Virtual reality has exploded over the past few years, offering far more immersive experiences than a standard console could ever hope to achieve. But with so many at varying price points, which is the best VR headset for you?
Do you want an all-in-one headset like the popular Meta Quest 3, or do you want something high-end like the Vive Pro 2 to play your PC VR games? What about game availability? There’s also the platform you’ll be playing on to consider – the PSVR 2 is the only headset that’ll work with a PS5, for example. You must also consider technical specs like FOV, resolution, display tech and more.
That might seem confusing, but our team of experts is here to help. The Trusted Reviews team has reviewed some of the biggest VR headsets currently available. Any VR headset with at least a 4-star rating is considered for this list, so you can be confident you’re splashing the cash on a top-quality device.
We know most people can’t afford to spend over a grand on a VR headset, so we’ve included a wide variety on this list. We’ve included headsets that can function all by themselves, as well as those that need a high-powered PC. As a result, every single kind of VR fan should be catered for.
And if you’re having second thoughts about getting into VR, it’s worth checking out our best games console and best gaming laptop lists instead.
Best VR headsets at a glance
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How we test
Every VR headset we review goes through a series of uniform checks designed to gauge key things including build quality, comfort, screen quality, performance and the game library.
We’ll test a VR headset for at least a week, and test all of the available features. We’ll make sure to set it up multiple times to determine its accessibility and whether most homes would be able to accommodate it. We’ll also play a wide selection of games to see how the headset performs with each one.
And if a VR headset is wireless, we’ll make sure to measure the battery life, both when playing games and running basic apps.
Pros
- Lightweight, compact design
- Impressive VR and MR experience
- Top-end performance
- Biggest library of apps of any standalone headset
Cons
- More expensive
- Battery life could be better
- Odd warping in passthrough mode
No company has cornered the VR market quite like Meta and while the company now has several great VR headsets for consumers to choose from, it’s the Meta Quest 3 that offers the best overall experience for most people.
The Quest 3 already had a tough act to follow in its predecessor but Meta has managed to build upon what made the Quest 2 great with better performance across the board and some much needed quality of life tweaks.
Most of the Quest 3’s upgrades can be chalked up to the new Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chipset which allows everything to run a great deal faster this time around, and ensuring excellent performance across the board in VR and AR applications.
Speaking of AR, this is the biggest leap forward for the Quest 3. Because of a much improved passthrough mode, the Meta Quest 3 is able to interact more seamlessly with your surroundings and support the latest crop of augmented reality apps and games.
There’s also a new Depth Sensor that comes into play, which allows the Quest 3 to more accurately establish a boundary around you, keeping you protected while you play whilst also incurring far fewer accidental warnings as you move around your allotted space.
As if all this wasn’t enough, the Quest 3 even features higher resolution 4K+ screens – everything looks better than before, with text now at the level where it’s easy to read without any signs of blurring. There’s also Wi-Fi 6E support as well for faster downloading and streaming with a compatible router.
The one main downside to the Quest 3 is that it costs considerably more than the Quest 2, which might be the better option for VR enthusiasts on a budget. Still, if you can afford the added expense, you’ll absolutely love what Meta has managed to achieve here.
Reviewer: Lewis Painter
Full Review: Meta Quest 3 review
Pros
- Extensive game and software selection
- Excellent performance
- Hugely-improved pass-through
- Solid value
Cons
- Same optical stack as Quest 2
- Battery life weaker than expected
- Bulkier design than Quest 3
- No headphone jack or proximity sensor
For the longest time, this spot was occupied by the excellent Oculus/Meta Quest 2, but with the release of the Quest 3S, Meta has raised the bar on what to expect from a more budget friendly VR headset.
In fact, folks who are still sporting the Quest 2 will likely be impressed to know that the 3S’s Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chip boasts double the graphical power. It’s the same chipset that features in the more expensive Quest 3, so from a value perspective, you’re not missing out on the core gaming performance by opting for the affordable pick.
Of course, the real allure of the Meta Quest 3S for anyone looking to get into VR is that Meta still boasts the widest catalogue of apps, games and experiences, and the list keeps growing. Quest exclusives like Batman: Arkham Shadow make the platform tempting enough on its own, but optimised versions of streaming apps like YouTube and Prime Video are the icing on the cake.
To consider that you can dive into all of this with a device that starts at £289.99/$299.99, there isn’t really another VR headset out there that can compete at that price level. Even the Meta Quest 3, with its higher price tag of £469.99/$499.99, is a far greater investment and likely more than what the average consumer would be willing to spend.
With that said, there is a reason why the Quest 3S is able to undercut the standard Quest 3 on price and it’s partly due to a few small (but potentially meaningful) compromises. The most important change is the use of a fresnel lens which results in less detail around your peripheral vision, and the same 1832 x 1920 per eye resolution found on the Quest 2.
Even with that working against it, we never found that apps running on the Quest 3S were an eye-sore, so the decision over whether or not to get the 3 over the 3S will come down to an appreciation of visual fidelity. For pure value however, the Meta Quest 3S can’t be beat.
