Best VR Headsets (update March 2024)


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#1 Meta Quest 2

the Quest 2 remains the best and most versatile VR headset of the moment. It’s also, considering it requires no gaming console, phone or PC, the most affordable.

The base model’s 128GB of storage is plenty for storing dozens of games and apps, although keep in mind there’s no way to add more storage after purchase. Meta’s also allowing accounts to bypass Facebook logins, although a new Meta account will still be required.

The Quest 2 reminds me of the Nintendo Switch for its versatility and fun, and it has a growing library of surprisingly effective fitness apps. The Quest 2 can also connect with a PC to run more advanced apps from Steam or Meta’s own app library, using a single USB-C cable or wirelessly.

#2 HP Reverb G2

If your idea of the best VR headset is to have the best image quality in consumer VR, HP’s VR headset wins. For serious gamers (or VR racing sim fans), it’s probably your best choice. The 2,160×2,160-per-eye resolution and 114-degree field of view are the best at this price range, and the lightweight, comfy headset also has fantastic drop-down speakers designed by Valve. It’s technically a Microsoft Windows Mixed Reality headset that prefers to launch into Microsoft’s native Windows 10 VR ecosystem, but it bridges with Steam VR and works with those games and apps, too. Built-in camera-based room-tracking is easier to set up than the Valve Index’s external base stations, but is more prone to tracking errors. The included controllers, based on Microsoft’s VR controller design, feel clunkier than either the Quest 2 controllers or Valve Index controllers. Also, the over-ear speakers are your only audio choice: there’s no headphone jack.

#3 Valve Index

Valve’s headset is starting to age, but its Steam VR and Vive hardware compatibility, its excellent audio, and its fancy controllers still make it hardware worth considering. Valve’s “knuckle” controllers are pressure-sensitive and can track all five fingers, making them almost like gloves. Not all apps make the most of them, but Valve’s hardware is mix-and-match compatible with the HTC Vive, which also is built on the Steam VR platform. The Index headset has excellent audio and a sharp, wide field-of-view display.

The Index works with external “lighthouse” boxes similar to the HTC Vive, meaning you need to set those up in a room first. It’s not as self-contained as the Quest 2 or HP Reverb G2, which can track the room with in-headset cameras. It’s also definitely not wireless, but if you already have some older HTC Vive hardware, you could add on parts of the Index to mix and match.

#4 HTC Vive Pro 2

That resolution on the HTC vive pro 2 sits at the very top of the current market, offering up super clean visuals that you won’t find on cheaper headsets. You are tethered to a PC here, via a Link Box connection, which means the threat of tripping is real if you’re up and about. 

We did find that setup process a little tedious in our testing, plotting out the base stations took a long time, and we’d heavily recommend wall-mounting them for the best effect (which will take even longer). You’ll need to pick up two Steam VR base stations and motion controllers for the full experience, which will set you back around $600 extra all in. However, once you do there’s a new level of tracking and motion at your fingertips – one that other VR headsets can sometimes struggle to match unless doing so while sacrificing other features. 

The main draw here is that incredible resolution, combined with the 120° field of view and refresh rate of up to 120Hz. If you’re going all-in on a future-proofed setup, and want your games to look as good as they possibly can while doing so, this is where the piggy bank should go.