After combing through the Internet, we've compiled a list of the top 10 VR headsets; our top pick is the Oculus Quest 2 for its high resolution, refresh rate, and field of view that brings you the most realistic experience. The other products on our list might also pique your interest, so read on to know what they are! Plus, there is a buying guide at the end with various tips to help you choose a product that works the best for you.
When researching this article, we realized we wanted to talk to someone in the VR industry who was both a consumer and insider, who buys and plays around with headsets as an excited fan, but who’s also caught up on all the newest trends and developments. And so we interviewed Tony, the SkarredGhost.
But all of that comes with a cost. First off, it’s the most expensive–pretty much always an upwards of $300. And that doesn’t even include the cost of the powerful PC and graphics card you’ll need to own to run the software. (The Vive Pro, for example, demands at least a GTX 1060 or RX 480–and the newer, the better.)
It also requires the most setup–whether that be of external cameras used to track the player’s movements or a huge cable connecting you to your desktop that might limit movement.
Still, if you're looking for great graphics, PC headsets are the way to go since they can reach higher frame rates in comparison to consoles. Also, if you don't want to be tied down to your console or computer, go for a wireless headset!
Console headsets are designed to elevate your console gaming experience. Even though they cannot provide graphics as clean as the PC type, they are more affordable. Setting up should be self-explanatory as well since you'll just need to plug the headset into your gaming console.
Also, keep in mind that console headsets are usually sold as a peripheral device to a specific game console. This is a plus point since you won't have to worry about any hardware compatibility problem.
For instance, if you own a PlayStation console, you'll need a PSVR headset. We think the PSVR is user-friendly and a good match for middle-class consumers, but it does have one big weakness, as Tony mentions below.
Set-up is also pretty easy; you just strap your phone into the cardboard ones or plug them into the fancier headsets. The problem with VR headsets for smartphones is that not all of them work for both iOS and Android devices. So check carefully what operating system the VR headset is compatible with before making a decision!
Of course, you have to fit all of that processing power into a device light and small enough to go on your head, so the graphics aren’t going to be as crisp, the movement not as smooth.
The image quality produced by a VR headset is determined by the resolution per eye. Basically, resolution per eye is the number of pixels that the VR headset can display and is shown as a pixel width x a pixel height.
Sometimes, the product listings might use a combined resolution instead of a resolution per eye. But they can be calculated from each other and technically describe the same thing. For an immersive experience, you'll want products with a resolution per eye of at least 1080×1200 per eye (or 2160x1200 pixels combined).
Some high-end models such as HTC Vive Pro and Oculus Quest feature a resolution of 1440x1600 pixels per eye (or 2880x1600 pixels combined). And currently, Reverb G2 is the VR headset with the highest resolution at 2160x2160 pixels per eye, which totals more than a 4K resolution when combined (3840x2160 pixels).
As for the display, it can be either LCD (liquid crystal display) or OLED (organic light-emitting display). Generally speaking, OLED will give you richer, saturated colors and cleaner images. LCDs, however, offer brighter images.
However, LCD technology is still evolving. If you look at newer LCD screens, oftentimes, they change colors just as quickly and look almost as good as OLED displays.
90Hz will give you fluid motion and it's also the lowest value where you won't experience flickering. Some models such as the Valve Index have a refresh rate of up to 144Hz to bring you a highly responsive gaming experience. But a high refresh rate tends to reduce the battery life substantially.
If you need to compromise, try not to go below 60Hz. If the game lags too much, your brain gets confused. You would turn your head, only to have the system update the visuals two seconds later–the perfect recipe for motion sickness.
The wider the field of view (FOV), the more real the environment feels. Humans have a monocular FOV of about 170 - 175 degrees (what you see through separate eyes) and a binocular FOV of around 100 - 110 degrees (what you see through both eyes at the same time)–this overlapping area is where we have depth perception.
In an ideal world, your entire field of view–including the monocular–is covered by your VR headset. However, it takes a lot of computing power to provide that much image in high quality.
That is why devices out now aim to cover just your binocular FOV. After all, we see only a tiny, focused region in high resolution, and our peripheral vision is blurry. So, with current technology, we would say a FOV of 100 degrees is a good threshold for an immersive VR experience as it's basically the same as our binocular FOV.
Some headsets offer a huge play area and can now follow your movements across a space–this is known as room-scale VR (room-scale virtual reality). We hardly need to talk about how much more immersive the experience is if you can use your own two legs to move around.
For a high-quality room-scale VR, headsets use either an inside-out or an outside-in tracking system. In inside-out tracking, motion trackers and sensors are attached to the headset itself, offering you more freedom and mobility.
However, this type of tracking needs good computer vision, and this technology is actually lagging behind the outside-in tracking.
On the other hand, outside-in tracking needs external cameras and sensors. Setup is, therefore, more of a pain, because you have to position the sensors or cameras in such a way that they can keep track of you across the entire play area. If you move out of a camera's view, you will break your immersive experience.
Still, compared to inside-out tracking, outside-in tracking provides better latency and also accuracy. You're also less likely to experience nausea.
But there are a few other things you can consider when looking at content. Do the manufacturers have any partnerships? Vive, for example, works with Steam, which is an extensive game library.
Moreover, do you like any of the games currently available on the device? Not only can you play those, but you can also look forward to sequels in the future.
