High End
Want more information on VR Interactive Equipment? Feel free to contact us.
The absolute best-quality VR experiences can&#;t be powered by a mobile . The Oculus Rift, Valve and HTC&#;s Vive, and Sony PlayStation VR &#; the three high-end headsets we&#;re currently waiting for &#; all run off external computers or game consoles. This means that they can offer sophisticated features like motion tracking, high-resolution screens, and the best graphics possible. They&#;re also generally more comfortable, better at blocking outside light, and less prone to inducing motion sickness. But they won&#;t be released until later this year, and for now, they&#;re expensive and intended mostly for early adopters.
High End
By almost any metric, high-end headsets cost a lot. The Oculus Rift is $599, plus the still-unknown cost of its motion controllers. The HTC Vive is $799. The one headset that we don&#;t know anything about right now is PlayStation VR. Early price estimates for both the Rift and Vive were way off &#; people underestimated the former and overestimated the latter &#; so we&#;ll refrain from making any guesses on PSVR. But we know it&#;s going to be "several hundred dollars," and it&#;s not just a headset; there&#;s also a box that helps the PlayStation 4 process video. These prices will come down over time, but it&#;s hard to say how long that might take.
High-end headsets feature more complex and interactive experiences
High End
Most people have a desktop or laptop computer. But the only ones likely to own VR-ready PCs (sorry, no Macs for now) are film or video editors, big-budget video game fans, and other people who routinely need lots of processing power. To be clear, computers that don&#;t meet the Rift and Vive&#;s recommended specs might still be able to run some VR games and videos, which will vary in complexity and size. But to get a guaranteed good experience, expect to spend around $1,000 if you&#;re buying a new desktop &#; maybe a little less if you buy a combined headset and PC bundle. With PlayStation VR, though, the calculation is a lot simpler: all you need is a PlayStation 4 console.
High End
One of the big features you&#;re getting with high-end headsets is the ability to move or even walk through space. The standard way to do this &#; used by Oculus and Sony &#; is to put LEDs or some other set of markers on the headset, then track them with an external camera. This kind of positional tracking is very effective, but how far you can move in it depends on how much space the camera can capture. PlayStation VR mostly lets you lean, crouch, and shift around. The Rift can let you move a few feet in any direction, though we&#;ve only seen this done with multiple tracking cameras.
Unlike these, HTC&#;s Vive uses a laser tracking system that lets you walk around a 15 x 15-foot room. It&#;s by far the most freedom you&#;ll get from any headset, especially with a "chaperone" system that turns on a camera to show you when you&#;re getting close to an edge. But that also means you&#;ll need to install a high-powered computer next to a totally clear patch of floor. The Vive can work in smaller spaces as well, so it&#;s fine to buy if your house or apartment is a little more cramped. But it makes less sense to get the most expensive headset on the market if you&#;re not taking advantage of its biggest perk.
High End
Tethered headsets tend to be more focused on video games than the rest of the pool, and both the Oculus Rift and PlayStation VR make frequent use of gamepads. The Oculus Rift will ship with an Xbox One controller, which will be the primary method of using the system at launch. PSVR uses PlayStation 4 controllers for several experiences. But the thing that really sets these high-end headsets apart is their motion controllers, which let you do everything from play realistic virtual ping-pong to paint in three dimensions.
Sony already had its Move motion-tracking wands, and the PlayStation 4 gamepad has a light strip that tracking cameras can pick up as well. The Rift and Vive use their own specially designed controllers, and which one you prefer largely comes down to feel, since they have similar capabilities. But there are a couple of logistical concerns: the Rift&#;s controllers won&#;t come out until months after the headset is released, and the Vive only uses HTC and Valve&#;s motion wands &#; no traditional gamepads included.
All three headsets let you move around in physical space
High End
April is going to be a huge month for high-end headsets. The Oculus Rift ships at the end of March, and the HTC Vive ships shortly thereafter, marking the first two high-end headset launches. Many people, though, might be getting their orders closer to this summer. The Oculus Rift is heavily backordered, with a current shipping date of July for new buyers &#; though buying a PC bundle might get you one sooner. Vive preorders have just opened, and we&#;re not sure how much inventory HTC is working with. The Rift (and probably Vive) will appear in stores, but don&#;t count on seeing large quantities.
