This is our favorite VR headset

Choosing a virtual reality headset is like buying a console – that is, one that you wear on your face. Like their appearance, they differ in ways that may matter to you. The major players in VR gaming — which currently include Sony, Valve, and Meta — each boast a number of games and features exclusive to their respective headsets.

There are other comfort, accessibility, and budget reasons you might choose one over the other. Do you need a headset with replaceable straps, one that’s configurable with prescription lenses, and one that costs under $500? Finally, do you want to build your own VR cockpit for a flight simulator? These are all things that can influence which one you buy.

For new users, deciding on headphones can seem confusing but don’t lose hope. With experience testing all the most popular models, along with some tips on how to buy the right model for your needs, we aim to make it easier for you to enter various fantasy worlds.

Note: With the Meta Quest 3 launching in September and Apple’s incredibly priced Vision Pro headset making a splash in 2024, it’s clear that the tech giants are still betting on the physical space Virtual and some exciting technological leaps are coming soon. We’ll review this post to make sure it includes all the information you need to know about newer hardware.

Valve index

Photo: James Bareham/Polygon

Valve Index is the leading virtual reality headset available today, offering the most comfortable design, highest specs, and coolest controls of any wired PC VR headset. Purchasing the entire set costs $999, although Valve (maker of Steam Deck and developer of half-life, Portal, and more) sell some components at a cheaper price. Most of the components include SteamVR’s killer app, Half-life: AlyxFree when you purchase.

The Index’s 1440×1600 resolution lens provides a refresh rate of up to 120 Hz during normal play. You also get the chance to push the limits with the experimental 144 Hz mode, an industry-leading refresh rate. Some glasses will fit the Valve Index, but otherwise, prescription lenses are available from a variety of companies, including Hons VR, VR Optician, and VR Wave.

Another unique aspect of the Index’s design is that the built-in headphones sit close to your ears so you can maintain a sense of physical presence (they also sound surprisingly great). You have the ability to flip them up and down as you like. Plus, the Index is one of the most comfortable headphones available. It was easy to adjust the strap settings and it fit snugly without feeling like all the weight was pressing down on my head.

Valve Index includes a revolutionary “knuckle” controller that, unlike other headsets on this list, features full finger tracking. It’s a small feature that adds immersion in certain games, like Half-life: Alyx. Simply put, the game can receive input when you move any finger, not just your index finger and thumb.

Photo: James Bareham/Polygon

Supporting the Index with its excellent tracking capabilities are external base stations that map your room to set the stage for your VR adventures. You’ll need permanent (or semi-permanent) locations in your room to mount the base stations, so the Index won’t be for everyone. However, only one of them is required to use the Index (two will improve tracking). Fun fact: Base stations for the HTC Vive can also work with the Index if you have those available.

PlayStation VR 2

Photo: Matt Leone/Polygon

PSVR 2 is Sony’s latest attempt at a virtual reality setup for its PlayStation console. The device is powered by the PlayStation 5. Like the Valve Index, the PSVR 2 is a wired VR headset, although to Sony’s credit it doesn’t require the use of any external tracking stations. It costs $549.99, which seems steep considering you need a PS5 to use it.

This headset gives PlayStation gamers a lot of value for their money. It improves on the already comfortable first version of the PSVR, with soft leatherette padding that evenly distributes the 560-gram weight across your head. One of the most significant improvements is the internal fan that keeps airflow moving to reduce the build-up of fog and related heat near your eyes. In case you need corrective lenses, several companies make them for the PSVR 2, including Hons VR, VR Optician, and VR Wave.

One downside when reviewing the PSVR 2 is definitely its limited library. While there are good opportunities, there is more on the horizon (Evil resides 4Its VR mode is exclusive to PS5, for example), you might be disappointed if you want access to some of VR’s biggest games, like Half-life: Alyxor even Sony’s incompatible catalog of original PSVR games. That doesn’t mean there aren’t any whatever play. Our team has rounded up the best games to play on PSVR 2. Even with the limited lineup, there are still some great experiences already available, like Gran Turismo 7 in VR or Synapse.

Image: Sony Interactive Entertainment

What the headset lacks in games and apps it makes up for with some of the best specs on the market. Each lens is an OLED display with a resolution of 2000×2040 capable of providing HDR images at 120 Hz. PSVR 2 has a cool feature called foveated rendering (also known as eye tracking) that can sharpen the image depending on where your eyes are looking, slightly blurring details in the area. your peripherals to balance the PS5’s power output. This trick is what makes PSVR 2 so exclusive The mountain’s call to the horizon looks especially impressive.

