There is no scarcity of nice VR headsets to choose from in 2024. For us, the Meta Quest 3 gives the right steadiness of value and energy together with a streamlined all-in-one design to make it our go-to suggestion for one of the best VR headset, however there are many different worthwhile choices. Some leverage the ability of gaming PCs or consoles for higher efficiency and visible constancy. Others could be much more inexpensive. No matter you are searching for, there is a VR headset on the market for you. So, that can assist you discover the right match, we have put collectively this checklist of one of the best VR headsets out there in 2024.
Discovering one of the best VR headset for you
The very first thing that is vital to know earlier than shopping for a VR headset is that some VR video games are unique to particular headsets. Meta and each PlayStation headsets have their very own storefronts that provide distinctive video games, unavailable to HTC, Valve, and different corporations’ headsets. After all, you may nonetheless get a powerful expertise with the Valve Index or HTC Vive line of headsets, particularly contemplating the good library of VR video games on Steam. Every VR headset has its benefits and distinctive qualities, resembling excessive resolutions, AMOLED shows, and built-in audio system.
The Meta Quest 3 is a robust cell VR headset that offers you nice experiences with out connecting to a PC–no sensors required (although you may, when you so select). The Valve Index requires you to hook up with a PC and use sensors, nevertheless it additionally gives essentially the most high-end VR expertise out there immediately. And, in fact, there’s the PSVR 2, which has the good thing about being suitable with Sony’s first-party lineup of VR video games. Take into account the unique PSVR has its personal library of video games separate from the PSVR 2. You can’t play authentic PSVR video games on PSVR 2 until the developer releases an upgraded model. Every headset has its distinctive options and advantages, so you will must determine which one is one of the best for you, primarily based in your value vary.
Editor’s Word: Article up to date on July 26, 2024
The very best VR headsets in 2024
Meta Quest 3
Like the previous Meta Quest headsets, the Meta Quest 3 is an all-in-one headset that can run games and VR apps directly on its internal hardware. Since it doesn’t require an expensive gaming PC or console to work, it makes for a more approachable–and more affordable–VR option. However, that doesn’t mean the Meta Quest 3’s specs are lacking–quite the opposite, in fact.
The Meta Quest 3 runs on a second-generation Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 chipset and 8GB RAM, with either 128GB or 512GB internal storage, depending on the model. Its LCD screen features a 120Hz refresh rate and 2064 x 2208 per-eye resolution. It even has built-in stereo speakers that support 3D spatial audio.
The Meta Quest 3’s hardware is strong enough to run a large number of games and apps natively, but if you need a bit more horsepower, you can plug it into a PC and enjoy a boost in processing power and wider app and game support. But even as a standalone device, you can access a vast library of VR games and applications via the Meta Store or Xbox Games Pass.
The Meta Quest 3 is also a capable XR (mixed reality) device. It boasts a pair of RGB cameras with 18 PPD (pixels per degree) that offer full color passthrough with double the resolution of the Quest Pro and ten times that of the Quest 2. The overall design is also a step up from its predecessors, with a lighter headset that’s 40% thinner than the Quest 2.
The Quest 3 is available in two models: a $500 128GB model, and a $650 512GB model. Obviously, the 512GB model lets you install more games, but otherwise, both versions offer identical features and app support.
Valve Index
In terms of pure technical prowess, the Valve Index is the best gamer-oriented PC VR headset on the market. It doesn’t increase the resolution past 2880×1600 on its LCD display, but the Index nails VR where it’s most important: refresh rate and field of view. Boasting a max 144Hz refresh rate and a field of view of 130-degrees, it makes for the best, smoothest-feeling experience in virtual reality. With the higher field of view, you can see more of the game at any one time, as opposed to the relative tunnel vision found in other headsets. An Index and a good gaming PC will provide the optimal VR experience, assuming you’re okay with a few wires and spending big on a PC gaming rig and the tethered headset experience.
Another key aspect of the device is its unique motion controller, which features individual finger tracking and is a step up from something like the Oculus Touch. There aren’t a lot of applications for this yet, but finger-tracking is a great way to make your virtual reality experience more immersive–games like Boneworks use it well. And while it’s absolutely usable in seated or stationary settings, it excels most with room-scale VR. Thus, gamers without a lot of space may find it hard to push the Index to its full potential.
The Valve Index also needs to be powered by a PC with a wired connection. At the moment, there is no option for wireless use, as the Vive Wireless Adapter–made for HTC’s Vive headsets–is incompatible. However, the Valve Index is compatible with the HTC Vive’s controllers and base stations, so Valve offers the Index headset on its own and in a kit. Additionally, the Valve Index’s controllers and base stations are compatible with HTC’s Vive headsets. A wireless adapter is within the works for the Valve Index, too.
The Valve Index VR package comes with the headset, controllers, a robust pair of built-in audio system that make it straightforward to enter the digital world with out completely disconnecting from the actual one, and base stations. Alternatively, you should buy a bundle with the headset and controllers or the headset by itself. Each buy of the Valve Index comes with a complimentary copy of Half-Life: Alyx on Steam, letting you proceed the story of that character immediately.
Meta Quest Pro
Originally retailing for $1,500, the Meta Quest Pro is now available for $1,000. That makes it a bit more realistic for shoppers with a cushy budget, and it’s worth every cent if you’re going to be using it regularly and don’t have a gaming PC. Along with a sleek, ergonomic design, you’re also getting tons of luxurious features that simply can’t be found on other standalone VR headsets.
