Virtual reality (VR) has truly come into its own with applications in a variety of sectors. However, easily the most popular use for VR is gaming. There are tons of different virtual reality headsets that you can use. Check out the best VR headsets for all budgets!
Best Standalone VR Headset – Oculus Meta Quest 2
The Oculus Quest 2 is a unique all-in-one PC VR headset. While most virtual reality headsets require a PC, the Quest features 128GB or 256GB of onboard storage and the Oculus mobile app built-in. Therefore, it’s a self-contained standalone VR headset. You can install tons of apps and games on the Quest 2 itself, no PC or phone needed. Although no phone or PC is required, the Oculus Quest 2 maintains compatibility with desktop VR apps such as SteamVR, Viveport, and the desktop Oculus app. Oculus Link and a USB Type-C cable let you play PC-based virtual reality games such as Half-Life Alyx.
You’ll find an impressive 3664 x 1920 combined resolution, or a 1832 x 1920 per-eye resolution (50% more pixels than the original Oculus Quest). Its 120Hz refresh rate is an improvement over the first-generation Oculus Quest. Like the Oculus Rift S, the Quest 2 remains comfortable during long play sessions. On the audio side, the Quest 2 boasts immersive spatial 3D positional audio from its built-in speakers. And its wireless controllers are pleasing to the touch. A passthrough camera makes setup a breeze with no external cameras or motion trackers to mount.
Unfortunately, for all of its ingenuity, the Oculus Quest 2 falters slightly. The Snapdragon XR2 processor doesn’t match up to PC CPU processing power. Although the Oculus Link cable lets you interface with gaming desktops and laptops, it’s sold separately. But outfitted with a full 6DOF motion tracking system, two controllers, wire-free design, and a crisp display, the Oculus Quest 2 is a worthy choice. Oculus Link, which allows the Quest to function with desktops and laptops using a USB 3.0 cable, further expands its versatility. With its built-in VR ecosystem, the ability to sync with PCs for SteamVR and Viveport compatibility, plus a well-engineered design, the Oculus Quest is an extremely adaptable VR headset.
Pros:
- Reasonably priced
- Up to 256GB of onboard storage
- Oculus VR ecosystem built-in
- Oculus Link for PC connectivity
- Compatible with SteamVR, Viveport (using Oculus Link)
- 3664 x 1920 resolution (1832 x 1920 per-eye resolution)
- 120Hz refresh rate
- 100-degree field-of-view (FoV)
- 6DOF motion tracking system
- Simple wireless or one-wire design
- Comfortable
Cons:
- Mobile processor is weaker than PC processors
- Oculus Link cable sold separately
- Requires a Facebook account to use
Best Resolution Virtual Reality Headset – HTC Vive Pro 2
The HTC Vive Pro 2 is an outstanding PC virtual reality headset. It sports an impressive 4896 x 2448 resolution (2448 x 2448 per-eye resolution) alongside a 120Hz refresh rate and wide 120-degree field-of-view. There’s great connectivity with its DisplayPort 1.2 and USB 3.0 ports. You’ll enjoy buttery-smooth visuals with minimal screendoor effect. HTC’s Vive Pro 2 works with SteamVR and Viveport.
Because of its external satellite trackers, the HTC Vive Pro 2 delivers extremely accurate motion tracking. The full kit features the Pro 2 headset itself, a pair of motion controllers, and two Base Station 2.0 satellites. You can snag the headset on its own or get a complete virtual reality headset, controllers, and base station bundle.
All of this awesomeness does come at a cost – quite literally. The HTC Vive Pro 2 doesn’t come cheap. You can usually find the headset on its own for around $800 USD, while the full bundle often retails for about $1,400. As an alternative, you might consider the HTC Vive Cosmos Elite. With its 1440 x 1700 per-eye resolution and 90Hz refresh rate, the Cosmos Elite is a solid VR headset. While it’s not quite as capable as the Pro 2, it should satisfy most gamers. Yet, if you want the best virtual reality headset on the planet for mind-blowing visuals, the HTC Vive Pro 2 is the way to go.
Pros:
- Convenient flip-up visor design
- Comfortable
- 4896 x 2448 combined resolution (2448 x 2448 per-eye resolution)
- Minimal screen door effect
- Viveport, SteamVR
- Accurate tracking
Cons:
- Pricey
- Requires three power plugs
- External trackers require complex set up
- Bulky design
Best VR Headset if Money is No Object – Valve Index
The Valve Index is a fantastic virtual reality headset. Whereas the majority of VR controllers don’t differ too drastically, the Valve Index ushers in a revamped controller with five-finger tracking and pressure sensitivity. The fit is similar to a glove, with a knuckle-encompassing design that’s striking and functional. While not a ton of apps utilize the full capabilities of the Valve Index, it’s a forward-thinking controller that could shape the future of VR. There’s a wide field of view, a crisp, vivid display, and modular design. Because the Valve Index is compatible with HTC Vive components such as controllers, you can mix-and-match.
