Best VR headsets 2021: Oculus Quest 2, PSVR, Valve Index
A woman wearing the Oculus Quest 2, one of the best VR headsets.
(Image credit: Oculus/Facebook)
PRICE
VERDICT
REASONS TO BUY
REASONS TO AVOID
VERDICT
REASONS TO BUY
REASONS TO AVOID
Finding the best VR headsets of 2021 isn't as easy as it looks. The competition is fierce, with untethered headsets like the Oculus Quest 2 going up against PC-based systems, like the Valve Index. We are already hearing rumors about the helmet
PSVR 2
and the
Oculus Quest 3
, which will shake things up even more.
There are four main players when it comes to the best VR headsets, at least in terms of consumer products: Oculus, which recently released the new
Oculus Quest 2< /p>
; PlayStation, which has its helmet
PSVR
; HTC, which is behind the Vive and Vive Pro; and Valve, which released its own first-party headset called
Valve Index
in 2019.
The decision to buy a VR headset can be difficult. The silver lining is that all of these options have great things to offer users - VR newbies and veterans alike. Not only are there more options than ever, but the quality continues to rise, making this the perfect time for consumers to invest. It's all about finding the best VR headsets for you, your space, your needs, and your budget.
There's a lot to consider, but we're here to help. We've picked the best VR headsets below for different types of tech enthusiasts, from headsets ideal for wireless virtual experiences with a small space and modest budget to a PS5 VR experience to match your new next-gen console. or the best of - the best PC-powered device that knows no bounds.
Choosing the best VR headsets
Not all VR headsets are created equal, however, and not all VR games or experiences are available on all headsets. If your heart is to play one
virtual reality game
specific one you've heard a lot of good about, you'll need a headset that connects to a PC, for example - and you'll need that high-end PC too.
VR software libraries overlap a lot between devices, and some wireless headsets, like the Oculus Quest 2, can optionally be connected to a PC via cable to expand the titles they have access to.
You'll also need to factor price into your decision (which can make PlayStation VR terribly appealing) and you'll need to consider where in your house - or even outside your house, potentially - you want to use the headset.
PS5 vs. Xbox Series X
: Which console should you buy?
The best VR prices and offers
Best VR Games
: the best virtual reality games to play right now
Best Oculus Quest and Oculus Quest 2 Games
Best VR Headset 2021
(Image credit: Valve)
The best VR headset: Valve Index p>
Best of the best VR headsets - but good luck getting one
Specifications
Availablity:
Released, but often out of stock< /p>
Price:
$999 / £919 / around AU$1425
BEST DEALS OF THE DAY
Prime
$1399.99< /p>
See on Amazon
Prime
$1,429.99
See on Amazon
Reasons to buy
+
Widest field of vision
+
Knuckle Controllers
Reasons to avoid
-
Requires a high-end GPU
-
always expensive
There's no doubt that the Valve Index is the next generation VR headset folks are clamoring: it has an ultra-sharp display that works well enough even with older GPUs, a wider field of view, a higher refresh rate high and Valve's "knuckle" controllers, which can follow the movement of each finger. That's why, at least for now, it's our best VR headset for 2021 and our best VR headset for PC owners.
There's no doubt that the Valve Index will be our default VR headset going forward. It's a significant upgrade from the HTC Vive and runs much smoother than the Vive Pro, a powerful VR headset that really struggled to deliver on the promise of high-end VR at the scale of the room.
And yet, while the Valve Index was one of the best VR headsets to date, it brought along some of the most annoying aspects of virtual reality.
Installation can be painful, updates can cause connection issues, and you might find a new error the next time you use it. You will also need one of the best
laptop
- this is not a standalone headset like the others in this list.
But, if you can look past those issues, it's a pretty good VR headset. Its higher resolution screen and better refresh rate allowed us to use it for longer periods of time without discomfort, and the index controllers are a real step up from those that come with the Vive.
It's expensive, of course, and stock can be extremely hard to come by.
Valve CEO Gabe Newell
said the components needed for the helmet made in Wuhan, China, were not readily available. available during the pandemic, so that doesn't seem to be changing anytime soon.
For gamers who want next-level VR, and don't mind waiting for supply to resume, the Valve Index is a decision you likely won't regret. If not, we recommend checking out one of the other options below...
