Steep Discounts Continue for Windows VR Headsets, Now Down to $222 New

If you’ve been eyeing a Windows VR headset, you’ll be interested to see the huge discounts currently available from Amazon US on every Windows VR headset, now reaching as low as $222.

Updated 3/18/18

The Windows “Mixed Reality” VR headsets launched just a few months ago, but you can already pick one up with some steep savings currently available from Amazon US. Here’s a quick look at each headset’s MSRP and the currently available price (brand new, including controllers):

• Acer Windows Mixed Reality Headset w/ Controllers
  • MSRP: $400
  • Currently: $250 (38% discount)
• Lenovo Explorer w/ Controllers
  • MSRP: $400
  • Currently: $275 (31% discount)
• Dell Visor w/ Controllers
  • MSRP: $450
  • Currently: $250 (44% discount)
• HP Windows Mixed Reality Headset w/ Controllers
  • MSRP: $450
  • Currently: $222 (51% discount)

Meanwhile, the Samsung Odyssey headset is the only one of the bunch not seeing a significant discount on Amazon, still priced at its $500 MSRP. With best-in-class resolution of 1,600 × 1,440 (soon to be matched by the release of the Vive Pro) and a wider field of view, the Odyssey is positioned as the premium Windows VR headset. Unfortunately the Odyssey appears to still not be available in Europe.

The reasoning surrounding the steep sales currently seen on Amazon US aren’t clear, nor is it apparent if they are permanent, or how long they might last if they aren’t. Despite Amazon’s steep discounts, retailers like Best Buy are still listing the headsets at or near their MSRP.

When the Windows VR headsets were first announced all the way back in 2016, their ~$350 price point was mighty compelling against the then quite pricey Rift ($600) and Vive ($800). But by the time the Windows VR headsets actually made it out the door in late 2017, those incumbents had seen their own major price cuts—now with the Rift at $400 and the Vive at $600—giving the Windows VR headsets much less of an edge of price.