The Best VR Headsets Reviewed
Diving into virtual reality is easier than ever — but here are a few key things to know.
VIRTUAL REALITY WAS supposed to be the next big thing back in 2016 when the original Oculus Rift and HTC Vive launched. It was the tech whose time had finally arrived. Or so we thought. As it turned out, VR was still a little too expensive and perhaps too alienating to take over the gaming world. But now that everyone is talking about the metaverse, there’s a spotlight on the VR scene. There are new apps and games, new hardware, and even new use cases.
Our top pick, the Meta Quest 2 (née Oculus), is now just as useful as a work device as it is for recreation. But things are still a bit up in the air as Meta has announced a price hike for the Quest 2, an unprecedented move that doesn’t speak well of its confidence in the platform. Regardless, it’s an interesting time to be getting into VR.
Tethered or Wireless VR?
Before we dive deep, there’s one question you need to answer: Do you want a tethered or wireless headset? Tethered VR gives you more graphical detail because you’re hooked up to a PC. The disadvantage is that you’re, well, hooked up to a PC. There’s no getting around the fact that cables are awkward to deal with, especially when you can’t see them. You’ll likely trip on them at some point too. But if you’re looking for absolutely top-of-the-line graphics, and you already shelled out for a great gaming PC or laptop, then you’ll want to go tethered.
For most people, myself included, wirefree VR is a much better option. It’s more comfortable, you don’t have to worry about getting tangled up in your own cables, and it’s totally portable. You can bring this kind of VR headset to any room in the house without having to lug around a PC. Plus, in the case of the Meta Quest 2, you can plug it into a PC if you want the extra graphical horsepower. Below, we feature both kinds of headsets. Take a look.
Best Overall
The Meta Quest 2 — the successor to the Oculus Quest, originally called the Oculus Quest 2 — delivers great resolution in a lightweight body. It was built to be completely wirefree, but you can plug it into a powerful gaming rig with a single USB-C cable and experience the kind of ultrahigh-definition VR you can only get from dedicated PC hardware. It’s also great for work. With Horizon Workrooms, you can set up your own little space away from the office and even invite coworkers to hang out and collaborate. It has the best-in-class app store, full of games and apps purpose-built for the Quest 2. Unfortunately, the Meta Quest 2 has gotten a price hike, which is concerning. I’ve never seen a game console or device go up in price after being on the market for a few years–unless it comes with some kind of upgrade, like the Nintendo Switch OLED. It’s troubling and doesn’t speak well of Meta’s confidence in the platform. There are other drawbacks too. Namely, the company behind it all is Meta (aka Facebook). You might not like that, given Facebook’s less-than-stellar history of managing user data (not to mention how that data is used). If you’re in the market for a VR headset, the Meta Quest 2 is still our top pick. Just try not to buy too many things from the Meta Store; stick to purchases on a more stable marketplace, like Steam (which supports the Quest 2). On the plus side, you no longer need a Facebook account to sign into the Meta ecosystem. Sort of like on Instagram, you’ll be able to sign in with a Meta account that is completely separate from the Facebook social network. This is the account you’ll use for purchasing games and managing your library. For social aspects that were once paired with Facebook, you can create — alongside your Meta account — a Meta Horizons account. This is the one you’ll use to connect with friends and share content on Facebook and Instagram. This is good news, but I’d still advise caution. The data is all going to the same place, so if you have hangups about Facebook, it might be a good idea to skip the Horizons side of things.Supports room-scale VR, can operate with or without a PC, and comes with two controllers.
HTC Vive Flow
Best for Casual VR
The Vive Flow is an interesting VR headset, in part because it’s not really a VR headset. It’s more like a pair of giant, super-thick VR glasses you can slip on to meditate in a virtual space, watch a movie or show, or socialize with friends or colleagues virtually. It’s nice for short and casual jaunts into VR. You’ll need a 10,000-mAh battery pack and a USB-C cable to power it, but it supports inside-out tracking, so there’s no need for any external sensors. It’s not as powerful as the Quest 2, so high-fidelity experiences are off the table for the moment, and it’s controlled via your Android smartphone — if you have an iPhone, you’re out of luck. You can check if your smartphone is supported here. It works with a limited number of apps on HTC’s Viveport store.
It helps that it’s super lightweight and portable enough to throw into a carry-on and use to watch movies on a flight. The design is by far my favorite out of any VR headset — it’s comfy to wear, you don’t have to mess with any head straps, and you can put it on even with your hair up in a bun or a ponytail. If you don’t care about beating your friend’s high score in Beat Saber, you’ll still feel plenty immersed with this pair of comfy VR goggles.
Room-scale, inside-out tracking, tethered to a battery pack.
BUY NOW HTC VIVA FLOW AT AMAZON
Other VR Headsets
Alternatives and Upcoming Gadgets
There are a few other options to know about when shopping for a VR headset. Check PlayStation VR 2: Sony teased it at CES 2022. Still no official word on when it’ll hit store shelves, but when it does, it’s going to feature a revamped design for improved comfort and controllers that boast the same DualSense technology that makes the PS5 controller such a hit. Valve Index for $999: We haven’t tried the first VR headset from Valve, but the Index is another high-end option with a display resolution comparable to the Cosmos Elite. Unlike HTC’s headset, the Index does support inside-out tracking right out of the box and uses USB-C. It supports room-scale VR, requires a PC, and comes with two controllers and two base stations.
Headsets to Avoid
Not Worth Your Money
VR’s been around long enough that there are some headsets on the market that are either obsolete or are a little too expensive and cumbersome for what you get. We think our above picks will serve most people well, so avoid the following (unless they’re steeply discounted).
HTC Vive: One of the original VR headsets, the Vive was good when it came out but doesn’t quite stand up to modern offerings like the Quest 2.
HTC Cosmos Elite: I reviewed this headset in 2020. You need to manually set up the base stations, the controllers are bulky and awkward to use, and there are so many cables and dongles (including three power adapters) that it just feels like work. You need to hook it up to your gaming PC, allowing you to play SteamVR games. It’s visually spectacular, but the clunky design makes it hard to recommend.
Oculus Rift & Rift S: When the Quest 2 rolled out, Meta (then Oculus) agreed it was time to retire the Rift and Rift S. The Quest 2 does everything they did and way more.Google Daydream: This smartphone-powered VR headset didn’t live long. It’s now obsolete, like many of Google’s projects.
