The Best VR Headsets To Get Lost In Your Adventures

Resolution: 1832 x 1920 per eye | Refresh rate: 90Hz | Tracking: Inside-out – 6DOF | Controllers: Oculus Touch

Best for: Trying VR out for the first time.

Instead of driving visual fidelity forward with its most-recent headsets, Oculus VR has focused on accessibility, and boy did it make a huge leap with the Oculus Quest. It’s since made a few important, if slightly-more-minor corrections with the newly named Meta Quest 2, which has become the best selling VR headset ever. It has all of the benefits of the original Quest, but with higher resolution screens, improved controllers and a lower price tag which makes it supremely accessible. You don’t need a PC, a smartphone or any added sensors: The Quest 2 is easy to setup and play straight out of the box.

Entirely wireless with inside-out tracking, excellent motion controllers and its own in-built processing capabilities, the Meta Quest 2 is as standalone as a VR headset can get, and with the option of up to 256GB of storage, it has all the space you need for an expansive game library. This model has 128GB, but that’s plenty to get you going , and if you need more space or simply want to experience a more premium VR experience, you can connect the Quest 2 to your gaming PC over an Oculus Link USB-C cable or via its in-development wireless Airlink to leverage the power of your PC on the Quest 2. That means you can fire up Steam and play many more VR games than exists on the Oculus Quest 2 alone.

Pros:

• Super accessible, no PC or smartphone required
• High resolution all-but-eliminates the screen door effect
• Good library of first and third-party games and experiences

Cons:

• Not as high refresh rate as PC-centric models
• Inside out tracking has some occlusion issues

Resolution: 1,440 x 1,600 per eye | Refresh rate: 120Hz/144Hz | Tracking: External Lighthouse V2 – 6DOF | Controllers: Valve Index ‘Knuckle’ Controllers

Best for: High frame rate, PC VR gaming

Gaming PCs will always drive the high-end of the consumer VR space forward, because they have the hardware to power it. Valve’s Index headset, trackers and controllers represent the latest generation of premium-tier VR, with a high resolution display (operating at up to 144Hz, vs the 90Hz of most other headsets), a wider field of view than most headsets, and reduced visual coronas. In short, this is the best looking virtual reality gaming experience available today, save for a few niche headsets which aren’t as well supported or designed. There isn’t an official wireless option, although third-party accessories are being developed.

It leverages a second generation of Valve’s Lighthouse tracking sensor, letting you extend your roomscale playspace to as much as 100m squared, and since they’re external, controller and headset occlusion is almost impossible. The Valve Index is the most accurate and low-latency tracking solution of any VR headset today, and when combined with the fantastically versatile motion controllers, delivers one of the most immersive roomscale VR experiences possible. The only real downsides to the Valve Index are its price and that it lacks any kind of wireless capability.

Pros:

• High refresh rate delivers smoother VR
• High resolution gives crisp visuals
• External Lighthouse sensors offer class-leading tracking

Cons:

• No official wireless option
• It’s expensive for the full kit

Resolution: 2560 x 1440 per eye | Refresh rate: 180Hz | Tracking: External Lighthouse V2 – 6DOF | Controllers: Pimax Sword controllers

Best for: Playing slower, expansive games at peak immersion.

The Pimax 5K Super is arguably the best-looking VR headset ever made. It doesn’t quite have the super-high resolutions of the Pimax 8K and Pimax 12K models, but it is right up there with some of the best, and with a 180Hz refresh rate, and an extremely-wide 200-degree field of view, this headset is very different from its contemporaries. Unfortunately, it’s not as polished as some of the competition from bigger bran due to a less comfortable fit and some quality control issues. The 180Hz refresh rate also sacrifices field of view to achieve it, so it’s typically not as high day-to-day, but the option is there for an ultra smooth VR experience that’s closer to what you get with other VR headsets.

It’s quite an expensive headset too, but the picture quality is very high. It’s super crisp, super flui, and you can see a lot more of it at once thanks to that wide field of view. One caveat, according to some reviewers, is that the colors can look a little washed out, so make sure you use the built-in image adjustment tools to tweak the quality. You also need a monster graphics card to run this headset as it is extremely detailed, and with that high refresh rate, you need to hit high frame rates to really take advantage.

Pros:

• Extremely high specifications make this one of the most high-end headsets out there
• Supports Valve trackers so is an easy upgrade for Vive owners

Cons:

• Some quality control issues
• Factory calibration could be improved
• High refresh and wide field of view can’t be used at the same time

Resolution: 2,160 x 2,160 per eye | Refresh rate: 90Hz | Tracking: Inside-out – 6DOF | Controllers: HP wireless motion controllers

Best for: Playing slower-paced games at the highest detail.

Early commercial VR headsets seem quite antiquated by today’s standards, and that goes doubly so for some of the first Windows Mixed Reality (WMR) headsets. The HP Reverb G2 builds on the successes (and failures) of the past in a big way, leveraging four inside-out tracking cameras for accurate six degrees of freedom of movement. That combined with its newer, much higher resolution screens make it easily one of the best virtual reality headsets ever made. The extreme 2,160 x 2,160 resolution per-eye is one of the highest resolutions found in any VR headset, meaning that the screen door effect is all but eliminated. Text is crisp and easy to read, and you can make out a lot more detail about characters and objects in the distance than on most other VR headsets.

The physical design features unique tweaks to improve ergonomics for a comfortable fit, and though the Velcro headband design feels a little outdated, it still helps the headset sit comfortably on your head for long sessions. The audio on this headset is also excellent, with some off-ear headphones that keep you immersed with high quality sound but still let you interact with the real world. The controllers aren’t tracked as well as some of the other headsets due to its reliance on inside-out cameras, making the HP Reverb G2 not quite as good for gaming as the Valve Index, but it’s not far behind.

