Mark Zuckerberg’s big bet on the metaverse will likely keep attention in this direction for a long time to come as the technology enters its consumer judgment day. Meanwhile, the business case for VR, especially in areas like employee training, has helped make up for sluggish consumer adoption, and that trend is expected to continue. What’s clear is there’s a lot of development happening and a lot of content being produced for VR, and for gamers and hobbyists there’s never been a better time to give the technology a look.
What follows are our picks for the best VR headsets available.
From the company that pioneered wireless VR, Quest 2 is an evolution of the popular Quest headset. With Quest 2, Meta makes a multi-generational leap in processing power with the Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Platform offering higher AI capability and 6GB of RAM. The new display features 1832 x 1920 pixels per eye – the company’s highest resolution display yet. With 50% more pixels than the original Quest, everything from multiplayer games and productivity apps to 360-degree videos look better than ever. There have long been rumors of a Quest 3 in the works, but Zuck put those to bed for the time being at Facebook Connect in late 2021. The next Meta headset is being dubbed Project Cambria, and not much is known about it other than that it’s not a direct successor to the Quest 2. That’s a good thing because the Quest 2 pretty much nails it and the current model is still the most relevant buy in the Meta lineup.  Why? For one thing, it has excellent hand tracking via very comfortable controls. The Quest 2 is also easy to set up and use, which is a must with an early generation consumer technology. Users draw their own perimeter area, like a private arena for excellent gameplay. And games are the Quest’s specialty. Meta has a great app store, and 50% more pixels than the previous version, the Quest 2 renders phenomenal virtual worlds for exquisite gameplay.  You’ll want the 256GB version, which retails for $399. Pros:

Easy to set up and useExquisite displayWireless

Cons:

Only 2-3 hrs battery lifeRequires Facebook sign-in

If you want to level up your experience to 2880 x 1700 combined pixel resolution, and if you want full-room playability with best-in-class room tracking, the Vive Cosmos is worth a look. It’s an upgrade to the original Cosmos, and because the system is designed with interoperability in mind, you can create your own VR gaming experience with other HTC components. All of that, of course, comes at a price, although that price has come down a fair bit in the last year, and you can currently nab a unit for about $749. You’ll get best-in-class tracking (a complaint with the entry-level version) and a VR unit that’s primed to make the most of PC-based gaming. We also noticed the sound quality of this unit is a step above the competition, which helps create a truly immersive playing experience. On the downside, this is a wired device, so you don’t have full freedom of movement. That shouldn’t be a deterrent for most users. This is definitely a top choice if you already have a great PC gaming setup.  Pros:

ModularHigh resolution

Cons:

Trackers require installationClunkier designPricey

So much of VR is geared toward gamers; it makes sense that the experience should integrate into your favorite gaming console. At the risk of starting a war, PS4 and PS5 currently reign supreme in the console-based gaming world, and if you have either unit and think a VR spin on gaming could be cool, this one is for you.  Even though it’s now a few years old, Sony’s VR headset capably upgrades the PlayStation experience with VR gaming and a great cinema experience. It’s also a relatively affordable option these days, with units available for less than $400. Consider it a gateway drug for the world of VR. Worth noting, however, that Sony PSVR 2 is rumored to be on its way for early 2023. That shouldn’t impact the usefulness of the original model any time soon, but for those who want to hold out (and have the coin), an updated version should be on its way soon. Pros:

Price is rightGreat PS gamesComfortable and still relevant design

Cons:

Dated unit with a newer version on its wayThe tracking can be a bit buggy

If you want an immersive PC experience, and if you have a gaming PC that exceeds the somewhat beefy minimum required specs, the latest from Pimax is a knockout. The dual 3840 x 2160 RGB pixel matrix panels render a high-resolution image that is upscaled to 4K. It’s precisely those two 4K screens, plus VR that runs at 90Hz (and 110Hz in an experimental mode), that make this unit so darned immersive. Bottom line, Pimax is at the vanguard of tethered VR PC experiences. With USB-C connections, an innovative form factor, and impressive tracking, this is a unit that’s at no risk of becoming obsolete anytime soon. Pros:

Ridiculous field of viewGreat build-quality and designFantastic tracking

Cons:

ExpensiveInitial calibration can be tricky

The gulf between commercial and consumer VR has always been small, with plenty of enterprises utilizing Oculus headsets and savvy consumers looking into enterprise headsets for powerful collaboration potential. The reality is it’s still very much the Wild West for a technology class that’s been puffed up by years of hype but is still searching for a knockout case for adoption. The use-cases remain niche: Gamers, designers, enterprise applications like training. Within each utilizer pool, there are a small number of serviceable, if quirky headsets, meaning budget tends to be the deciding factor after the use-case. One thing we’ve noticed is that the technology hasn’t advanced as much in the past few years as it might have, so don’t shy away from older tech, which is cheaper and represents a great value in what’s still the first blush of our mixed reality future. If you’re a serious gamer who wants to keep up with the latest tech, it’s worth investing in at least a mid-tier headset like the Oculus Quest to cut your teeth on before diving into the more high-end options. But if you don’t think you’d use the headset for more than the occasional Beat Saber session, you’re better off borrowing from a friend. In addition to the top units above, we recommend the following headsets for those looking to expand their options and comparison shop: