Immerse yourself in stunning game worlds with the best VR headset.

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The greatest virtual reality headsets can temporarily remove the feeling that you’re wearing a large piece of foam and plastic on your face. If nothing else, it will transport you to the world of a game—at least until you sit down on your couch. The Meta Quest 3 is the greatest VR headset out of all the versions we examined, which ranged from the most well-known to the least well-known. Not only is it reasonably priced, but it’s also one of the few VR headsets available right now that feels really novel. But the greatest low-cost VR headset is its older sibling, the Meta Quest 2.

The Valve Index is the closest thing to having a holodeck in your office, provided that cost is no barrier and your only concern is finding the most luxurious, highest-resolution VR headset available. Even if we hope Valve releases a more advanced model, the Index is still a great option. Better still if you can purchase it at a significant discount.

The next step after obtaining one of the top VR headsets is deciding which games are worthwhile to play on it. VR technology is demonstrated in Half-Life: Alyx, but it will strain your PC to the breaking point. There are many other enjoyable science fiction games out, including No Man’s Sky, that aren’t quite as intense. If you want to stock up on VR games ahead of time, I suggest looking through the top PC titles.

QUICK LIST

• BEST OVERALL : Meta Quest 3
• BEST BUDGET : Meta Quest 2
• BEST IMMERSIVE : Valve Index
• BEST ALTERNATE : Best alternate

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1. Meta Quest 3

The best overall VR headset

SPECIFICATIONS

Display: LCD Pancake

Resolution (per-eye): 2064 x 2208

Refresh rate: Up to 120 Hz

Field of view: 110 degrees

Controllers: Oculus Touch Plus

Connections: USB Type-C, 3.5 mm, Wi-Fi 6E

TODAY’S BEST DEALS

The Meta Quest 3, the sequel to the wildly popular Quest 2, is still our top budget choice and the best VR headset overall. But because of its improved lenses, smaller size, better resolution displays, and increased processing power, this new model wins out.

The newest headset from Meta features thinner pancake lenses rather than chunkier Fresnel ones, which contributes to the whole unit’s smaller design. It’s more comfortable to wear because it doesn’t protrude from your face as much, but the fabric strap that comes with it is still subpar, so we advise getting a better one.

You can use the Quest 3 without a tether, but you’ll probably want to connect it to your gaming PC via a good USB Type-C cable in order to access your Steam library. Using Meta’s Air Link, that option functions best over a strong Wi-Fi connection—preferably Wi-Fi 6E or higher. For many of the VR titles available in the headset’s own store, the integrated Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 processor is adequate, but it falls well short of a dedicated graphics card.

With improved passthrough cameras and a 2064 x 2208 resolution LCD panel for each eye, virtual and mixed reality visuals are crisper and of greater quality than in the Quest 2. A fast double tap on the headset’s side gives you a thorough overview of your surroundings.

Additionally, a set of upgraded Touch Plus controllers—which do not have the noticeable ring around the hand like the older Quest 2 controllers—come with the Quest 3. Despite the minimalist design, controller tracking performs as well as you would expect.

One of Meta’s VR headgear’s best features is how easy it is to set up. No tinkering with base stations is required; all it takes is a few simple steps on the headset and app to get it going. The Quest 3 barely lasts for around two hours when playing wireless games and streaming videos, so you won’t be using it all day. The headset refuels in around the same amount of time, and you can continue to use it while it charges using a USB cord.

We truly enjoy the Quest 3 for PC VR gaming, despite the issues surrounding it and Mark Zuckerberg’s eventual death in the metaverse. Even the 128 GB model, which is the least expensive, costs $500, £480, or AU$700. Despite this, the VR headset is still the greatest option available for the money.

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2. Meta Quest 2

The best budget VR headset

SPECIFICATIONS

Display: LCD

Resolution (per-eye): 1832 x 1920

Refresh Rate: Up to 120 Hz

Field of View: 100 degrees

Controllers: Oculus Touch

Connections: USB Type-C, 3.5 mm headphone

TODAY’S BEST DEALS

The Meta Quest 2 is the greatest inexpensive VR headgear; there’s no need to search farther. In terms of comfort and quality of life, the more recent Quest 3 has surpassed it, but overall, this is the best value for the money. Beyond being a fantastic method to experience virtual reality for the first time, the Quest 2 provides an amazing virtual reality experience.

The Quest 2’s 1832 x 1920 resolution LCD panels, which are incredibly good for a low-cost headset, contribute to this in part, but you will need to spend some time adjusting it so that your eyes align with the Fresnel lenses’ dead centre. The headset isn’t as sleek as the Quest 3 because these are a little thick.

Via the official Oculus Link, an appropriate USB Type-C cable, or a strong Wi-Fi connection, you can stream games designed specifically for the standalone headset, which are powered by the Snapdragon XR2 chip onboard, or you may use the headset to play games beamed from your PC. Even though the Oculus Link cable is pricey, you can be sure that your VR games will run as smoothly as possible.

128 GB and 256 GB are the two storage capacities available; the former is priced at $250/£250/AU$440. Although the 256 GB model costs $50, £50, or AU$60 more, the extra capacity is unnecessary if you plan to use the headset simply to play games from your Steam collection.

The Meta Quest 2 launches quite quickly, much like the Quest 3. Setting everything up just takes a few minutes and a few simple steps because all of the tracking is preconfigured and built in. Nevertheless, when you’re first using the app, taking the headset on and off can be a little tricky. After that, however, the Quest 2’s battery lasts for about two hours of gameplay before dying; you may continue to use it while it charges via a USB cord.

The low-power silicon somewhat hinders the standalone experience, but there’s not much you can do about it short of paying twice as much for the Quest 3. But the Quest 2 is the greatest VR headset available at a reasonable price for all purposes.

