All-in-One VR: What You Need to Know

Thought about getting a VR headset lately? Virtual reality’s popularity has surged over the last decade, with more and more people willing to take that dive into what is quickly becoming known as the metaverse .

The rise of standalone VR devices has been a huge factor in making VR more widespread. That’s because it’s now easier than ever to get immersed in virtual worlds without relying on a lot of different equipment.

Indeed, whether you’re looking for a way to try VR for the first time or want an upgrade over your existing device, an all-in-one VR headset is an excellent choice.

But unless you’re already familiar with virtual reality, you might not even realize that standalone VR is a big deal! No worries, though – HTC VIVE is here to explain the importance of this immersive technology in detail.

Here’s what you need to know about all-in-one branded vr headsets and why you should consider making one of these your next VR device.

What is an all-in-one VR headset?

An all-in-one (AIO) VR headset is a wearable device capable of offering its user a complete virtual reality experience. It comprises a head-mounted display (HMD), processor, and battery that wrap around your head. The HMD is essentially a screen or pair of screens that sit close to your eyes.

Some AIO VR headsets include built-in speakers or headphones you can wear to enjoy 3D audio. You might also be able to navigate the VR environment you see on the display using your bare hands if the device includes hand tracking. Otherwise, virtual navigation requires pairing the headset with one or two VR controllers .

If wearing screens and a battery over your head sounds uncomfortable, that’s because – for poorly constructed VR headsets – it can be! But VIVE VR headsets are designed with comfort in mind, so there’s a good fit for everyone. (More on that later.)

What is a standalone VR headset?

You may have heard the term “standalone VR headset” used to describe a monolithic VR device, which could leave you wondering what makes it any different from an all-in-one VR headset.

Actually, standalone VR and all-in-one VR refer to exactly the same thing. Feel free to use the terms interchangeably as we do!

Standalone VR is just one of the major categories of VR headsets, however. It differs from the more traditional category of PC VR.

An all-in-one VR headset is standalone, which means it doesn’t require a connection to a PC. As you may have guessed, PC VR is virtual reality that needs to make use of a computer.

You might be wondering why a VR headset would need to depend on a computer’s resources in the first place. Perhaps you’ve seen someone using a VR headset before with no PC in sight. What gives?

The short answer is that Imagine wearing bulky computer parts on your head!

All-in-one VR and PC VR are designed to offer different kinds of immersive experiences, and the first difference most people think of is graphics. Accordingly, we’ll examine those first.