or AMD R9 290 graphics card, plus at least 4GB of RAM. So far, the PlayStation VR headset is really only compatible with PS4. Although it can be hooked up to a PC and an Xbox, the headset's functionality will be very limited in those circumstances.

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