Reviewer: Alex Walker-Todd
Full Review: Meta Quest 3S Review
PlayStation VR 2
Best VR headset for PS5 owners
Pros
- Stunning 4K OLED screen
- Sense controllers are huge improvement
- Stylish design and streamlined setup
- Haptic feedback improves immersion
Cons
- No backwards compatability
- More expensive than a PS5
- Can be uncomfortable after extended use
The PlayStation VR 2 headset has a number of impressive features. It has a 4K OLED display, eye-tracking technology and built-in haptic feedback to increase the immersion tenfold.
It is important to note that this headset requires a PS5 to function, and doesn’t offer the wireless freedom that the Meta Quest 3 and Pico 4 do. But on the bright side, the PSVR 2 can leverage the power of the PS5, offering high quality experiences like Horizon Call of the Mountain.
The PSVR 2 is a big upgrade on its predecessor too, with more ergonomic controllers and a streamlined setup that only requires a single USB-C connection.
But is the PlayStation VR 2 worth the steep price when the Meta Quest 3 is available at a lower fee? That will depend on its game support; if PlayStation can keep pumping out first-party games like Horizon, this may well become the best VR headset on the market.
Reviewer: Ryan Jones
Full Review: PlayStation VR 2 Review
Pico 4
Most comfortable VR headset
Pros
- Wireless freedom for VR gaming
- Compact and lightwieght design
- High-resolution display
- Great performance
Cons
- Limited game library
- Lack of headphone jack
The Pico 4 offers the closest experience to the Meta Quest 3 headset, with an all-in-one design that doesn’t require any cables or external PC to function. It even surpasses the Quest in certain areas.
Firstly, the Pico has a better design. Weighing just 295 grams, it’s lighter than every other headset on this list. The use of a plastic headband also ensures a secure fit, so you shouldn’t have to worry about adjusting it on your head every few seconds. Overall, this results in a more comfortable experience.
The Pico 4 also has a superior screen resolution compared to the Quest 2, though it’s matched more closely by the newer Quest 3. Our testing showed that this helped to create sharper images, with individual pixels becoming less noticeable. The headset even features colour passthrough, allowing you to see your surroundings even when the headset is hugging your face.
The only major thing holding the Pico back from beating the Quest is its substandard game library. It’s missing a number of VR game gems, including Beat Saber, Resident Evil 4 and Moss. As a result, we suggest you check out the Pico game’s library before you commit yourself to a purchase of the headset.
Reviewer: Ryan Jones
Full Review: Pico 4 Review
Vive Pro 2
Best high-end VR headset
Pros
- Fantastic 5K resolution
- Improved refresh rate and FOV
- Comfortable design
- Faultless tracking performance
Cons
- Incredibly expensive
- Requires wired connection out of the box
- Controllers haven’t been updated
The Vive Pro 2 provides the very best virtual reality experience of all the headsets on this list, with a super-sharp 5K resolution, faultless tracking performance and a huge selection of immersive VR games and apps.
But with the headset retailing for over £1000 when bundled with the required accessories, it’s only really worthwhile for hardcore VR enthusiasts. The need for external tracking sensors also means you basically need to take up an entire room to maximise your enjoyment with the Vive Pro 2, which simply isn’t possible for everyone. And let’s not forget the need for a high-powered PC to plug the headset into.
If you adore VR and are happy to look past those obstacles, then you’ll be treated to one of the best VR experiences currently available. During testing, we were incredibly impressed with the likes of Half-Life Alyx and Paper Beast.
We also found the 120Hz refresh rate and 5K resolution to ensure you’re getting the absolute best visuals from a VR headset, even with the lack of an OLED screen. So if you want a top-notch VR headset and money is no issue, then the Vive Pro 2 is an awesome option.
Reviewer: Ryan Jones
Full Review: Vive Pro 2 Review
Pros
- Relatively thin, lightweight design
- Great visuals
- Improved tracking with Quest Pro controllers
- Face- and eye-tracking are a boon for social VR
Cons
- Lack of killer AR apps
- Can get uncomfortable over long periods of wear
- Limited battery life
The Meta Quest Pro is a more advanced beast than the entry-level Quest 2 and mid-range Quest 3, with a high-end £999/$999 price tag to match.
The Quest Pro introduces a number of firsts to standalone headsets including both face- and eye-tracking tech that has the potential to revolutionise social VR with more human-like interaction – at least it will be once the tech becomes more ubiquitous.
It’s the Quest Pro’s AR capabilities that stand out most though; using colour stereo passthrough, the headset can blend the real and virtual worlds into one, allowing you to, say, paint on a virtual canvas in your actual living room environment. Combined with hand-tracking that negates the need for controllers, it’s a very immersive experience.
However, that’s part of the problem with the Quest Pro; it’s not only expensive, but with Meta building the AR focus into the Quest 3, it makes the Pro slightly less tempting. It’ll remain the only Meta headset to offer premium features like face- and eye-tracking, but those are a nice-to-have rather than an integral part of the virtual experience.
As a result, it’s only a headset for those who want to be on the bleeding edge of VR tech.
Reviewer: Lewis Painter
Full Review: Meta Quest Pro Review
We also considered…
FAQs
Nope. You simply need to pay an upfront fee for the headset, and then purchase games separately, just like a games console.