Read the full review:
Valve Index
(Image credit: Oculus)< /p>
The best standalone VR headset: Oculus Quest 2
An all-in-one virtual reality system for everyone
Specifications
Availablity :
Available now
Price:
£299 / $299 / AUD479
BEST DEALS OF THE DAY
Prime
$375
See on Amazon
$509.99
See on Amazon
Prime
$547
See on Amazon
Reasons to buy
+
Incredibly immersive experiences
+p>
Comfortable weight
+
Easy to use
Reasons to avoid
-
Requires linking with a Facebook account
-
Can still cause motion sickness
If you're looking for a VR headset that doesn't need to be hooked up to an expensive PC and offers plenty of movement and freedom, then the Quest 2 is the best VR headset for you.
In fact, for the majority of people, it's the best VR headset on the list for a whole host of reasons. It's a significant improvement over the original Quest, with a more responsive experience thanks to improved RAM and chip specs, and a higher resolution display that's 50% sharper than its predecessor.
Developers now have the ability to make their games run at 90Hz (important for increased comfort and realism while gaming), and the headset itself is also lighter than before. Hand tracking - which came to the original Quest via a firmware update, but is built into the Quest 2 from the start - is also impressive.
There's nothing quite like the thrill of wireless virtual reality. Games like Robo Recall and Beat Saber should still surprise, and in a time of social isolation, turning YouTube VR into your own personal IMAX screen is a welcome distraction from the madness of the outside world.
Although the Oculus Quest 2 is our top pick for best wireless, standalone VR headset, the original
OculusQuest
is still a great choice if you're looking for a tetherless VR headset that doesn't need an expensive computer to power it. The Quest 2 could come with a significant upgrade, but the original still features an OLED display panel with 1440 x 1600 resolution per eye and is powered by a Snapdragon 835 processor. Also expect to see a
Oculus Quest 3
Before a long time.
Read the full review:
Oculus Quest 2 p>
Best VR for console gamers: PlayStation VR
Virtual reality has arrived on consoles, and it's breathtaking
Specifications
Availability: p>
Available now
Price:
$299 / £259 / AU$655
BEST DEALS OF THE DAY
$199.99 p>
See at Walmart
$373.99
See at Walmart
Prime
$415
See on Amazon
See all prices (42 found)
746 Amazon customer reviews
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
Reasons to buy
+
Affordable
+
Performance close to PC quality
+
Good selection of games
Reasons to avoid
-
Missing the required accessories in the box
-
Poor light sealing job
-
Tracked Irregular Motion Controller
There's no denying that to run the HTC Vive, HTC Vive Pro, or Oculus Rift, you need a fairly high-end gaming PC, which isn't a trivial investment for most people.
This is not the case with the
Playstation-VR
from Sony, which requires little more than a< /p>
PS4
console to run. So if you already have a PS4 console or
PS5
, this is by far the best VR headset for you.
Considering the significant difference in power between the PS4 and the PC, the PlayStation VR is a surprisingly capable VR headset. Its refresh rate is responsive and we had no issues with the reliability of its head tracking.
Google teaches us how to make a working VR headset out of $21 and a cardboard pizza box, on @The404 http://t.co/F2NjKIbqmO
— CNET Thu Jun 26 20:05:31 +0000 2014
Thanks to the support of Sony, the collection of
PlayStation VR Games
is also impressive. There were dozens available at launch, and many more followed in its first year on sale.
Sony has addressed one of our biggest objections with PlayStation VR - that its accessories are sold separately - by offering a variety of bundles and
PlayStation VR Bundle
with devices like the included PlayStation Camera. However, PlayStation Move controllers, although included in some bundles, are not in all.
While you should be aware of the extra cost involved, depending on which bundle you choose, recent price drops have made PlayStation VR even more affordable. It may not be the best VR headset, but the PSVR is definitely a strong selling point for users and some will find it to be the best for them right now.
Although it has been advertised, we do not. I don't know when or in what form a model
PSVR 2
will be released, so the original headset remains the best VR headset option for 2021.
Read the full review:
Playstation-VR
(Image credit: Oculus)
Cinema on PC: Oculus Rift S
More Oculus Rift 1.5 than a true successor
Specifications
Availablity:
Available now
Price:
$399 / £399 / AU$649
BEST DEALS OF THE DAY
$409
See on Amazon
$419
See on Amazon
$511.98
See at Walmart
16 Amazon customer reviews
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
Reasons to buy
+
No external tracking stations p>
+
Improved visuals
Reasons to avoid
-
Reduced refresh rate
-
likely to crash
Virtual reality has come in leaps and bounds since Oculus founder (and controversial VR poster) Palmer Luckey first introduced the world to the Oculus Rift.
in 2012. Now owned by Facebook, the Oculus Rift S should represent the next leap forward for the company's high-end PC-based virtual reality experiences - but, sadly, it's more of a small step.
Like the Oculus Rift, the Rift S works in tandem with a PC to deliver virtual reality experiences. It connects to your PC via a USB 3.0 port and a DisplayPort connection, and is attached to the machine by a long cable that's more than enough to accommodate the "room-scale" experiences that Rift S is capable of. provide. It's more limiting in terms of freedom of movement than superb wireless
OculusQuest
, but the trade-off here is that, by being powered by your PC, it's able to power more detailed and dynamic experiences.
The good news for early adopters is that, to reduce frustration, Oculus has made the Rift S fully backward compatible with original Rift titles, and is making the Rift compatible with the vast majority of games released for the Rift S and Oculus Quest. with a few minor exceptions.
This has long been one of the best VR headsets to buy if you have a PC - it still outperforms the original Oculus Rift. It's easier to set up, potentially more comfortable to wear, has a much more robust library of games than at launch, and improved resolution. But, unfortunately, Oculus had to sacrifice higher sound and refresh rate to do so.
UPDATE:
In July 2021, Oculus announced that the Oculus Rift S is now
is no longer available for purchase.
At the time of writing, you can still get stock at select retailers that haven't already sold out, but they're officially no longer sold after they were discontinued earlier in the year.
Read the full review:
Oculus Rift S
Best VR headset 2021: Which VR headset should I buy?
Choosing the best VR headset for you will mostly come down to price, platform, and your preferences. There are no headsets for console gamers aside from PlayStation VR and, if you need a standalone headset, you're basically stuck with the Oculus Quest or Quest 2 - that's not a bad thing .
At the moment, the four best VR headset lines on the market - the Valve Index, HTC Vive, Oculus Quest 2 and PlayStation VR - are unsurprisingly the most expensive of all consumer VR headset offerings.
However, there are cheaper VR options if you'd rather dip your toes into virtual reality before spending your entire paycheck on one of the best VR headsets above. It's also worth noting that the Oculus Quest 2 has also seen a downward price trend compared to its predecessor, suggesting that as the scale of VR audience increases, the Hardware prices will also slowly decline.
Each of the best VR headsets has its own strengths and weaknesses, and if you don't know them before buying, it could be a very costly mistake to make. But that's exactly why we've put together this guide.
HTC Vive Pro vs. HTC Vive
: should you upgrade to high-end headphones?
With many offering different experiences, different hardware, different requirements, and plenty of great deals, choosing the best VR headset for you can make things even more complicated.
The good news for those serious about getting the best VR headset experience is that the industry has made real strides in terms of making standalone headsets nearly as powerful as their high-end PC counterparts. Thanks to increased competition between the big three helmet manufacturers, they have made most of their helmets much more affordable than they were three years ago. Translation? Choosing the best VR headset for you is now easier than ever.
Other VR Headsets to Consider
The VR headset space is more like the game console space than the headset or phone space. What we mean by that is that there aren't dozens (if not hundreds) of different brands to choose from when creating VR headsets - at least not yet - like there are. if you needed a new smartphone or a pair of noise canceling headphones.< /p>
Instead, there are a few core brands with immersive reality teams, hardware know-how, and software intelligence to create truly wonderful VR experiences. This means that if you don't choose one of the VR headsets above, it makes sense to look at previous headsets released by top VR brands instead.
You won't necessarily find all of these helmets. buy on the company's website. But many are still available for purchase through tech retailers or used, through sites like Ebay.
