Best VR Headsets in 2023 to Buy for the Best Experience

Best VR Headset to Buy
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Virtual reality technology has been booming for a while now, even though there’s no business value to them yet. Whether the VR headsets will hop to some next level is a mystery; however, one thing’s for sure – the virtual reality headset will introduce you to a new level of entertainment!

Gamers are already diving into augmented worlds with the help of their VR headsets, while gym enthusiasts are sparking up their daily exercises with lively landscapes by using a VR set. 

The discussion about the best virtual reality headset is trending, which is why we’ve decided to cut right to the chase. The best virtual reality headset is the one that does what you want it to.

We’ve reviewed the best VR headset for PC, the greatest VR headset with controllers, the best VR set overall, and the best VR headset for 2021 – becoming the owner of either one of them will do you good.

Best VR Headsets 2023: Find the Best Virtual Reality Headset for You

Today, four technology giants are part of the race for the best virtual reality headset – Oculus, PlayStation, HTC, and Valve. Each of these has different features, all with the same goal – to take you to a different place. 

We’ve picked and reviewed the best VR headset for each category, providing you with the opportunity to narrow down the right one effortlessly.

Take a look at the best VR sets, check their main features, their fors and againsts, and decide for yourself whether purchasing them will be worth it. 

Buy if:

It’s your first-ever VR headset, and you want a lightweight and easy-to-use VR set.

Don’t buy if:

You don’t want to use a Facebook account, or you often experience motion sickness. 

1. Oculus Quest 2 – Best Self-Contained VR 

  • Price: $299
  • Availability: Released
  • Wireless: Yes
  • Required Equipment: None

Oculus Quest 2 will do an excellent job for most people! It doesn’t require any expensive equipment like its competitor VR headsets. In fact, it doesn’t require any extra equipment – which is why we consider it the best self-contained VR.

This VR set allows you to move as you want, and you won’t have any cables tanging around you either. It’s also lighter than most VR headsets, allowing you a comfortable augmented experience. 

This virtual reality headset has doubled resolution compared to its predecessor – 1920×1832, along with a faster and better RAM. You can even set the refresh rate at 90Hz, which is relatively high for any VR set. 

Oculus Quest 2 is packed with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 chipset and two motion controls for 6DOG head-and-hand tracking. 

And if you wish to pair it with your PC – you can do that too. However, you’d need to purchase the cable separately. Nevertheless, even by having to buy a cable – the Oculus Quest 2 is one of the best valued VR sets you can get for so little!

Buy if:

You’re looking for an affordable VR headset, are looking forward to a variety of game titles, or want a PC-like performance.

Don’t buy if:

You don’t want to buy your own accessories, are looking for a perfect sealing out light VR set, or want a fast motion control tracker. 

2. Sony PlayStation VR (PSVR) – Best Console VR Headset

  • Price:  Starting $299
  • Availability: Released
  • Wireless: No
  • Required Equipment: PS4 or PS5

The next on our best VR headset list is PlayStation’s VR set. For the same price as the Oculus Quest 2, you get a wired VR headset that you can use with your favorite game console. 

The PSVR is mounted on the head, and it’s the only VR set that provides the VR experience for game consoles. Its screen provides a startling level of immersion, even though it’s not the newest piece of tech you can get ahold of. The variety of VR games is also a huge plus. 

Sony has made its PSVR set years back, and it’s mainly compatible with PS4. You will be able to use your PS5, though, but if that is your primary goal – you might want to wait a little bit more for the upcoming release of the next-gen PSVR. We’re only mentioning this as you’ll have to use PS4 controllers, a camera, and a camera adapter to make it work for the PS5.

Nevertheless, given that we don’t know when PSVR 2 will be released, and you’re looking for a VR headset to use with your game console – this is the one! 

You should also be aware that Sony doesn’t always sell its VR sets with all its gadgets included. Some include the controllers, while others don’t – which is why you have to make sure what you will be getting in the box before purchasing. 

Buy if:

You wish to use knuckle controllers, and you want a wide field of view.

Don’t buy if:

You don’t own a premium GPU PC or if you aren’t up for spending some extra bucks for a VR set.

3. Valve Index – Gamers’ Best VR Set

  • Price: $999 and Up
  • Availability: Frequently unavailable
  • Wireless: No
  • Required Equipment: PC 

 

Valve Index might seem pricey when compared to other VR headsets – but the value it provides is unprecedented! The finger tracking controllers alongside the two SteamVR base stations will introduce gamers to a whole new level of entertainment. 

This next-gen VR headset has a fantastic field of view, a high refresh rate of 120Hz, and astonishing knuckle controllers that keep up with the movement of your fingers! The top-tier resolution allows for great eye comfort too.

However, you will need a high-end PC to use the Valve Index VR set, and the setup is not as easy as one would hope. You will need to install the sensors at two opposing corners of the room and wire the VR to your PC. 