Since the Index makes use of lighthouse tracking, you’ll need to set up its external trackers. Thus, it’s a bit more complicated than a VR headset with inside-out tracking such as the Odyssey+, Rift S, or Rift Quest. Furthermore, its usual just shy of $900 price tag is astronomically high. For that cost, you can buy a VR-capable gaming PC. But the 1440×1600 per-eye resolution, 120Hz and experimental 144Hz mode refresh rates, 130-degree field-of-view, and top-tier built-in audio makes the Valve Index a premium PC VR headset.
Pros:
- 1440×1600 per-eye resolution
- 13-degree field of view
- 120Hz refresh rate, 144Hz experimental mode
- Fantastic, forward-thinking controllers
- Compatible with SteamVR, Viveport, Oculus Store
- Excellent audio quality
- Modular design – compatible with HTC Vive controllers
Cons:
- Not wireless
- Requires external trackers
- Expensive
Best VR Headset for Most Users – Oculus Rift S
Although the Oculus Rift might not be the only virtual reality headset on the market, it’s certainly one of the most well-known. In part, that’s because Facebook acquired Oculus in 2014. Since its inception, the Oculus has undergone several iterations. The Oculus Rift S makes several improvements over the previous generation Oculus VR headset. It’s a comfortable, lightweight for its size PC VR headset. Its touch controllers are excellent, plus there’s Oculus Insight tracking for maintaining accurate positional tracking in real-time for both the headset and controllers.
What’s more, the Oculus Rift S sports compatibility with the Oculus Rift Store, SteamVR, and Viveport, the HTC Vive’s virtual reality ecosystem. Therefore, you’ll find a bevy of Oculus Rift S compatible apps and games. Its balance of user-friendliness, affordability, and top-notch compatibility makes the Rift S the industry-standard VR headset. Still, it’s not perfect. Compared to the previous-gen Oculus, the Rift S resolution of 2560 x 1440 and an 80Hz refresh rate isn’t a huge upgrade. With the Rift S, you’re tethered to a gaming PC. But overall, the Oculus Rift S is the best PC VR headset for most users.
Pros:
- Compatible with the Oculus Store, SteamVR, and Viveport for lots of apps
- Comfortable especially for its size
- 2560 x 1440 resolution, 80Hz refresh rate
- Touch controllers are comfortable
- Insight tracking is accurate
- Reasonably-priced
Cons:
- Not wireless
- Minor to moderate upgrade over the previous-gen Oculus
- Requires a Facebook account to use
Best Windows Mixed Reality Headset – HP Reverb G2
Windows Mixed Reality (WMR) headsets are great options for VR gaming. The HP Reverb G2 packs a 4320 x 2160 combined resolution, 90Hz refresh rate, and 114-degree FoV. It comes with long cables, a 4K resolution, and SteamVR support. Additionally, the HP Reverb G2 can interface with Viveport and the Oculus app (using LibreVR Revive). You’ll find the Reverb G2 comfortable to wear, even for house-long play sessions.
With its inside-out tracking, the Reverb G2 doesn’t require external base stations. There’s little to no screen-door effect with pure eye-candy visuals. The exceptional resolution, simple setup, and modest price tag combine to make the HP Reverb G2 a good overall VR experience. While inside-out tracking is convenient for installation, it’s not as robust as with external sensors. And the refresh rate of 90Hz could be a bit better. As an alternative, you may consider the Samsung Odyssey+ WMR headset with its 3K resolution, 110-degree field of view, and AMOLED display. In the end, the Reverb G2 is the best Windows Mixed Reality headset, and a superb value.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Compatible with Windows Mixed Reality Portal, SteamVR, Viveport, Oculus app (trough the use of LibreVR Revive)
- Comfortable
- Great tracking
- Inside-out tracking
- LCD display technology
- 4320 x 2160 combined resolution, 90Hz refresh rate, and 114-degree FoV.
- Excellent controllers
- Fantastic built-in audio
Cons:
- No native Oculus app support (Revive required)
- Tracking not as accurate as external sensors
- Refresh rate could be a bit better
Best VR Headsets 2023 – Top PC Virtual Reality Headsets You Can Buy
Ultimately, there are loads of virtual reality headset options for all budgets. Most users will be just fine with an Oculus Quest 2 or Rift S. The HP Reverb G2 is a good value WMR VR headset that delivers excellent video and audio. If you can break the bank, the HTC Vive Pro 2 and Valve Index yield superb quality, accurate tracking, and modular designs, albeit for a high price tag.
Your turn: Which VR headsets do you recommend?
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