In case you’re curious, the PSVR 2 also supports a feature Sony calls Cinematic Mode, which lets you use the headset to watch content and play non-VR games separately – in part Great bonus but not a killer app. We get it; Not everyone wants to watch you play Blood transfusion 10th time.

The controller is another highlight, adapting the DualSense’s haptic feedback and adaptive triggers into a new yet comfortably familiar shape. Adding to the immersion, the headphones can get loud. Assuming you already have a PS5 or plan to get one soon, this is a great piece of hardware capable of delivering some great games in the future.

Meta Quest 2

Image: Meta

Meta Quest 2 (launched in 2020 as Oculus Quest 2) is the company’s most affordable VR headset, starting at $299.99 for the 128GB version (rising to $349.99 for the 128GB model). 256 GB) and this is the most affordable, versatile headset. and accessible options out there. Not only can the Quest 2 work wirelessly to run popular games on Meta’s Quest store (including games like Defeat Saber And Evil resides 4and fitness apps like Supernatural), but it can also be paired wirelessly or via wire to a PC to enhance the game library and visual fidelity.

If you want to explore beyond Meta’s app ecosystem, the free Air Link feature lets you pair wirelessly with your gaming PC (assuming your PC and Wi-Fi are pretty good) or plug in directly. Connect your headphones to your PC using the USB-C Cable to expand your library. Plugging in a wire will give the headset increased performance and image clarity, but requires connecting you to your PC.

The Quest 2’s greatest asset is its value. It performs well in almost every aspect of VR, making it a very attractive option for first-time VR users looking to dip their toes in without having to make a huge financial leap. That said, its specs aren’t particularly good compared to its competitors. Its internals are as powerful as a mid-range Android phone, and its lens resolution isn’t too sharp. At a resolution of 1832×1920 per eye, text is clear but images in some games lack the clarity you’ll get with more expensive headsets. However, feature updates to the Quest 2 have improved the way it runs since launch. For instance, it’s a bit more powerful now thanks to Meta unlocking its GPU power, and it’s bumped the 72 Hz refresh rate in some games up to 90 Hz.

During setup, Quest 2 can create a virtual map of your room to keep you safe from artificial boundaries. They’re like bowling pins, only visible when you’re about to step outside of them as you explore, play, or dance in VR. This is essential given the Quest 2’s wireless capabilities, giving you the freedom to move around safely without wires.

The Quest 2’s default head strap isn’t particularly comfortable, so we recommend upgrading to the Elite strap which usually costs around $50. Along with that, the Quest 2 provides a comfortable fit, with the weight evenly distributed across your head. Some glasses can fit this headset, but if you want to buy prescription lenses for it, several companies make them, including Hons VR, VR Optician, and VR Wave.

If you’re considering the Quest 2, we recommend waiting until the launch of the Quest 3 in late 2023. The Quest 2 will still be a great, cost-effective headset, but since it’s almost 3 years old, Quest 3 upgrades may be delayed. Smarter choice in the future.

HP Reverb G2

Image: HP

At $599 (and sometimes less), the HP Reverb G2 is relatively affordable as a premium wired PC VR headset. Its design resembles the Valve Index, a similarity that is no coincidence since Valve collaborated with HP to create it. However, not everything is suitable for Valve headsets. Some of its specifications are a notch or two lower. Its controller doesn’t offer full finger tracking, for example, and its screen isn’t high-resolution. On the other hand, unlike the Index, you don’t need a base station to use this headset.

On the display front, it has two 2160×2160 LCD panels that allow for clear visual performance across the board, with a refresh rate of up to 90 Hz for fluid gameplay, whether you’re slashing or slashing. through the blocks following the internal span Defeat Saber or meditate in Playne VR. Companies including Hons VR, VR Optician and VR Wave also produce prescription lenses for this model.

The lenses are placed on either side in a flip-down headset design similar to that on the Index. They deliver amazing 3D sound, spatial awareness, and most importantly, comfort. Even though the HP is a wired headset, the cable that comes in the box is 19 feet long, so the risk of getting tangled in your office or living room is greatly reduced in the first place.

Let’s say you’re not quite ready for PC VR and opt for a solid Valve Index set. The G2 is a cheaper alternative with an easier setup process that will give you access to the same great PC experiences.

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