If you&#;re looking at PlayStation VR, the timeline gets a bit longer. We&#;ve recently heard that Sony will ship it this fall, and it&#;s possible we&#;ll hear an exact date at this year&#;s Game Developers Conference, where the company has released VR news in the past. Sony introduced around 17 launch games last year, although developers have generally been more secretive about their plans than they have with the Rift or Vive. And while there are free games bundled with the headsets &#; Rift orders will come with platformer Lucky&#;s Tale for everyone and EVE: Valkyrie for preorders, and Vive preorder customers get Tilt Brush, Fantastic Contraption, and Job Simulator &#; everyone has also been pretty coy about how much you&#;ll pay to buy a game.
Unless you&#;re determined to be a super-early adopter, waiting a few months may well be the best option. Oculus and Valve have both lined up several dozen titles for the Rift and Vive, but the full catalog will take some months to come out, and it will take time to squash the inevitable bugs that come with new releases. For the Oculus Rift particularly, many of its best experiences &#; like sculpting tool Medium &#; won&#;t work until the Touch motion controllers ship later this year. And if you wait, the hardware needed to run these high-end headsets will only get cheaper.
Since , PCMag has tested and rated thousands of products to help you make better buying decisions. Read our editorial mission
These days, there are headsets in every shape, size, and price, from the entry-level, wire-free Meta Quest 2 to the PC-tethered standby Valve Index to the class-leading Apple Vision Pro . We've thoroughly tested each of these models, evaluating them for their graphical capabilities, motion tracking, software library, comfort, user experience, and value. Read on for our picks, followed by everything you need to know about VR to make a wise purchase.
PCMag has covered virtual reality since the original Oculus Rift Development Kit launched more than a decade ago. Since then, we've tested every major VR headset, including experimental AR devices like Google Glass and the Microsoft HoloLens (not to mention the growing variety of smart glasses ).
Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
4.0 Excellent
The Vision Pro is Apple's first foray into AR and VR, though the company is careful to describe it as a "spatial computer" rather than a headset. Whatever you call it (we consider it an AR/VR/mixed reality headset), the Vision Pro is an incredibly ambitious device that's good for work or play. The headset relies entirely on eye and hand tracking for controls that enable a far more intuitive and natural control system than any we've tested. As a first-generation device on a newly launched platform, VisionOS, it's surprisingly full-featured, with some of the best hardware ever put into a consumer-available, head-mounted display.
People with deep pockets. The Vision Pro costs $3,500, several times more than any other headset we've tested. That's expensive, even for early adopters. If you're willing to spend that much money on a new AR/VR experience, go for it. Just recognize that Apple will probably make even better and/or cheaper versions in the next few years. In addition, the Vision Pro has a few software omissions and stability issues that can be fixed with patches, but the headset's front-heavy balance can't.
GET IT NOW
$3,299.00 Woot
$3,499.00 Apple.com
Learn More
Apple Vision Pro Review
4.5 Outstanding
The Meta Quest 3 is $200 more than the Quest 2, but it adds color pass-through cameras that make augmented reality experiences feasible, along with a higher resolution and a faster processor&#;a processor that packs more power than even the Quest Pro. In fact, the only thing the Pro has over this headset is its awesome eye-tracking technology.
Want to experience VR without cables? This is the standalone headset for you. The Quest 3 is wireless, powerful, sharp, and you can see through it in color. The Quest 2 is a good starting point if you're looking to spend less, but the Quest 3 is enough of a step forward that it's worth the extra cash.
GET IT NOW
$495.99 Amazon
Learn More
Meta Quest 3 Review
4.0 Excellent
The Meta Quest Pro is an impressive headset that features cool eye-tracking and face-tracking tech. It costs significantly more than the Quest 2 and Quest 3, however, so you really need to be sold on the eye tracking before you buy in.
The Meta Quest Pro is for professionals who need a capable VR headset for collaboration purposes, and for enthusiasts who want to play with the excellent eye-tracking and face-tracking tech.