Whatever you’re using the Meta Quest Pro for, it’ll look great on its LCD panels, which offer 1800×1920 pixels for each eye and a 106-degree field of view. They also support local dimming, allowing deep contrast for a vivid viewing experience. Its controllers are just as advanced, with three camera sensors per controller, ten hours of battery life, and Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 processors running the show.
The list of impressive features goes on and on–built-in speakers and microphone, support for 3.5mm audio inputs, backward compatibility with the Quest 2 library, 12GB RAM, 10 VR/MR sensors, and multiple face tracking sensors allow the Quest Pro to achieve things you won’t find anywhere else (without a PC). It’s not cheap, but it offers one of the best VR experiences money can buy.
HTC Vive Pro 2
It might not be receiving the fanfare of the Valve Index, Quest Pro, or PSVR 2, but the Vive Pro 2 has quietly made a name for itself among VR enthusiasts. Much of that is due to its premium display, which offers a 2448 x2448 resolution per eye–putting it ahead of most others in its class.
Not only does it pack in thousands of pixels, but it doubles down with both a 90Hz and 120Hz refresh rate. Combined with its 120-degree field of view, the Vive Pro 2 makes it easy to get immersed in your favorite games. It’s not a standalone device (and you’ll need a PC with at least a GTX 1060), but that’s a small price to pay for just a good-looking device.
Plenty of other high-end features are loaded into the Vive Pro 2 (such as integrated dual microphones and ergonomic controllers), which makes its hefty price tag a bit easier to stomach. So if you don’t mind venturing off the beaten path, consider giving this headset a closer look.
PSVR 2
PSVR 2 is an enormous leap ahead from the unique PSVR headset, with 4K HDR visuals, a 110-degree subject of view, and Sense expertise providing headset suggestions, eye monitoring, and 3D audio help. You’ll even be handled to radically redesigned controllers, which have been constructed with lengthy play periods in thoughts and are outfitted with adaptive triggers, haptic suggestions, and finger contact detection.
Sony launched PSVR 2 with a powerful library of video games, and it’ll solely develop extra spectacular over the following few months. Some standouts embody Gran Turismo 7, Horizon: Name of the Mountain, Moss 2, and No Man’s Sky. Sony can be including PC help to the PSVR 2 beginning August 6, 2024, which is able to open the headset as much as an excellent bigger library of video games and apps.
Learn our PlayStation VR 2 review.
PlayStation VR
The PlayStation VR headset is compatible with the PS4 as well as backward-compatible PS4 games on PS5, though PS5 owners should instead opt for the PSVR 2.
PlayStation VR offers a 1920×1080 combined resolution, 90-120Hz refresh rate, and a 100-degree field of view. The low resolution and pixel density cause a significant screen-door effect–you see the black space between each pixel. It makes it look like you’re viewing the game through a screen door. This can be frustrating for experienced VR users, but with no other VR headset on the PS4, it’s an issue you just have to deal with. But where PSVR falls short in its specs, it makes up for in its exclusive games. These titles feature some of the best experiences in VR and are well worth playing if you own it. The PlayStation Move controllers are required for some games–like Farpoint and Concrete Genie–but there are plenty of great titles that use the DualShock 4, including Astro Bot: Rescue Mission and Resident Evil 7: Biohazard.
The PSVR requires the PlayStation Camera for tracking, but thankfully it’s included with the headset in most bundles. And if you already own a PlayStation Camera for the PS4, then you’re ready to go no matter which version of it you have. The tracking isn’t up to par with PC VR options, especially when turning away from the camera, though it does work fine for most gaming. Thankfully, wearing the headset is extremely comfortable, which makes longer sessions much more manageable.
Meta Quest 2
The Meta Quest 2 is the perfect combination of price and performance. As a standalone headset with no requirement for additional hardware such as a PC or console, the Meta Quest 2 offers the easiest and most convenient way to start gaming in VR. It’s a nice step up from the original Quest (which was already great), and you no longer need a Facebook account to use the device. Best of all, for those looking for better performance, you can use Oculus Link to connect it to VR-capable PCs and play games like Half-Life: Alyx.
The Meta Quest 2 is equipped with a fast Qaulcom Snapdragon XR2 processor and 6GB of RAM. The fast-switch LCD displays may not be OLED, but they still look fantastic once you’ve adjusted the comfortable new backpack-like elastic strap and selected one of three inter-pupillary distance settings. Thanks to 1832 x 1920 pixel resolution for each lens, the picture is crisp and clear.
The Meta Quest 2 is an improvement on the original in almost every way, but if you’re upgrading from the original, you may not be as blown away by the newer VR machine. That speaks to the quality of the Quest 1 more than anything, as it’s still an excellent headset. That said, some games are only compatible with Quest 2, like the excellent Resident Evil 4 VR. For the most part, though, the Quest 2 is more of a smart iteration on the original.
Over the past couple of years, the Meta Quest 2’s library has expanded significantly. There’s a wide range of games across all major genres as well as a slew of apps for watching TV, movies, and other entertainment experiences.
The Meta Quest 2 comes in two storage capacities: 128GB and 256G. The 128GB model costs $400, while the 256GB model is $430. Considering the small jump in price, we’d recommend the 256GB. Both models come with Golf+ and Space Pirate Trainer DX. Though the Quest 2 is more comfortable than its predecessors, some users may still experience discomfort and neck strain. If that’s you, we’d recommend picking up a comfort strap that balances the burden.
Learn our Meta Quest 2 evaluate.