Sometimes, peripherals can be game-changing. Some VR headsets still use gamepads, which are fun, but many new controllers are streaming onto the market, such as motion-tracking wands. The more streamlined the design is, the more real everything feels.
The Tracker for the Vive, for example, looks like a big hockey puck. You attach it to things, which it automatically turns into a controller. You can stick it onto a racket and play a virtual game of tennis, for example. Or you can mount it on a gun, and where you point the gun, your digital crosshairs will follow.
Also, check if the headset comes with integrated audio. If not, you will have to plug in separate headphones. If you’re an audiophile, you might prefer this because then you can use your own high-end audio system. But it is extra weight on your head.
Integrated audio systems will be much more comfortable, and while the sound isn’t topnotch, it’s good enough for a believable VR experience.
If, for example, you need to read a text message, or respond quickly to something in the real world–a strange sound, for instance–you can do so without taking off your headset. It also opens up lots of gaming and programming possibilities, where you can digitally manipulate the real world in whatever way you wish.
To help you get started on your search, we've narrowed down the 10 VR headsets that are well-loved by consumers. They all have different specs and features, so read on to see which product fits your needs the most.
Image | 1 ![]() Oculus | 2 ![]() HTC | 3 ![]() Samsung Electronics | 4 ![]() Oculus | 5 ![]() PlayStation | 6 ![]() Merge | 7 ![]() DESTEK | 8 ![]() | 9 ![]() HTC | 10 ![]() |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Oculus Quest 2 | HTC VIVE Pro Virtual Reality System | Samsung HMD Odyssey+ | Rift S PC-Powered VR Gaming Headset | Sony PlayStation VR | VR Headset | V5 VR Headset | Daydream View HR Headset | Vive Cosmos Elite Virtual Reality System | Official Cardboard |
Features | Sharp Image Quality for an Immersive Experience | Superior Graphics and Tracking | High Resolution and Wide Viewing Angle | Pass-Through Feature to Display the World Realistically | Solid, Believable Graphics and a Compelling Library of Games | Comfortable Cardboard-Type VR for Kids | Anti-Blue Light Lenses to Protect Your Eyes | Cushy and Breathable, with Decent Content | Convenient Flip-Up Design | Simple and Sturdy Headset Perfect for Testing Out VR |
Price | $299.00 | $1,199.01 | $799.99 | $299.00 | $298.84 | $49.99 | $55.99 | $88.00 | $899.00 | $25.00 |
Headset type | Standalone | PC | Console | PC | Console | Smartphone | Smartphones | Smartphone | PC | Smartphone |
Field of view | 92º | 110° | 110º | 110º | 100° | Not provided | 110° | 100° | 110° | Not provided |
Refresh rate | 90 Hz | 90 Hz | 60 - 90 Hz | 80 Hz | 90 - 120 Hz | Not provided | 56 - 72 Hz | 60 Hz | 90 Hz | Not provided |
Resolution per eye | 1832x1920 px | 1440x1600 px | 1440x1600 px | 1280x1440 px | 1080x960 px | Not provided | - | - | 1440x1700 px | Not provided |
Peripherals | 2 touch controllers | 2 controllers | 2 wireless controllers | 2 Oculus Touch controllers | Stereo headphones, processor unit | Not provided | - | - | 2 controllers | Not provided |
Link |
$299.00
Headset type | Standalone |
---|---|
Field of view | 92º |
Refresh rate | 90 Hz |
Resolution per eye | 1832x1920 px |
Peripherals | 2 touch controllers |
$1,199.01
Headset type | PC |
---|---|
Field of view | 110° |
Refresh rate | 90 Hz |
Resolution per eye | 1440x1600 px |
Peripherals | 2 controllers |
$799.99
Headset type | Console |
---|---|
Field of view | 110º |
Refresh rate | 60 - 90 Hz |
Resolution per eye | 1440x1600 px |
Peripherals | 2 wireless controllers |
$299.00
Headset type | PC |
---|---|
Field of view | 110º |
Refresh rate | 80 Hz |
Resolution | 1280x1440 px |
Peripherals | 2 Oculus Touch controllers |
$298.84
Headset type | Console |
---|---|
Field of view | 100° |
Refresh rate | 90 - 120 Hz |
Resolution per eye | 1080x960 px |
Peripherals | Stereo headphones, processor unit |
$49.99
Headset type | Smartphone |
---|---|
Field of view | Not provided |
Refresh rate | Not provided |
Resolution per eye | Not provided |
Peripherals | Not provided |
$55.99
Headset type | Smartphones |
---|---|
Field of view | 110° |
Refresh rate | 56 - 72 Hz |
Resolution per eye | - |
Peripherals | - |
MAIN-62303
$88.00
Headset type | Smartphone |
---|---|
Field of view | 100° |
Refresh rate | 60 Hz |
Resolution per eye | - |
Peripherals | - |
$899.00
Headset type | PC |
---|---|
Field of view | 110° |
Refresh rate | 90 Hz |
Resolution per eye | 1440x1700 px |
Peripherals | 2 controllers |
2 pack
$25.00
Headset type | Smartphone |
---|---|
Field of view | Not provided |
Refresh rate | Not provided |
Resolution per eye | Not provided |
Peripherals | Not provided |
Are you a die-hard VR gamer? We've got many interesting games to keep you entertained! So check out our articles to know what they are.
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