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3. Valve Index

The most immersive VR headset

SPECIFICATIONS

Display: RGB LCDs

Resolution (per-eye): 1440 x 1600

Refresh Rate: 120 Hz, experimental 144 Hz mode

Field of View: ~130 degrees

Controllers: Index Controllers

Connections: DisplayPort, USB 3.0, USB 2.0

TODAY’S BEST DEALS

The most immersive VR headset is still the Valve Index, the original virtual reality PC game. The Index stands out in the market thanks to its superior comfort, audio, and controllers, along with some of the greatest graphics of any mainstream system.

This is mostly due to Valve’s use of RGB LCD panels. Although newer headsets are steadily pushing it down the resolution ladder, the subpixel arrangement produces an incredibly clean picture that is deceptively better in use than it appears on paper. Furthermore, the Index boasts the best-in-class 130° field of view with virtually no screen door effect inside the headset.

In an experimental mode, those panels can operate at up to 144 Hz, but in order to use them with the newest games, you’ll need a very powerful gaming PC. However, the majority of consumers will be more than satisfied with the normal 120 Hz.

The head strap evenly distributes the weight of the Valve Index, making it comfortable to wear even though it is a little hefty. Even after prolonged gaming sessions, it remains incredibly comfortable due to its high-quality construction.

The controllers on the Index are a distinguishing feature; they serve as both standard motion controllers and hand/finger trackers. Since the Index controllers are strapped to your hands, you can completely let go of your grip without fear of dropping them. One of the unique selling points of the Index controllers is its accurate finger tracking; unlike earlier touch controllers, which could only articulate grip, the Index controllers allow you to give a thumbs-up, point with finger guns, or even make the Vulcan salute.

The audio is what sticks out the most, though, maybe most significantly. Near-field speakers that are integrated into your ears are driven by speaker drivers rather than the same ones that are used in headphones. This indicates that the Index provides exceptional three-dimensional surround sound and a degree of auditory isolation that keeps background noise at bay.

Since The Valve Index is a room-scale virtual reality experience, your play space needs to be equipped with two base station sensors. Setting up sensors for the Index can be a little annoying if you’re used to the more simplified experience provided by devices like the Quest 2, but it does offer a more responsive experience.

But there’s a cost associated with all those upscale amenities. It costs as much as three Quest 2s, with the full Index package coming in at around a thousand dollars. However, Valve’s VR headset is unmatched if you’re looking for the greatest possible visual, aural, and tactile experience for the highest level of immersion.

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4. ByteDance Pico 4

The best alternate VR headset

SPECIFICATIONS

Display: LCD Pancake

Resolution (per-eye): 2160 x 2160

Refresh Rate: Up to 90 Hz

Field of View: 105 degrees

Controllers: 2x controllers included

Connections: USB Type-C, Wi-Fi 6

TODAY’S BEST DEALS

The ByteDance Pico 4 is the ideal alternative VR headset if the Meta Quest 2 is too simple and the Quest 3 and Valve Index are too costly.

Its tiny form factor and usage of pancake lenses, similar to the Quest 3, contribute to its increased comfort. High-fidelity visuals are produced when the 2160 x 2160 LCD panels are combined with them, yet the field of view and refresh rate aren’t quite as good as they are with Meta’s most recent headset.

The Pico 4 has a full-color passthrough, is very adjustable, and is rather comfortable for people who wear spectacles. It delivers smooth tracking, especially for the controllers, and the setup process is relatively simple even if it does not use base stations.

All of this is significant because, with any luck, the Pico 4 will cost less than the Quest 3, and it’s a wonderful substitute for Meta’s newest model when it’s just a little bit too much for your budget. Though its hardware isn’t nearly as good as the Pico’s, the Quest 2 still beats it out most of the time in terms of pricing.

The US market’s availability is its largest disadvantage. TikTok’s proprietors, ByteDance, don’t seem to be as interested in pursuing the US market as they are in other markets, and it is more readily available elsewhere in the world. Furthermore, there’s no indication that this will alter anytime soon.

Still, this is the finest option we’ve tried so far as far as alternatives go. Although the supply issues are a bit of a bummer, the specs are impressive overall.

VR headset Q&A

What are VR lighthouses?

Your VR headset must have a way to sense the controllers in your hands as well as the headset itself in order to track your motions. The initial virtual reality headsets were powered by PCs and had base stations called lighthouses, positioning trackers, or individually installed sensors.

Although this is the most accurate tracking technology available, it is also the most labor-intensive. Unless the devices are permanently put in a room, you will need to set them up and calibrate them each time you wish to play.

What is inside-out tracking in VR?

With inside-out tracking, the headset can monitor itself as well as the controllers nearby, negating the need for external sensors. At first, this approach destroyed the immersion of the game and wasn’t as responsive or effective.

However, the Meta Quest 3, the greatest VR headset available, has brought the technology up to speed so that it is now nearly as responsive as the lighthouse. And it is unquestionably far more practical.

Are there wireless PC VR headsets?

Indeed! The Quest 2 and 3 by Meta are wireless headphones. Previously, in order to get the most out of your VR headset setup with your PC, you had to plug it in using a USB Type-C cable.

However, there are now simple wireless methods for doing that. But, in order to provide the necessary throughput to avoid spending the whole time throwing up from constant lag, you do need a Wi-Fi 6E router.

There was a nearly functional wireless module available for the previous HTC Vive. We would not, however, tolerate the connection dropouts in the long run, based on our experience.

According to several patents that have surfaced, a wireless head strap has at least been explored for the company’s spectacular goggles, which suggests that Valve’s Index system may soon have its own wireless module.