(Image credit: oculus)
OculusQuest
The successor to the
OculusQuest
, the Oculus Quest 2, is one of our best VR headsets of 2021. But that doesn't mean the Oculus Quest isn't still a viable VR option if you want to try a standalone headset that delivers a truly mobile.
Also, the Oculus Quest 2 may be the superior headset, but the upgrades between the first and second model weren't as significant as you'd expect. With the Quest, you still get an all-in-one virtual reality system that works out of the box and offers six degrees of freedom and a huge selection of apps and games.
(Image credit: oculus/ facebook)
Oculus Rift
Upon its release, the
Oculus Rift
seems to be a game changer. One of the first VR headsets to prove that VR could be a highly immersive and enjoyable experience - one that even people with the right PC setup could enjoy at home.
This has changed now the original Oculus Rift is nearly five years old and has since been overtaken by the
Oculus Rift S
. Although the Rift S already follows in the footsteps of the original Rift
after being abandoned
.
Although since the launch of the original Oculus Rift, there have been a number of competing VR headsets launched, including headsets from Oculus itself, such as the Oculus Rift S or the standalone Quest and Quest 2. , the original Oculus Rift is still a very capable VR headset for gaming, and now it's no longer officially available from Oculus, you can find some great deals.
(Image credit: htc)
HTC Vive
First launched in 2016, the
HTC Vive
was one of the first premium VR headsets available to consumers. And, for a long time after, it was the king of consumer VR technology.
Fast forward to 2021 and a lot has changed. Now, there are several VR headset options you can buy right now. Since the launch of that original HTC Vive, HTC has also launched a number of new VR headsets, including the
HTC Vive Cosmos
and
HTC Vive Cosmos Elite
.
Plus, there's likely to be an upgrade to the HTC Vive we're reviewing here just around the corner.
A senior HTC official said
the company plans to produce a new standalone wireless VR headset in 2021 that's "probably better than what's out there today from any vendor."
But that's not to say the original HTC Vive isn't still a solid option to start your VR journey - it's just worth considering that it's a few years older than some of the newer models coming in. on the market.
What are the best mobile VR headsets?
Mobile VR is a term used to describe a VR experience powered by your phone. Basically, you get an app on your phone that shows you VR content, then you put your phone in a mobile VR headset.
For many people, it's a quick, easy and very inexpensive way to try out VR and can be a great first step in exploring what's possible. If you're not ready to commit to one of the best VR headsets - or if you're not even sure you're interested in VR - consider
mobile virtual reality
as the
Samsung GearVR
or go for a truly lo-fi experience with
Google Cardboard
.
(Image credit: samsung)
However, since these VR experiences are powered by your phone rather than fantastic high-end hardware, that means they can't compare to the experience you'd get from one of the best VR headsets. above. This means that if you're looking for a cheap and easy way to try virtual reality, this is a solid option. But don't let the sheer experience and - sometimes - grainy images put you off for good.
What are the best augmented reality headsets?
Currently, there are a number of augmented reality headsets on the market. But very few are intended for regular consumers.
Many of the best augmented reality headsets, like the
Microsoft Hololens 2
, are available for purchase, but the focus seems to be more on augmented reality for a business or commercial environment, such as the
Microsoft HoloLens 2 Industrial Edition
, which is an untethered mixed reality device designed and tested for use in regulated industrial environments and
Google Glass Enterprise Edition 2.
But we expect that to change soon and you'll be able to get one of the best augmented reality headsets for occasional home use, just like the best VR headsets from our list above.
One of the reasons we're so confident about the future of augmented reality headsets is that big tech brands are pouring a lot of time, energy, and resources into new AR offerings right now. Take the example of Apple, it's no secret Apple is working on an augmented reality and virtual reality product - currently called
Apple Glass and Apple VR
.
Best VR headset 2021: The
best VR games
to play on your VR headset
Summary of today's best deals
Reduced price
Valve Index VR Complete Kit
valve index
Amazon
$1,479.99
$1399.99
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Oculus Quest 2 — Advanced...
Oculus Quest 2
Amazon
$375
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Marvel's Iron Man VR -.. .
Sony PlayStation VR
walmart
$349.99
$199.99
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Oculus Rift S VR powered by PC...
Oculus Rift S
Amazon
$409
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