The Best VR Headsets in 2021 Reviewed

There are a lot of cool virtual reality headsets on the market right now, but which ones are the best? We’ve reviewed them all, gone hands on with the most promising and picked the top contenders for a haul of games and experiences in the near future.

VR has become one of the most exciting new technologies in the world. A growing number of people are choosing to invest in VR headsets, but just who should be buying the latest models? We’ll help you figure that out!

Virtual reality is the next frontier in consumer technology and headsets are the devices that bring us virtual reality. The Oculus Rift, Vive Pro and PSVR are the headsets that currently reign supreme. However, the technology is still in its infancy, and we are only just beginning to see the full potential of VR.. Read more about best vr headsets 2021 and let us know what you think.

Best VR headsets for PC

The best graphics and most ambitious VR games, such as Half-Life: Alyx, may be found on PC VR. Of course, you’ll need a decent gaming PC to connect your headset to. The specifications your PC requires to support VR headsets may be found in this post.

Valve Index ($1,000) is the best.

If you’re searching for the best overall PC VR headset, we recommend Valve Index. It’s more expensive than the others, but it strikes a good mix of quality, performance, and comfort. In our comprehensive evaluation of the headset, we dubbed it “the enthusiast’s pick.”

Pros

The outstanding tracking performance, broad field of vision, quality controls, fantastic audio, and variety of ergonomic adjustments make it simple to dial in a comfortable and clear fit are all things to appreciate about Index.

Index is one of the only headsets that allows you to customize your eye relief. This allows you to move the lenses as close to your eyes as you want, maximizing your field of vision and making the headset simpler to adapt for glasses. The actual IPD adjustment on Index spans from 58mm to 70mm, making it simple to match the lenses with the width of your eyes for the best images.

Cons

However, Index isn’t without flaws. The external tracking system is more difficult to set up than other headsets on the market, needing two tracking beacons put on opposite corners of a room, fixed on a tripod, placed high on a shelf, or screwed into your wall. They must also be connected to their own power outlets. Index includes front-facing cameras for a pass-through vision, but they aren’t as fast or helpful as we’ve seen on other headsets. And did we mention the $1,000 price tag? If you already have SteamVR Tracking base stations from a previous Vive headset, you may buy it for less.

Specifications for Valve Indexes

Compatibility of Content

Valve Index is compatible with the SteamVR catalog, which contains the overwhelming bulk of VR content. You may utilize the free but unauthorized Revive mod to play Oculus PC material on Valve Index if you want to play stuff that’s unique to the Oculus PC collection (like Asgard’s Wrath). Although performance and controller inputs may need some tuning, most Oculus content will run well on Index.

Consider the HP Reverb G2 ($600).

While Valve’s Index offers excellent all-around performance, if resolution is your primary concern, HP’s new Reverb G2 is the headset for you. The Reverb G2 should be on your radar if you’re looking for a VR headset for seated PC VR games like driving and flight simulators—read our complete review to find out why.

Pros

When it comes down to it, the G2’s distinguishing feature is its class-leading 2,160 x 2,160 resolution, which may look downright stunning with the appropriate material. G2 also inherits Valve’s superb headphones from the Index headset and has better controls over prior WMR headsets, thanks to a cooperation between Valve and HP. The headset also features inside-out tracking, which makes it simpler to use since there are no external trackers. Who can argue with a pricing that’s almost half of the complete Valve Index kit?

Cons

Despite having better controller ergonomics than previous WMR headsets, the Reverb G2’s controller tracking has greater delay and reliability than its competitors, as well as less detailed (and rather loud) haptics. The controllers will get you through most games just fine, but if you intend to play competitive or fast-paced games often, you’ll find that the controllers on other headsets perform better. In terms of field of vision, G2 is comparable to most of its competitors, but falls short of Index. Because of its unusual “flashlight” approach, the pass-through view isn’t as helpful as some other headsets.

Specifications for the HP Reverb G2

Compatibility of Content

Although the HP Reverb G2 is compatible with the Windows Mixed Reality store, there are just a few VR apps accessible there. Fortunately, Microsoft provides a free and official plugin that makes it compatible with SteamVR content. You may use the free but unauthorized Revive mod to play Oculus PC material on Reverb G2 if you want to play stuff that’s unique to the Oculus PC catalog (like Asgard’s Wrath).

Oculus Quest 2 with Oculus Link (and Elite Strap) is a good value at $350.

Although Quest 2 is a standalone headset (meaning games may be played without connecting to a PC), it also includes a function called Oculus Link, which allows you to play PC VR games by connecting to a PC. You can also do this wirelessly with the newly released Air Link function provided you have a contemporary router (Wi-Fi 5 or Wi-Fi 6).

Pros

Quest 2 is a fantastic all-around headset thanks to its handy passthrough function, high-resolution display, and excellent controls. The headset’s unbeatable pricing makes it a fantastic bargain, particularly when you consider that it can also run standalone VR games from the Oculus Quest store. Oculus has also issued software upgrades on a regular basis to enhance the headset’s performance and functionality.

Cons

Unfortunately, the connection that comes with Quest 2 isn’t long enough to operate with Oculus Link, and the official cable is too expensive at $80 to suggest. Thankfully, Oculus Link cable is available for $34 for 26 feet. You can also utilize Air Link to play PC VR games wirelessly if you have a Wi-Fi 5 or Wi-Fi 6 router.

