Windows Mixed Reality: Now Dell's $350 Visor arrives at Microsoft's VR party

Microsoft and its Windows Mixed Reality partners will soon begin selling headsets and motion-controller combinations from $399.

The Dell Visor and other Windows Mixed Reality headsets work without wall-mounted sensors, thanks to inside-out tracking sensors in the headset. (Image: Dell)

Dell has unveiled the Visor, a Windows Mixed Reality headset that will cost $350.

The Visor marks Dell's entry to the VR headset market, joining Acer, Lenovo, and HP, which have already announced headsets for considerably less than the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive.

The Dell Visor will cost $350 for the headset alone or $450 for the headset and motion controller. The controller can be bought separately for $100.

Unlike the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift, the Dell Visor and other Windows Mixed Reality headsets work without wall-mounted sensors, thanks to inside-out tracking sensors in the headset.

The Visor features a 360-degree view via two 1,440x1,440-pixel resolution displays, one for each eye, and 90Hz refresh rates.

Dell announced the new headset ahead of the IFA conference, which kicks off in Berlin later this week.

The Visor should be easy to fit for different sized heads via the thumbwheel on the back of the headband. A hinge on the front allows the viewer to be flipped up when pausing, and a clip on the left keeps the cords in place. Like other Windows Mixed Reality headsets, the Visor needs to be connected to a PC via a HDMI cord.

Although Microsoft is touting the affordability of its Mixed Reality headsets, HTC recently cut the price of the Vive headset by $200, which brought its cost down to $599, while Oculus Rift's price has fallen to $499.

HP's mixed-reality developer edition headset launched for $329, while Acer's headset and motion controller costs $399.

The appeal for consumers depends on motion controllers, which Microsoft says will be available along with headsets from HP, Lenovo, Dell, and Acer this holiday starting at $399.

Microsoft says PC partners will also launch two lines of PCs for different quality mixed-reality experiences.

The Windows Mixed Reality PCs include laptops and desktops with integrated graphics that allow connected headsets to run at 60fps, while the Windows Mixed Reality Ultra PCs feature discrete graphics and allow headsets to run at 90fps.

Microsoft also announced that Steam content will run on Windows Mixed Reality headsets, but it didn't share specifics. It also announced a host of new content partners and plans to bring more Halo experiences to mixed reality soon.