Virtual reality is a fascinating way to travel using nothing more than the power of technology. With a headset and motion tracking, VR lets you look around a virtual space as if you're actually there, or play a game as though you're in it. VR's been gaining traction in recent years thanks to compelling games and experiences, though it still seems very much in a state of flux, with headsets coming and going fairly rapidly. We're tracking the best of what's currently on the market here.
Oculus is focusing its efforts on a standalone VR headset, the Quest 2, but providing the option to connect it to a PC. HTC has the tethered Steam-friendly Vive Cosmos and Vive Pro 2, while HP has the more affordable Reverb G2. Sony has the PS4-compatible PlayStation VR. Valve has its own expensive Index headset. Even Microsoft is (sort of) supporting its Windows Mixed Reality platform with a scant few third-party headsets. Here's what you need to know about all of them.
The Big Question: Which VR Headset Is the Best?
Modern VR headsets now fit under one of two categories: tethered or standalone. Tethered headsets like the HTC Vive Pro 2, PlayStation VR, and Valve Index are physically connected to PCs (or in the case of the PS VR, a PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 5). The cable makes them a bit unwieldy, but putting all of the actual video processing in a box that you don't need to directly strap to your face means your VR experience can be a lot more complex. Either external sensors or outward-facing cameras provide full 6DOF (six degrees of freedom) movement tracking for both your head and your hands, thanks to motion-sensing controllers.
The Best Selling VR Headset This Week*
*Deals are selected by our commerce team
- HTC Vive Cosmos Elite Virtual Reality System (Opens in a new window) — $749.00 (List Price $899)
- Meta Quest 2 128GB VR Headset (Opens in a new window) — $299.00
- Meta Quest 2 256GB VR Headset (Opens in a new window) — $399.00
- HTC Vive Pro Eye Virtual Reality System (Opens in a new window) — $1,380.02 (List Price $1,399)
The least expensive tethered options are currently around $400, and that's before you address the processing issue; the HP Reverb G2, Valve Index, and Vive Pro 2 need pretty powerful PCs to run, while the PS VR requires a PlayStation 4 (though the upcoming PS VR 2 will presumably require a PlayStation 5).
Recommended by Our Editors
Standalone headsets offer the greatest physical freedom by completely removing the cables and not requiring an external device to handle processing. The Oculus Quest 2 uses similar outward-facing cameras to the now-discontinued Oculus Rift S to provide 6DOF motion tracking, and similar 6DOF motion controls. The Quest 2 lacks a dedicated gaming PC's processing power, but its high-end mobile processor can still push detailed, smooth graphics. If you're ready to explore the best VR headsets, check out this in-depth breakdown.
Our 6 Top Picks
Oculus Quest 2: The Standalone Stand-Out
Oculus Quest 2
The Oculus Rift was the first big name in the current wave of VR, and Oculus is still a major player in the category. The company's bowing out of the dedicated, tethered VR headset, though, discontinuing the Rift S in favor of focusing entirely on the standalone Quest 2. This doesn't mean you can't enjoy PC VR on the company's new headset; you'll just need to get an accessory cable for it.
The Oculus Quest 2 is a $300 standalone VR headset powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 chipset, a considerable upgrade in power over the original Quest and its Snapdragon 835 chipset. It offers a comprehensive VR experience in a single package with no wires needed (except to charge the headset), and currently provides the highest resolution of any consumer VR headset at 1,920 by 1,832 per eye. It has two motion controls for full 6DOF head-and-hand motion tracking, and offers a surprisingly robust library of VR software in its onboard store.
This doesn't mean you can't enjoy tethered VR with the Quest 2, though. The $79 Oculus Link cable is a five-meter USB-C cable that lets you connect the Quest 2 to your PC and use it just like the tethered Rift S to play PC-specific VR games like Half-Life: Alyx. The cable is expensive, but considering the Quest 2 is $100 less than the original Quest, it still comes out ahead in value even after adding the accessory.
Sony PlayStation VR: Aging, but Accessible
Sony PlayStation VR
The PlayStation VR is compelling thanks to Sony backing its development, plus the PlayStation 4's affordability and availability compared with gaming PCs. All you need is the headset, a PlayStation 4, and a PlayStation Camera (now included with most PlayStation VR bundles). PSVR's also compatible with the PlayStation 5, but you'll need to request a free adapter(Opens in a new window) from Sony for the PlayStation Camera to work.
There are some excellent games on PS VR like Moss, Rez Infinite, Until Dawn: Rush of Blood, and Five Nights at Freddie's: Help Wanted. Many PlayStation VR games work with the DualShock 4, so you don't even need motion controls. However, those motion controls are where the PlayStation VR lags behind; the headset still uses the PlayStation Move wands from the PlayStation 3 era, and they aren't nearly as capable or comfortable as the Oculus Touch controllers. They're also expensive, and not always included in PlayStation VR bundles.
