Who Will Make the Hardware to Enter the Metaverse? 5 Tech Companies Engineering the Future Now.

As the past few years showed, staying connected to those we love is essential for a healthy society. Even if we couldn’t be together physically, social media and apps like FaceTime and Zoom helped keep us connected. Well sort of–as good as these platforms are it’s still a two-dimensional experience. The promise of the metaverse however, is one of 3D immersion.

The metaverse could become that next game changing social platform to maintain meaningful relationships in the very near future. Promising a level of immersion not capable in a FaceTime call. And as it turns out we’re really close to submerging into the metaverse, and may not be as far-out an idea as some tech pundits would have you believe.

Why am I so confident of this statement? Because virtual reality headset sales soared in 2021 and shows no signs of slowing down. In fact, the VR headset market is projected to surpass 34 million units by 2024. Virtual Reality headsets could become as commonly used as game consoles by 2030.

Who Will Make the Hardware to Enter the Metaverse?

With advancements in VR, AR, haptic and motion capture technology, it’s just a matter of time before the metaverse ambition begins to be fully realized.

Hardware to Enter the Metaverse Now

Just as early game consoles evolved, so too has Virtual Reality(VR) headsets. Thanks to advancements in processors, lenses and software development tools, VR headsets continue to get smaller, lighter, and have higher resolution with each iteration.

Meta Metaverse Hardware

Quest 2 Metaverse Hardware

Though we are still in early days of metaverse hardware, VR headsets are the entry into a fully immersive metaverse platform. The Quest 2 by Meta is metaverse(as it exists now) ready, and easily the most popular of all metaverse hardware on the market. It’s been a huge hit with over 10 million headsets sold, and my personal favorite.

Meta’s Horizon Worlds and Horizon Workrooms are two metaverse platforms that can be accessed using the Quest 2 headset.

HTC Metaverse Hardware

HTC Metaverse Hardware

Another player in the metaverse hardware market is HTC who have a slew of metaverse hardware to choose from. In fact the tech company current offers three such products: Vive Pro 2, Cosmos, and the Vive Flow. All have their advantages over the Meta Quest 2 in either graphical resolution or form factor.

As an example, the Vive Flow weighs in at only 189 grams, compared to around 500 grams for the Oculus Quest 2. This is big deal for anyone that has ever used a VR headset for extended amounts of time. But these advantages do come at a significant cost over the Quest 2.

Microsoft Metaverse Hardware

Microsoft Metaverse Hardware

Microsoft is taking a more enterprise-friendly approach to the metaverse hardware. With their new mixed reality headset HoloLens 2, they are making it possible for companies and businesses of all sizes to enter the metaverse with this technology without breaking the bank.

The metaverse is exactly the kind of place where you want to collaborate with your friends and have a blast. Mesh for Microsoft Teams aims, accordingly, at making that experience personal – while also providing an option for some fun!

HP Metaverse Hardware

HP Metaverse Hardware

This HP Reverb G2 is part of Microsoft’s Windows Mixed Reality family, a platform created by Microsoft with a vision of holographic computing that includes it’s own product, the HoloLens 2.

The Reverb 2 includes Microsoft’s MixedReality Portal software–acting as your basecamp when wearing any type WMR headset. Although the Reverb G2 is seen mostly as the VR headset of professional world–replacing desktop monitors. The advanced resolution, sound, and controllers make it a natural for gamers and entering the metaverse.

Varjo Metaverse Hardware

Varjo Metaverse Hardware

Varjo is a VR/XR company based in Helsinki, Finland. The company has three headset hardware offerings that are all aiming at the enterprise user. Varjo approaches XR and VR as a tool to replace the standard desktop computer, and with demos that can be seen on their Instagram page, they may very well be on their way to accomplishing this goal.

NEVER MISS A STORY

Sign up to get the latest from 411 Metaverse, straight to your inbox.

Varjo’s Reality Cloud Platform is a step forward for humanity and will change how we interact with one another. The company claims that its technology can make reality sharing between people in different locations possible, which could pave the way to new forms of human interaction as well as universal collaboration!

Is the Future of Metaverse Hardware VR, AR, or MR?

Ultimately it’s some form of all three of these technologies. The metaverse is being developed by companies in an attempt to create the ultimate digital experience. This new reality will need to combine virtual, augmented and mixed realities into one immersive experience. Because all these technologies separately are in a way digital silos.

If we put all three of these technologies in a blender we would end up with something that looks like extended reality (XR). Extended reality is a catch-all term for VR, AR, and MR. Its all the immersive technologies within one piece of hardware. This is what the future metaverse hardware might just look like.

Did I miss anything? If so please comment below.

Christopher

Christopher

Founder and Head of Content Development. Can often be found wearing his Quest 2 playing Beat Saber.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Read Next

Is Disney Making a Metaverse

Is Disney Making a Metaverse?

Disney is currently developing a metaverse platform that will allow people from all over the globe to interact in new ways through technology such as VR headsets or AR glasses. Recently approved “virtual-world simulator” patent details just how they envision this metaverse platform will work. The patent details how the simulator will allow users to […]

Read More
Fashion in the Metaverse

Fashion in the Metaverse: Top Brands Go Digital.

There is no doubt that the world’s population is spending more time online. From classes to concerts and meetings, 2021 really showed us what the web is capable of, shifting the perspective of many industries. The promise of the next internet, the metaverse, will only pull us further into an immersive digital world. One thing […]

Read More
Dating in the metaverse

Dating in the Metaverse: How Relationships in the Virtual World is About to Change.

It might be hard to imagine or remember, but there was once a time when going on an online date with someone you met through social media was considered, strange. Yet it’s crazy how far we’ve come since then–now people think nothing of exchanging numbers and chatting away until finally setting off over dinner together […]

Read More