On the positive side, though, if you are an HTC Vive or Vive Cosmos Elite owner, you can only buy the Valve Index controllers, and you’ll be able to use them without spending as much money on the whole thing. 

Valve Index

Buy if:

You’re looking forward to high res experience, a wide field of view, and access to top-tier game titles.

Don’t buy if:

You don’t want to spend as much, you want a VR set that doesn’t get heated, or if you want to skip the whole tangled cables deal.

4. HTC Vive Pro 2 – Best Quality Virtual Reality Headset

  • Price: $1,399
  • Availability: Released
  • Wireless: No
  • Required Equipment: High-end PC

HTC Vive Pro 2 is definitely the most expensive VR headset you’ll ever see, but that comes with its advantages too! 

We never thought that a VR set could look so good, and we can only thank HTC for proving us wrong. The 5k screen and the 120Hz refresh rate make this VR headset the best quality VR you’ll find on the market. 

The HTC Vive Pro 2 box contains the VR headset, two SteamVR sensors, and the wand controllers. The installation won’t be easy, but it’s definitely worth it. 

We’re a little bit surprised that the VR set is wired – one would think that you can be cable-free at such a high price range. However, if you can overlook the cable situation, you’ll be treating your eyes with 2448×2448 resolution! 

We think it’s safe to say it will be money well spent. And if you’d like to spend less and still get this magnificent VR set, you can grab the headset only, which comes at $799, and use other types of controllers. 

5. Oculus Quest – Best Standalone Headset

  • Price: $399
  • Availability: Discontinued
  • Wireless: Yes
  • Required Equipment: Mobile device

Even though Oculus has released its second-generation model, people are still talking about Oculus Quest – and they might have a valid reason to.

The mobile experience that Oculus Quest offers is what most buyers are after, while the game availability is not to be overlooked either.

It’s a wireless virtual reality headset, a universal fit for all rooms, and it offers six degrees of freedom. This VR headset with controllers is still favored among VR lovers, and the OLED screen does it justice with a 1444×1600 resolution per eye. 

The only downside is that it has a slight light leakage, and the battery doesn’t last for more than 2 hours.

The Quest is sold together with 2 controllers, which are powered by AA batteries. 

Buy if: You want an older and less expensive wireless VR headset, passthrough cameras, and upgraded motion controllers.

Don’t buy if: You want a long-lasting battery, comfortable gaming sessions, or you simply don’t want to use AA batteries.

6. Oculus Rift S – Best VR Headset for PC

  • Price: $399
  • Availability: Discontinued
  • Wireless: No
  • Required Equipment: PC

The Oculus Rift S comes with a $399 price tag, and we find it to be one of the best VR headsets you can find for a PC. 

You can connect the VR headset with your laptop or your desktop using a USB 3.0 port and a DisplayPort connection. 

While Oculus Rift S is wired and limits your movements, it does enable more details than the wireless VR headsets. 

The setup is as easy as it gets – there are no external tracking stations, and the visuals are rather mesmerizing. 

Unfortunately, the Oculus Rift S is no longer in production. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t purchase it. In fact, some retailers are not out of stock just yet. 

Buy if: You don’t want to have external tracking hubs and immense visuals.

Don’t buy if: You want a high refresh rate or high performance.

Oculus Rift

VR Headset Reviews: Buyers’ Opinion
Read More
While researching VR sets or looking for the best VR headsets, one of the things we like to do is check the buyers’ opinions. There’s nothing better than direct feedback from someone who used the device before. This is us reminding you to look for real user reviews for the VR set that caught your eye and see it through someone else’s experience.
Bottom line is, you don’t necessarily have to agree with what others say; however, you might find some of the insights to be useful.

Final Verdict

It’s no secret that the number of VR headsets available for regular customers is not as high as other tech gadgets. However, the decision on which VR set to buy is not as simple as it might seem. 

 

That being said, while looking for the best virtual reality headset – you should look for the one that can fulfill your needs. While some will be looking for long-lasting batteries and comfortable wear, others are into quality resolution and high refresh rate, or both!

 

Before making the final decision, you should not forget to check the game compatibility, and you should always be wary of hidden costs. Look into the VR set and see whether it comes with all the required cables, controllers, base stations, cameras, and adapters that you might need in order to use the VR headset.

FAQs

If you Google “best VR headset 2021” right now, you’ll be able to see different opinions on which is the best virtual reality headset available today.

 

Sadly, the answer is not one-size-fits-all, as the best VR set for you doesn’t have to mean it’s the best for everyone else. The same works the other way around, which is why you have to know what you’re looking for before deciding which VR headset you’re going to buy. 

 

There are a few key features that you must decide on: 

 

  • Whether you want a wired or a wireless VR headset.
  • Whether you will use a PC, a mobile device, or a game console.
  • The kind of controllers you wish to have.
  • Your budget.

 

Once you’ve got an answer to these questions, you’ll have a clearer image of what kind of VR headset you’re after.

Jeff Pitterman

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