Sony is working on a new PlayStation VR system for the PlayStation 5, with redesigned controllers. The new headset hasn't been revealed yet, but the company has released a preview of the new controllers(Opens in a new window).
Valve Index: Good Headset, Amazing Controllers
Valve Index VR Kit
Valve's own PC-tethered VR headset, the Valve Index, is one of the priciest. It costs $999 if you buy everything you need for it to work (except the computer, of course). That's hard to swallow, even if the Index features a 120Hz refresh rate, notably higher than most of its competitors (with an experimental 144Hz mode). Yet, the Valve Index is currently our favorite tethered VR headset.
Although the headset itself isn't that impressive, its controllers are revolutionary. They can track individual finger movements, making games (that take advantage of them) much more immersive than the standard trigger grips on other controllers. It's very impressive technology, and wowed us enough to recommend this headset. The Index's higher refresh rate makes for smoother action, as well, which is another nice bonus. If you already have an HTC Vive or Vive Cosmos Elite, and their base stations (not the regular Cosmos), you can buy only the controllers for $280 to breathe new life into your VR experience without investing in the full Valve Index system.
HTC Vive Pro 2: The Highest Resolution (and Price)
HTC Vive Pro 2
If you want the highest-resolution VR experience, the HTC Vive Pro 2 is the headset to get. This high-end PC VR headset targets both enthusiasts and professionals, with the sharpest picture available at 2,448 by 2,448 pixels per eye. It easily offers the best visuals we've seen in VR so far. It's pricey, costing $799 for just the headset; you still need to add the base stations and controllers (but on the bright side, you can use the Valve Index controllers with it).
The Vive Pro 2 works with SteamVR just like the Oculus Quest 2, and has its own VR software store in the form of Viveport. The store offers the subscription-based Viveport Infinity(Opens in a new window) service that provides unlimited access to VR experiences, instead of a la carte software purchases.
HP Reverb G2: Tethered VR for Windows Mixed Reality and SteamVR
HP Reverb G2
Microsoft's Windows Mixed Reality platform has been dwindling for a while, since HTC and Valve offer much larger VR games and software libraries. As a result, the previously WMR-specific HP Reverb has been reworked into the SteamVR-friendly HP Reverb G2. It's pricey compared with the Oculus Quest 2, but it's more affordable and easier to set up than the Valve Index for a tethered-only VR experience.
HTC Vive Cosmos: HTC's Consumer-Facing VR Headset
HTC Vive Cosmos
HTC's aging Vive Cosmos is a capable, tethered VR headset, but it's clear that the company has been focusing much more energy on its enterprise and professional-focused headsets like the Vive Pro 2. Still, this VR headset works well on its own, and it can access both SteamVR and HTC's own huge Viveport library and subscription service.
What About the Metaverse?
The newly rebranded-to-Meta Facebook might eventually be pushing the Quest 2 and other Oculus devices even further, with a bigger eye for broad platform integration. The company's plans to build a "metaverse" will likely include AR and VR systems, and the Oculus division would be the natural means for that. VP of AR/VR at Facebook, Andrew Bosworth, has stated that the metaverse will "build the connective tissue" between Oculus headsets and other Facebook/Meta devices, so they will certainly be involved.
The metaverse is still a vague concept, and Meta hasn't been completely clear on what exactly it's doing with it. Our metaverse guide will help you understand what's happening, based on the few available details.
What Happened to Phone-Based VR?
VR headsets that use your smartphone to serve as both the brains and display of the system were once commonplace, with Google Cardboard and the Samsung Gear VR letting anyone with a compatible phone get a VR experience for under $150.
These headsets have slowed to a trickle, and Google has discontinued its Daydream View headset while Samsung hasn't updated the Gear VR since the Galaxy S9's arrival. You can still find cheap shell headsets, but the software ecosystem and support for them is almost nil. For now, phone-based VR is effectively dead.
The Best Augmented Reality Headsets
You might have seen some other famous visual headsets pop up over the last few years, including the Microsoft HoloLens and the Magic Leap One. They aren't on this list for a few reasons, but the biggest one is that they're augmented reality (AR) headsets, not virtual reality headsets. And yes, there's a difference.
Basically, these AR headsets have transparent lenses that let you look at your surroundings instead of completely replacing your vision with a computer-generated image. They project images over whatever you're looking at, but those images are designed to complement and interact with the area around you. You can make a web browser pop up in the middle of a room, for instance, or watch animals run around your coffee table. It's fascinating technology that could hint at the future of computing.
The emphasis here is on the future, as in several years away. That brings us to the second biggest reason the HoloLens and Magic Leap One aren't in this list: They aren't consumer products. Both devices are purely intended as development hardware, so AR software can be made for their platforms. Considering each headset costs several thousand dollars, you shouldn't expect a large library of AR experiences for a while. Outside of specific enterprise and education uses, AR headsets are an early adopter playground at best, and not for most users.
With that in mind, we'll continue to track the best new VR headsets as they are released, so make sure to check back soon for updates. And after you find the right headset, check out our best VR games list.
