If you’re looking for the best VR headsets, you have plenty of choice, from the HTC Vive Pro 2 to the Oculus Quest 2. It’s not always easy to figure out what the differences are between them, or exactly what you get in return for your money. .
Therefore, in this best guide to virtual reality headphones, we will guide you through all the best options on the market today and offer you the lowest prices on the web. You’ll discover the factors you need to consider when choosing virtual reality headsets, which mean all the key specs, and the type of features you might want to look for.
Some of the virtual reality headsets you’ll find are completely standalone, with everything they need built-in, while others require a wired or wireless connection to a computer or game console; this can limit your freedom to move and increase the cost, but you usually get a better graphics experience as you have more processing power.
In the last two years, the virtual reality market has matured a lot and you can get a lot of reliable, high quality devices to get a significantly lower cost than what these headphones cost in the past. As for the specs, consider the size and resolution of the screen in front of your eyes, and the extras like the built-in audio.
It’s also worth checking out the gaming and app stores these headphones have access to, which can help you decide which VR device is best for your needs. That said, many of the best virtual reality titles are already available on multiple headphones, so you may not be hanging out too much.
New virtual reality products keep coming and speculating with us (we’re looking at you, Apple), but as for what you can buy right now, these are our best choices. Consult them before deciding what you want to buy.
The best VR headphones you can buy today
(Image credit: Oculus)
(Image credit: HTC)
Oculus Quest 2 has proven to be a huge hit in the virtual marketplace, and it’s not hard to see why: everything you need is included in the box (although you can connect it to a PC if you want), it’s available in one place tempting price, and provides many fun and entertaining VR experiences in an accessible and easy to use way.
You don’t have to install a cable or tracker in your room to use the Oculus Quest 2 (just turn it on and get started) and thanks to the high-resolution screens and the Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 that works under the hood, you are guaranteed visuals that are fluid and clean (not to mention up to the standard of headphones connected to the PC).
From the ease of initial setup to the range of apps and games on offer, Oculus Quest 2 gets a very high score in most departments. One of the few disadvantages is that you need a Facebook account to register and use the device (and to upload your screen details), which is not very convenient for everyone.
If you want the most immersive and complete virtual reality experience right now, we recommend the HTC Vive Pro 2: it’s an absolute beast of virtual reality headphones, and this is reflected in the fact that you need a gaming computer strong enough to work. next to. You can get complex, high-resolution graphics on this device that are simply not possible with the Oculus Quest 2 (at least in its standalone mode).
All this power is reflected in the price of the headphones and of course the high cost of admission will take into account your decision on whether or not to buy this device. You should be absolutely sure that you will spend a lot of time in virtual reality worlds and that the HTC Vive Pro 2 has everything you need before you consider such an important investment.
But if you make an investment, we don’t think it will disappoint you. Thanks to the pair of high-resolution tracking units you need to mount in the room, all the movements of the controller are captured perfectly, while the Viveport and Steam libraries mean you always have a lot of games to choose from.
(Image credit: Sony)
Launched in October 2016, PlayStation VR (or PSVR) headphones are a bit old now, but it’s still a great choice if you have a PS4 or PS5 at home. While the specs may not support the best that virtual technology can offer today and the PlayStation Move controllers are a bit rudimentary, you can still enjoy a PSVR.
You can also find some great titles for PSVR: Doom 3, Star Wars Squadrons, Hitman 3, Marvel’s Iron Man VR, Sniper Elite VR, I Expect You To Die 2, Winds and Leaves, Vader Immortal, Beat Saber and Minecraft to name a few. ne just a few. New games for Playstation VR headphones keep popping up, and since it works with PlayStation 5, you know you’ll have a lot of use for them in the future.
However, there is a question mark about longevity, because PSVR 2 is on its way: there is no official release date yet, but it will be 2022 at the earliest. Obviously, it will offer better specs and performance than the first PSVR, but until it gets here, we think the PSVR is still well worth a look if the price is right.
(Image credit: HTC)
HTC’s range of virtual reality headphones can be a little difficult to navigate, but perhaps the easiest way to think of the HTC Vive Cosmos is a cheaper alternative to the HTC Vive Pro 2: it will still cost you a Considerable amount of cash, not so much, and you’ll get powerful visuals and a smooth, fluid user experience in return.
Unlike the Vive Pro 2, the HTC Vive Cosmos can take care of its own tracking using built-in sensors, so there are no separate trackers to place in the game room. However, you must maintain this wiring on a computer, so consider the additional cost of investing in a gaming platform (if you don’t already have one).
Access the extensive Viveport and Steam libraries for your games and apps, and being an HTC device, you’ll get a build quality and robustness you can trust. If you’re looking for a powerful PC-based VR gaming experience but don’t want to pay money, the HTC Vive Cosmos is worth it.
(Image credit: Valve)
You’ll need a fairly decent gaming PC to be able to run the valve index, but if you have the necessary hardware, this is one of the best RV experiences you can buy. From the wide field of view, to the room-scale tracking (with base stations), to the quality of the 2880 x 1600 resolution, it’s stunning and of course manufactured by Valve, it works pretty well with Steam .
It looks a little sleeker than many virtual reality headsets (at least in our eyes), and the components inside aren’t bad either. To get started, you’ll need to set up your tracking stations and your PC connection, so it’s not the easiest to get started, but the final experience is worth the wait. This extra effort in setting up tracking results in really smooth and accurate responses from the drivers.
On the downside, there’s no doubt that it’s an expensive kit, even if the minimum PC requirements are relatively modest (so you can save money on it). It’s not the kind of kit you want to buy if you just want to try virtual reality or it will play a couple of hours a month.