Pros:

• One of the highest resolution VR headsets available
• Inside-out tracking makes makes it easy to setup and use day to day
• Capable motion controllers come as standard

Cons:

• Inside-out tracking has some occlusion issues
• Lacks high refresh rate of some other VR headsets

Resolution: Smartphone dependent | Refresh rate: Smartphone dependent | Tracking: Gyroscope, accelerometer, magnetometer – 3DOF | Controllers: Destek remote

Best for: Playing mobile VR games.

The Destek V5 VR isn’t that different from the plethora of other smartphone-ready VR headsets, but it is the best. It’s a versatile solution to the problem of fitting a wide array of smartphones into a comfortable headset to give people an affordable taste of virtual reality on their phone. Available in a few different color options and made from durable plastic, the headset is a perfect solution for children and young users who may not treat more expensive headsets with the care they need (the smartphone you choose for it is a different story), and it has a decent library of educational and entertaining experiences ready to download and play.

Leveraging your phone’s built-in sensors, Destek V5 is able to provide three degrees of freedom (3DOF) letting you rotate and tilt your head to change your view, but not your perspective. It has a decent field of view that is an improvement over the Google Cardboard, and with a comfortable headband, you can wear it for extended periods of time without excessive fatigue. It even has room for eyeglass wearers to maintain their prescription lenses while in use. There are much better VR headsets out there with much more immersive experiences, but for those wanting the easiest entry-point to virtual reality, this one is one of the best. Even better: It’s also super affordable. Just make sure your smartphone is compatible before buying. Most are, but some aren’t. The remote is also not compatible with Android 12 and iOS, but an update is coming that should fix that.

Pros:

• Very affordable way to try VR for the first time
• Easy setup with compatible smartphones
• Robust and durable design

Cons:

• Limited to three degrees of movement
• Processing power and display quality limited to Smartphone

Resolution: 960 x 1080 per eye| Refresh rate: 90/120Hz | Tracking: PS4 Camera – 6DOFF | Controllers: Move Motion wands + various third party options

Best for: Playing PlayStation VR games.

Despite launching in 2016, the PSVR virtual reality headset is still the only VR headset for home consoles. Lack of choice doesn’t mean it’s a poor one, though. The PSVR headset features an eye-catching design that helps it stand out from the crowd of black and silver alternatives, and offers solid visuals considering the relative weakness of its hardware compared to its PC-tethered competition. All of the accessories that make this headset possible—the PS4 camera and the Move Motion controllers—have functions outside of VR, so you’re more likely to have some of the kit before paying out for the headset itself, potentially saving you some money in the process. Even if you don’t, the PSVR bundle is still more affordable than most of the alternatives and it even comes with a free game or two to get you started.

Tracking isn’t as accurate or as broad as what’s offered by Meta, Valve and HTC, restricting you to just 180 degrees of rotational movement when using the motion controllers. But it’s still a fun experience and one that caters more specifically to gamers. Thanks to excellent support from Sony and PlayStation developers, the PSVR has one of the best game libraries of any VR platform too, meaning there’s something for just about everyone: From classics like No Man’s Sky and Skyrim, to the adorable Astro Bot Rescue Mission. A great addition to any PS4 gamer’s arsenal, the PSVR is an affordable way to get some gorgeous looking VR experiences without having to pick up heaps of extra hardware to do so. There is a PSVR2 coming in early 2023, however, so consider that before buying.

Pros:

• Great library of PSVR games to pick from
• The only real console VR experience available
• Works with PS4 and PS5

Cons:

• PSVR2 is releasing in early 2023
• The headset, controllers, and tracking have fallen behind newer designs

Resolution: 2448 x 2448 per eye| Refresh rate: 120Hz | Tracking: External Lighthouse V2 sensors | Controllers: HTC Vive Pro 2 wands, or Valve ‘Knuckle’ controllers

Best for: Playing PC games at the highest detail

The Vive Pro 2 is still HTC’s top of the line VR headset and that’s because when it launched, it did so with true-flagship specifications. The HTC Vive Pro 2 is one of the highest resolution VR headsets ever made, and it’s certainly the most detailed on this list. With 2,448 x 2,448 pixels per eye, it has all the resolution it needs to eliminate the screen door effect and give unprecedented in-game or in-software clarity for whatever VR experience you’re after. It can also operate at up to 120Hz, chasing the kind of smooth animations and frame rate only previously seen on the Valve Index.

These higher specs are enabled by its use of an LCD display rather than the OLED of the original Vive Pro. That may mean sacrificing some contrast ratio and color depth, but it does allow for the improved refresh rate and less ghosting on certain high contrast images. If you’re building atop an existing HTC Vive or Vive Pro setup, the Vive Pro 2 is an easy upgrade. It enjoys support for first and second-generation SteamVR Lighthouse trackers, and can work with either the original Vive and Vive Pro wand controllers, or the Valve Index “knuckle” controller design. It can even be used with the Vive Wireless adapter, although you can’t play it at its maximum resolution or refresh rate in wireless mode—something HTC is working on improving in the future. The HTC Vive Pro 2 not a cheap headset, but it is undeniably premium, especially in well-lit VR environments. As perfect as it is for gaming, this is also a great VR headset for businesses that want to demo content to clients or explore 3D models in the highest of detail.

Pros:

• Big library of SteamVR content to play
• Wireless option
• Very high resolution

Cons:

• Wireless mode limits the resolution considerably
• LCD screens don’t offer the contrast of the first Pro’s OLED