GET IT NOW
$921.66 Amazon
$999.99 Best Buy
$999.99 Meta
Learn More
Meta Quest Pro Review
4.5 Outstanding
The Quest 2 (formerly the Oculus Quest 2) is Meta's $300 standalone VR headset. It's affordable for a VR platform, and you don't need cables or additional hardware. It's powered by mobile components, specifically the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 chipset, and that's enough to run entertaining VR experiences. It has an incredibly robust library of those experiences, so you'll find something entertaining. You can also use it as a PC-powered headset with the $79 Link Cable.
This is a top VR headset, but its follow-up, the Meta Quest 3, is more compelling in every way (including a faster processor, a higher-resolution display, and color pass-through cameras). The Quest 3 also costs $200 more, which means the Quest 2 is the best budget-friendly VR headset you can buy. If you want to explore VR without spending a lot of money, this is a terrific starting point.
If you are looking for more details, kindly visit VR Arcade Machine.
GET IT NOW
$199.99 Amazon
$268.97 Walmart
$199.99 Best Buy
Learn More
Meta Quest 2 Review
4.5 Outstanding
The PlayStation VR 2 is a significant upgrade over the original that combines the PlayStation 5's power with new eye-tracking and motion-control tech that makes VR games even more immersive. Plus, the lightweight headset has impressive specs, including a sharp OLED display that delivers a 2,000-by-2,040-pixel picture to each eye.
The PS VR2 is for gamers willing to go all-in on Sony's next-generation vision of virtual reality. After all, the headset's not inexpensive at nearly $600 and it lacks backward compatibility with original PlayStation VR games (which is why that model is still on this list). However, this comfortable and impressive hardware has a strong launch library that includes Horizon: Call of the Mountain and the Jurassic World Aftermath Collection.
GET IT NOW
$559.99 Amazon
$549.99 PlayStation Store
$569.00 Walmart
Learn More
Sony PlayStation VR2 Review
4.0 Excellent
Valve's PC-tethered VR headset is pricey, and on paper it doesn't stand out much from the competition. The headset is just one part of the VR experience, though, and the Valve Index really impresses because of the other major component: the controllers. They're revolutionary, able to rack individual finger movements and make games (that take advantage of the feature) much more immersive than the standard trigger grips on other controllers. It's amazing to see your fingers wiggle in Half-Life: Alyx.
The headset itself, while not outstanding, still offers crisp, smooth graphics with a high refresh rate, too. The system integrates with Valve's Steam store through SteamVR, so there's an incredibly large library of VR games, even if only a tiny fraction might bother with the finger support.
This is the go-to VR headset for use with PCs, thanks to its strong performance and revolutionary controllers. If you're just starting with VR on PC, go with this one. If you already have a SteamVR-compatible headset, though, such as the HTC Vive, the Vive Cosmos Elite (not the regular Cosmos), or the Vive Pro 2 along with their base stations, you can buy the controllers for $280 to breathe new life into your VR experience without investing in the full Valve Index system.
GET IT NOW
$1,439.91 Amazon
$999.00 Steam
Learn More
Valve Index VR Kit Review
4.0 Excellent
This advanced, semi-consumer VR headset targets both enthusiasts and professionals with the sharpest picture available at 2,448 by 2,448 pixels per eye. It easily offers the best visuals we've seen in VR so far, though at a hefty price: The headset alone is $799, and that doesn't factor in the base stations and controllers (but on the bright side, you can use the Valve Index controllers with it).
It works with SteamVR just like the Index, and has its own VR software store in the form of Viveport. The store offers the subscription-based Viveport Infinity service that provides unlimited access to VR experiences, instead of a la carte software purchases. That's a nice bonus outside of SteamVR.
If you want the best VR experience available without diving into pro-level extremes, the Vive Pro 2 combined with Valve Index controllers is the combination to go with. It'll cost you at least $1,300 before factoring in a PC with the specs to take advantage of the headset's power, but you'll enjoy amazing visuals and controls.
GET IT NOW
$999.00 Amazon
$799.00 Lenovo
Learn More
HTC Vive Pro 2 ReviewBuying Guide: The Best VR Headsets for
Modern VR headsets now fit under one of two categories: tethered or standalone. Tethered headsets, such as the HTC Vive Pro 2, PlayStation VR, and Valve Index are physically connected to PCs (or in the case of the PS VR 2, a PlayStation 5). Their cables makes them a bit unwieldy, but putting all of the video processing in a box that you don't need to directly strap to your face means your VR experience can be a lot more complex. Either external sensors or outward-facing cameras provide full 6DOF (six degrees of freedom) movement tracking for both your head and your hands, thanks to motion-sensing controllers.
