General
Standalone headset
Also known as all-in-one headset, AIO headset, untethered headset, standalone VR
A standalone headset is a VR or mixed reality headset with its own processor, storage and battery built in, so it runs apps and games without a PC, console or phone.
A standalone headset, sometimes called an all-in-one headset, contains everything it needs to work on its own: a mobile chip, memory, storage, a battery, speakers, inside-out tracking cameras and an operating system with an app store. You charge it, put it on and play.
Advantages
- No cables or computer, so you can play anywhere with enough space.
- Quick setup and easy sharing with family and friends.
- Lower total cost, because you do not need a gaming PC.
Limits
- Mobile-class graphics: games look simpler than on PC VR, and developers often use tricks like foveated rendering to keep frame rates up.
- Battery life: typically around two to three hours of active use, depending on the headset and the app.
- Weight on the front of the head, unless the battery is moved to the back strap or into a separate pack.
Best of both worlds
Many standalone headsets can also act as a PC VR headset through a cable or wireless PC streaming. Examples of standalone headsets include the Meta Quest 3, the Meta Quest 3S, the PICO 4 Ultra, the Samsung Galaxy XR and the Apple Vision Pro.
Related terms
- PC VR
- PC VR means virtual reality that is rendered by a Windows gaming PC and sent to a headset…
- Wireless PC streaming
- Wireless PC streaming sends PC VR games from a computer to a standalone headset over Wi-Fi, using tools like Air Link…
- Inside-out tracking
- Inside-out tracking uses cameras and sensors on the headset itself to work out where you are in the room…