Mark Zuckerberg’s big bet on the metaverse will likely keep attention in this direction for a long time to come as the technology enters its consumer judgment day. Meanwhile, the business case for VR, especially in areas like employee training, has helped make up for sluggish consumer adoption, and that trend is expected to continue. What’s clear is there’s a lot of development happening and a lot of content being produced for VR, and for gamers and hobbyists, there has never been a better time to give the technology a look. The following are our picks for the best VR headsets available. Also: The best AR glasses: Pro-level AR and XR headsets The Altasonix VR headset for phone is a good alternative VR headset to consider because it is affordable and compatible with a wide range of smartphones. This makes it accessible to a broad audience of users who want to try VR without investing in expensive hardware. From the company that pioneered wireless VR, the Quest 2 is an evolution of the popular Quest headset. With the Quest 2, Meta makes a multi-generational leap in processing power with the Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Platform, offering higher AI capability and 6GB of RAM. The new display features 1832 x 1920 pixels per eye, which is the company’s highest-resolution display yet. With 50% more pixels than the original Quest, everything from multiplayer games and productivity apps to 360-degree videos looks better than ever. There have long been rumors of a Quest 3 in the works, but Zuck put those to bed for the time being at Facebook Connect in late 2021. The next Meta headset is being dubbed Project Cambria, and not much is known about it other than the fact that it’s not a direct successor to the Quest 2. That’s a good thing because the Quest 2 pretty much nails it, and the current model is still the most relevant buy in the Meta lineup. Also: Meta Quest Pro is all work and no play (for now) Why? For one thing, it has excellent hand tracking via very comfortable controls. The Quest 2 is also easy to set up and use, which is a must with early generation consumer technology. Users draw their own perimeter area, like a private arena, for excellent gameplay. And games are the Quest’s specialty. Meta has a great app store, and with 50% more pixels than the previous version, the Quest 2 renders phenomenal virtual worlds for exquisite gameplay. You’ll want the 256GB version, which retails for $399. If you want to upgrade your experience to a combined pixel resolution of 2880 x 1700 and have full-room playability with best-in-class room tracking, the Vive Cosmos is worth considering. It’s an upgrade from the original Cosmos, and since the system is designed with interoperability in mind, you can create your own VR gaming experience with other HTC components. All of this, of course, comes at a price. However, the price has dropped significantly in the past year, and you can currently purchase a unit for about $749. You’ll get the best-in-class tracking (which was a complaint with the entry-level version) and a VR unit that’s optimized for PC-based gaming. We also noticed that the sound quality of this unit is superior to the competition, which enhances the immersive gaming experience. Also: HTC’s VIVE XR Elite aims to be the new all-in-one, premium headset for everyone On the downside, this is a wired device, so you won’t have complete freedom of movement. However, this shouldn’t be a problem for most users. If you already have an excellent PC gaming setup, this is certainly a top choice. So much of VR is geared toward gamers, so it makes sense that the experience should be integrated into your favorite gaming console. Without starting a war, it’s worth noting that currently, PS4 and PS5 reign supreme in the console-based gaming world. If you have either unit and think that a VR spin on gaming could be cool, then this one is for you. Even though it’s now a few years old, Sony’s VR headset capably enhances the PlayStation experience with VR gaming and a fantastic cinema experience. It’s also a relatively affordable option these days, with units available for less than $400. Consider it a gateway to the world of VR. Also: Sony’s PlayStation VR2 launches February 2023 for $550 It’s worth noting, however, that the Sony PSVR 2 is rumored to be released early in 2023. This shouldn’t affect the usefulness of the original model any time soon, but for those who want to hold out (and have the budget), an updated version should be available soon. If you want an immersive PC experience and have a gaming PC that exceeds the somewhat beefy minimum required specs, the latest Pimax offering is a knockout. The dual 3840 x 2160 RGB pixel matrix panels render a high-resolution image that is upscaled to 4K. It’s precisely these two 4K screens, plus VR that runs at 90Hz (and 110Hz in an experimental mode), that make this unit so immersive. Bottom line: Pimax is at the forefront of tethered VR PC experiences. With USB-C connections, an innovative form factor, and impressive tracking, this is a unit that won’t become obsolete anytime soon. The Valve Index offers an impressive VR experience. Starting with the display, the headset features dual 1440x1600 RGB LCDs with 50% more subpixels than OLED