We weren’t huge fans of Quest 2’s soft headstrap, as we discovered in our complete review, so if you’re serious about playing PC VR games, we’d strongly suggest spending the additional $50 for the Elite Strap attachment [Amazon]. Although the built-in audio is useful, we wish it was of better quality. It’s also worth mentioning that the headgear requires a Facebook account to operate.

Specifications for the Oculus Quest 2

Compatibility of Content

Quest 2 can only play games from the Oculus Quest library while not connected to a computer. If you connect your Oculus Rift to a computer through Oculus Link, you’ll also have access to the Oculus PC and SteamVR libraries. As long as you have a capable PC to connect the headset into, Quest 2 is compatible with the overwhelming majority of top VR content available.

HTC Vive Pro 2 ($1,400) is coming soon.

HTC has unveiled the Vive Pro 2, which, although not yet available, aims to raise the ante on specifications over the Valve Index while working inside the same great SteamVR Tracking environment. Here are the specifications as far as we know them:

Specifications for the HTC Vive Pro 2

Our Take

On paper, the Vive Pro 2 seems to be very remarkable (but the price is a lot to swallow). When compared to Valve Index, the resolution jumps from 2.3MP per eye to 6.0MP per eye (beating out Reverb G2’s 4.7MP per eye). HTC also says that the Vive Pro 2’s field-of-view is 120 degrees horizontal, which is greater than Index’s 130 degrees diagonal FOV. Granted, HTC’s headset lenses have a history of having tiny sweet zones, making that much FOV less helpful than it seems on paper. We’ll have to wait and see whether the lens design of the Vive Pro 2 changes.

The headset alone will cost $800 and may be used with any current SteamVR Tracking base stations and controllers, despite the fact that the ‘full kit’ version of the Vive Pro 2 is essentially outside of even the hobbyist VR pricing range. If you’re upgrading from the original Vive, Vive Pro, or Valve Index, you may utilize your existing gear rather than purchasing the whole package.

We’ll reserve judgment on the Vive Pro 2 until we’ve had a chance to put it to the test. The Vive Pro headset will be available for purchase on June 3rd, with the complete kit bundle following in July.

Best standalone VR headsets

Standalone VR headsets are completely self-contained and do not need any external power. Because of their all-in-one design and absence of a tether, they are usually very easy to use. Standalone headsets are a fantastic way to get started with virtual reality since they don’t need a high-end computer.

The Best: $350 for the Oculus Quest 2 with Elite Strap.

In nearly every aspect, Quest 2 improves on its predecessor, but it’s worth noting that you’ll need a Facebook account to use the headset.

Pros

Quest 2 has a lot to offer, including an amazing resolution, a fast Snapdragon XR2 CPU, a helpful ‘passthrough’ view function, and excellent controllers. Additionally, if you wish to switch to PC-powered VR in the future, Quest 2 may be plugged into your computer and utilized as a PC VR headset. There is currently no other solo headset that compares in terms of total value.

Cons

However, there are a few things we wish were different. The supplied soft headstrap isn’t very pleasant, as we discovered in our complete Quest 2 review, so if you’re a serious VR user, we suggest the Elite Strap ($50 on Amazon) or Elite Battery Strap (bundled with a case for $130 on Amazon) accessories.

The built-in speakers are useful, but we wish they were more powerful for greater immersion (however, there is a 3.5mm headphone connection if you want to use your own headphones). While Quest 2 has a good game catalog, it’s a standalone headset, so you won’t be able to play any of the major PC VR titles like Half-Life: Alyx or Asgard’s Wrath unless you have a powerful PC.

Specifications for the Oculus Quest 2

Compatibility of Content

Oculus Quest 2 is backwards compatible with all Oculus Quest content. If you have a gaming PC (or plan to acquire one in the near future), you can use it to play content from the Oculus PC and SteamVR libraries.

Best VR headsets for consoles

You already know what we’re about to say if you’re familiar with virtual reality! PlayStation is the only console manufacturer that presently supports a virtual reality headset (sorry, Xbox lovers), and PlayStation VR is the only VR gear that you can use on a console. By default, this makes PSVR the greatest console VR headset, but that doesn’t mean we recommend it.

Our Take

PSVR was released in late 2016 and was a fantastic headset for its time, with a number of outstanding unique VR titles that aren’t available anywhere else. In comparison to what’s available elsewhere in the VR world, the headset is officially beyond its prime in 2021 and seems “last generation” in terms of quality, tracking, and controls.

Today, it’s difficult to suggest purchasing the PSVR, which is four years old. It’s becoming harder to obtain at affordable rates; it should cost about $350, but we’re seeing bundles on Amazon for nearly $500 right now.

That’s most likely due to Sony’s announcement that a PSVR 2 is in the works. While PS5 and PSVR are backwards compatible, it seems that Sony is banking on the next iteration of the headgear to usher in the next generation of console VR.

PSVR Specifications

Compatibility of Content

PlayStation VR is only compatible with VR content in the PlayStation store which includes a handful of excellent exclusives not available on PC like Astro Bot Rescue Mission and Blood & Truth. You can also use the headset to play non-VR PS4 content in a ‘theater mode’ through the headset, but with relatively low resolution it’s not something you’re likely to do often. The vast majority of PSVR titles are also backwards compatible with PS5.

One of the most exciting aspects of virtual reality is the potential applications that have been brought to life. And while it’s taken quite some time, we’re now starting to see a few examples of what’s possible. Are you ready to read about some of the best VR headsets that we think will exist in 2021?