The least expensive tethered options are currently around $400, and that's before you address the processing issue; the HP Reverb G2, Valve Index, and Vive Pro 2 need powerful PCs to run, while the PS VR requires a PlayStation 4 and the PS VR2 requires a PlayStation 5.
Standalone headsets offer the greatest physical freedom by completely removing the cables and not requiring an external device to handle processing. The Meta Quest 2, Quest Pro, and Quest 3 use similar outward-facing cameras to the now-discontinued Oculus Rift S to provide 6DOF motion tracking, and similar 6DOF motion controls. They lack a dedicated gaming PC's processing power on their own, but their high-end mobile processors (especially the Quest Pro's Snapdragon XR2+) push detailed, smooth graphics. They also support PC-tethered VR with an optional cable.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
The Apple Vision Pro is the most advanced of the standalone headsets by far, and the most advanced headset in general. Apple doesn't call it a VR headset but rather a "spatial computer," but as a device it's very similar to the Quest Pro. It relies entirely on eye and hand tracking for control and has the most intuitive interface we've seen by far. It's also $3,500, which is a huge ask compared with any other headset in this list. It's also a first-generation device on a new platform, even if the platform (VisionOS) is built on iOS, iPadOS, and MacOS.
Sony "spatial reality" headset (Credit: Sony)
Sony's "spatial reality" headset announced at CES is the other model to keep an eye on. Details are scant, but Sony says it will run on a Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2+ chip, indicating it could be standalone headset like the Meta Quest. More interesting are its controllers: a ring and a wand that are designed for "intuitive interaction with 3D objects and precise pointing." Aimed at content creators, it could be a major release for VTubers and other streamers.
Meta emphasizes that the Quest 2, Quest 3, and Quest Pro are all devices for its "metaverse," which is still fairly ill-defined apart from a few specific apps under the Meta Horizon name. It remains a vague concept, but the Quest headsets are the best jumping-off points for exploring the company's vision. Our metaverse guide will help you understand what's happening, based on the few hard details.
Meta's vision of the metaverse hasn't really panned out, and the aforementioned Horizon Worlds app is a ghost town. On the other hand, platforms and games that don't call themselves metaverse like Roblox and VRChat have effectively become popular multimedia experiences crafted and curated by users. You can also use them outside of VR.
You might have seen other headsets pop up over the last few years, including the Microsoft HoloLens and the Magic Leap One. They aren't on this list for a few reasons, but the biggest one is that they're augmented reality (AR) headsets, not virtual reality headsets. And yes, there's a difference.
Basically, these AR headsets have transparent lenses that let you look at your surroundings instead of completely replacing your vision with a computer-generated image. They project images over whatever you're looking at, but those images are designed to complement and interact with the area around you. You can make a web browser pop up in the middle of a room, for instance, or watch animals run around your coffee table. It's fascinating technology that could hint at the future of computing.
The emphasis here is on the future, as in several years away. That brings us to the second biggest reason the HoloLens and Magic Leap One aren't in this list: They aren't consumer products. Both devices are purely intended as development hardware, so AR software can be made for their platforms. Considering each headset costs several thousand dollars, you shouldn't expect a large library of AR experiences for a while. Outside of specific enterprise and education uses, AR headsets are an early adopter playground at best, and not for most people.
The Apple Vision Pro is the closest to a comprehensive AR headset we've seen, and the Meta Quest Pro isn't too far behind it. They use passthrough cameras instead of transparent lenses, so your view of your surroundings won't be as clear as transparent displays, but they still show everything around you, in color, and scan those surroundings to properly place virtual objects in that space.
If you can't wait for the technology to mature or become more affordable, we've found several consumer-available smart glasses that are very useful, though don't deliver on actual augmented reality. They project large images in front of your eyes and can have limited head tracking to keep that virtual screen fixed in place before you, and make great privacy-minded external monitors if you want to watch movies, play games, or work on the go.
With that in mind, we'll continue to track the best new VR headsets as they are released, so make sure to check back soon for updates. And after you find the right headset, check out our list of the best VR games.
If you want to learn more, please visit our website 9D Virtual Reality Simulator Price.