Virtual reality headsets can provide both fresh takes on old favorites in the form of games, movies, and other media. Although this era of virtual reality has only recently begun, technology has already made significant progress. There are also many reasons to buy one because some truly amazing things (like the recently released masterwork Half-Life: Alyx) are VR exclusive.
Real dedicated VR headsets have excellent tracking and six degrees of freedom (6DoF), so your movements are considerably more properly translated into the game world than some early adventures that required you to insert your smartphone into a plastic holder. As a result, the experience is highly immersive, and most contemporary video games and headgear have addressed the “motion sickness” issue that many early users faced.
List of The Best VR Headsets 2023 on Amazon.com
#1 Meta Quest 2
Buy the Oculus Quest 2 if you’re unsure of what you want from your VR headset. Even if the Quest 2 weren’t $300, it would be challenging to top the other amazing choices on this list.
It boasts a Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 processor, can run at a smooth 90 frames per second (or more) with or without a PC, and supports both wired and wireless connections, making it as adaptable as it is reasonably priced.
#2 PlayStation VR
While there are several ways to experience virtual reality on a computer, there is currently only one choice for console users: the PlayStation VR. It doesn’t offer the finest resolutions or room-scale tracking, but it delivers what PlayStation is known for: high-quality exclusives (quite a few of the best VR games are available on PSVR).
The PSVR’s field of view is limited 100 degrees, and its per-eye resolution is lower at 960 x 1,080 than those of the other VR headsets on this list. However, a fluid gaming experience is guaranteed by the 120Hz refresh rate. To further immersion, you can also set up a camera and motion controllers. The PSVR is still one of the greatest headsets available because it is compatible with PS4, PS4 Pro, and PS5, includes a free adapter for the PS Camera, and Sony has revealed that PlayStation VR2, which will include at least 20 launch titles, is the sequel to the PSVR.
#3 HTC Vive Cosmos
Possibly the first company to produce a truly exceptional VR headset was HTC. The most recent version was created after that, the HTC Vive Cosmos. This is the option for you if you want a wireless headset that isn’t the Quest 2. Its resolution is higher than the Index at 1,440 x 1,700 per eye (2,880 x 1,700 total), and it almost completely eliminates the screen door effect.
Additionally, it runs at a smooth 90 Hz, and the spatial audio that is delivered through the headphones is excellent for immersion. Additionally, it continues to support the official HTC Wireless Adapter, allowing for true wireless play. The Cosmos is available in three different versions from HTC: Elite, XR, and Play. Each version has a unique controller and tracking and camera configuration, but you can actually switch out the faceplate, controllers, and tracking base station to use a different version, making this a very adaptable headset.
#4 Valve Index
This is it if you have to have the best. The Valve Index offers a per-eye resolution of 1,440 x 1,600 at a buttery-smooth 120Hz. You can map larger playable regions thanks to expanded base stations, and the controllers offer complete finger tracking.
It beats out the competition thanks to all of its outstanding capabilities, but it’s also significantly more expensive. However, you can reduce the price by using genuine Vive components. By doing this, you’ll have the option to modify your configuration based on your top priorities or purchase the entire Valve Index for the greatest visual VR experience possible.
#5 HP Reverb G2
The HP Reverb G2 is the most comfortable VR headset on this list, has built-in headphones, and has the highest combined resolution (4,320 x 2,160). You may physically adjust the headset to match your eye width using an IPD slider, which results in a more clearer, more focused view. Even though it only operates at 90Hz, this is mostly because of the high power required to maintain these resolutions.
Inside-out tracking also eliminates the need for installing external cameras or base stations, allowing HP to charge significantly less for the Index than Valve while making setup simple. All of this comes together to create a VR headset that allows you to unwind while participating in your favorite experiences.
How to choose a VR headset
All of our favorite headsets are included in the list above, but it’s not all-inclusive, and more are on the way (like as the PlayStation VR2 and HTC’s Vive Cosmos). The following essential considerations will help you choose the best VR headset for you:
Platform
The VR headset that you can (and will) use the most is the best one. Grab a SteamVR headset for the greatest overall experience if you already have a powerful gaming PC, are willing to spend a lot of money to buy or construct one, and have space in a room big enough for room-scale VR.
Get the Oculus Quest 2 if you want a flexible arrangement that allows you to play on a standalone system without a PC, even at the sacrifice of reduced graphic quality.
Games
Another important consideration is whether you wish to play any exclusive games. You can play a ton of fantastic unique PSVR games by purchasing the wonderful PSVR, but if you want to play Half-Life: Alyx, that won’t help you at all.
The PSVR’s future really looks very bright right now, given the announcement of PSVR2, but investing in it means you’ll be dependent on Sony for game releases and support, whereas the other platforms, which are more PC-centric, give you more freedom in how you may utilize the headsets.
The majority of PC-based headsets are compatible with SteamVR, which is fantastic. Additionally, Oculus has several exclusives that, while they might be playable on SteamVR hardware with Revive, there is no assurance of this.
Dimensions and Refresh Rate
Although gaming performance is always crucial, this might also have an effect on your health. Poor frame rates and resolution can also lead to eye strain and even motion sickness, in addition to the “screen door effect,” which makes everything appear worse. Your experience may differ even though these typically happen at refresh rates lower than 90Hz. The 72Hz Oculus Quest was more than smooth enough in my opinion.
Remember that not everything can be resolved as well. Even though the HTC Vive and Quest have greater resolutions on paper, that simply lessens the screen door effect. The graphics of The Quest are still of poorer quality. Having said that, you might choose the model with the highest resolution when contrasting models made by the same company.
Space-Scale vs. Stationary
The room-scale VR experience is the most lifelike. You can only fully appreciate the wonder of VR if you have six degrees of freedom of movement, which allows you to leap, squat, and move around. Realistically, not everyone has the space or aptitude to engage in it.
Things like the Oculus Go, the smartphone-based Samsung Gear VR, or Google Daydream View are better suited to your needs if you have restricted mobility or don’t have room in your home. While they only monitor head movement rather than body movement, this is ideal for hobbies like viewing movies and other similar pursuits.
Tracking Mechanism
Similar to the distinction between Station vs. Room-Scale, the tracking system is equally crucial and affects how comfortable your headset is to use.
Inside-out tracking is a feature of the Oculus Quest, Oculus Rift S, HP Reverb, and other headsets. This feature allows the headset to follow your movement using cameras and sensors that are integrated into it. This saves you the trouble of installing more cameras all over your space, but it also reduces the accuracy.
Inside-out monitoring may suit you if you work in a limited area or are a less frequent user. Choose a headset with external tracking if you want the greatest experience and have access to extra space.
Wireless vs. Wired
This wasn’t initially an option at all. Although the early VR headsets contained cords, more wireless choices are now available. This really boils down to “freedom” vs. “performance,” like many other options on the list.
Wires aren’t that intrusive once you get used to them, and they will give your headset higher bandwidth, which generally means the best resolution and image quality. While wireless sets mean you won’t trip over a cable and can move more freely in a larger space, wires aren’t that obtrusive once you get used to them. You also won’t have to worry about your headset batteries running out if you have a wire.
Although there are many extremely high-quality sets (HTC Vive, Vive Pro, Oculus Quest 2, etc.) that can be used both wired and wirelessly, which is a great way to go if you aren’t sure what you want, choose a wired set if that is important to you.
VR holds enormous potential, and not just for the game industry. In the future, you might be able to see all of your favorite bands perform live, travel to other planets in our solar system, and more from the comfort of your home. If you adhere to our recommendations, we believe you’ll find a whole new world of enjoyment, learning, and other things.
