Oculus Quest
Joe Lingeman for TIME

User-Friendly VR

Oculus Quest
Oculus Quest Joe Lingeman for TIME 

VR has been slow to catch on with the general public; it’s expensive, and there’s been a need for some tech knowledge and accoutrements to participate. The Quest might be the system that finally brings virtual reality into every home in America. Unlike older high-end VR setups, Oculus’ newest device doesn’t connect to a PC or require any external wires, and its VR-­enabled controllers and built-in motion-­tracking cameras allow you to safely move around a room and fully immerse yourself in games or experiential content. To set up the Quest, you just put on the headset, draw a virtual safety boundary in the room you’re using and jump into the action. Once inside, the possibilities are nearly limitless. You could find yourself in a boxing ring surrounded by a cheering crowd, pursuing a mission in the world of Star Wars or sword slashing to the music in Beat Saber. The experiences are so immersive that after taking off the headset, you might be stunned to realize you’ve been in the same room the whole time. A full set starts at $399—less than other VR headsets at this level. Consumers are clearly on board: the Quest had a sold-out release in May, and in just the first two weeks, Oculus sold more than $5 million of Quest apps and games. —Alejandro de la Garza

Buy now: Oculus Quest

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