displays. This smart move results in better sharpness and a fill factor that is three times better than OLED. Gaming is optimized with the Valve Index: The headset runs at 120 Hz, with an experimental 144 Hz mode. Games are more realistic, and the optics are optimized with the higher frame rates this VR headset provides. The headset is physically adjustable, so you can customize the distance between the lens and your eye and also adjust it according to the distance between your eyes. The dual-element lens is one of the many cool aspects of this headset. The high geometric stability that this lens provides allows you to move your eyes around the scene, not just your head, and have the movement detected by the headset. You don’t have to purchase the kit, although the kit comes with impressive controllers. Each controller has 87 sensors that track movement and create a more lifelike experience. On Valve’s website, you can purchase just the headset for $499, the headset and controllers for $749, or the whole kit for $999. The kit requires a PC. Aux Headphone Out The gulf between commercial and consumer VR has always been small, with plenty of enterprises utilizing Oculus headsets and savvy consumers looking into enterprise headsets for powerful collaboration potential. The reality is it’s still very much the Wild West for a technology class that’s been puffed up by years of hype but is still searching for a knockout case for adoption. The use-cases remain niche: Gamers, designers, enterprise applications like training. Within each utilizer pool, there are a small number of serviceable, if quirky headsets, meaning budget tends to be the deciding factor after the use-case. One thing we’ve noticed is that the technology hasn’t advanced as much in the past few years as it might have, so don’t shy away from older tech, which is cheaper and represents a great value in what’s still the first blush of our mixed reality future. I considered a variety of factors when choosing the best VR headsets, including resolution, field of view, refresh rate, position tracking, display, and pixels per degree. I also looked at other features like design, ease of use, and compatibility with gaming systems and software. My goal was to provide a comprehensive list of the top VR headsets on the market, taking into account the needs and preferences of a wide range of users. I believe that the headsets on this list offer a great balance of quality, affordability, and versatility, making them suitable for gamers, designers, and professionals alike.
Field of View
How much of the virtual world do you want to see at once? Field of view is a degree measurement that shows you how much of the virtual world you see at one time. Human vision is limited to about 220 degrees, and the Pimax 8K/5K+ headsets come close to that field of view at 170 degrees.
Refresh Rate
Refresh rate tells you how many images are generated per second. You want a high refresh rate to keep your VR experience lag-free and to see natural, realistic images. The refresh rate can affect how disoriented you feel with a VR headset on – you want your eyes to keep up with the images, and you want the images to keep up with the action. If the refresh rate is below 90 frames per second, you might experience disorientation and nausea with a headset on. The Valve Index has a refresh rate of up to 144 Hz, making it one of the best options for a smooth VR experience.
Position Tracking
Position tracking detects your position relative to your surroundings in a virtual environment. It’s different from head tracking, which only looks at the rotation of the head because it registers forward/backward, up/down, left/right, and other total body movements.
Display
A VR headset consists of a display screen, sound, sensors, and controllers. You’ll want the highest resolution you can afford here to minimize the screen door effect
Pixels Per Degree
Pixels per degree, or pixel density, is calculated by taking the total number of pixels in a horizontal display line and dividing it by the horizontal field of view. For example, the HTC Vive has 1080 pixels per eye and a field of view of 100 degrees, giving it a pixel density of 11 pixels per degree. Keep in mind that the human eye sees about 60 pixels per degree. If you’re a serious gamer who wants to keep up with the latest tech, it’s worth investing in at least a mid-tier headset like the Oculus Quest to get a feel for VR gaming before diving into more high-end options. However, if you don’t think you’d use the headset for more than the occasional Beat Saber session, it might be better to borrow one from a friend. Ultimately, the decision to invest in a VR headset comes down to your level of interest and dedication to the technology, as well as your budget and available space. In addition to the top units listed above, we recommend the following headsets for those looking to expand their options and comparison shop, starting with the best VR headset for kids. The HP Reverb G2 is known for its clarity and sharpness, making it a great option for gamers, designers, and professionals who need to see fine details. The HTC Vive Pro 2 has a high resolution and refresh rate, making it ideal for gamers who want a smooth and lag-free experience.
