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Nov 07, 2024

The Best VR Headsets for 2024

PCMag has covered virtual reality since the original Oculus Rift Development Kit launched more than a decade ago. From then on, we've tested every major VR headset, including experimental AR devices

PCMag has covered virtual reality since the original Oculus Rift Development Kit launched more than a decade ago. From then on, 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). These days, there are headsets in every shape, size, and price, from the entry-level, wire-free Meta Quest 3S, to the PC-tethered Valve Index, to the class-leading Apple Vision Pro. We've thoroughly tested these models, evaluating them for their graphical capabilities, motion tracking, software library, comfort, user experience, and value. Read on for our top picks, followed by everything you need to know about VR to buy the best headset for you.

The Meta Quest 3 is $200 more expensive than the Quest 3S, but the display's higher resolution and wider field of view justifies the extra expense. Besides that, it's nearly the same as Meta's newer headset, with a color passthrough camera for mixed reality and a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 processor. Both elements are more advanced than the even pricier, eye-tracking Meta Quest Pro in some ways.

Want to experience VR without cables? This is the standalone headset for you. The picture is sharper and wider, which goes a long way. When factoring price and features, the Quest 3 is the best overall VR headset for getting into VR without investing in a tethered headset and a PC (or an Apple Vision Pro).

The Meta Quest 3S is the cheapest way to get into VR without making major compromises. It's a standalone VR headset with color pass-through cameras and the same processor that powers the higher-end Meta Quest 3. In fact, it's nearly identical to the Quest 3 except for the display, which isn't nearly as sharp or has as wide a field of view. Still, it looks good for the price.

This is the ideal introductory VR headset if you don't want to spend half a grand trying out the technology. It has everything you need for a strong VR experience, although its picture quality isn't as good as its more expensive sibling.

The Meta Quest Pro is an impressive headset that features cool eye-tracking and face-tracking tech. It costs significantly more than the Quest 3 and Quest 3S, however, so you really need to be sold on the eye tracking before you buy in. Its Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2+ processor is also a generation older than the XR2 Gen 2 on the other Meta headsets, though it helps make up for it with 12GB of memory to their 8GB each.

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. You should be prepared for eye tracking features that aren't nearly as polished as the much, much more expensive Apple Vision Pro, though.

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.

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 its own strong library.

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 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. You could also use the Valve Index controllers with the Quest 3, 3S, or Pro, but you'll need an $80 Meta Quest Link Cable and add the base stations as well at $300 for a pair.

The HTC Vive Pro 2 targets both enthusiasts and professionals with the sharpest VR picture available at 2,448 by 2,448 pixels per eye. It works with SteamVR 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, which is a nice bonus.

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 get. 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.

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 make them a bit unwieldy, but putting all the video processing in a box you don't need to directly strap to your face means your VR experience can be a lot more complex. External 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 Valve Index and HTC 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 the processing. The Meta Quest 3, Quest 3S, and Quest Pro 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, but their high-end mobile processors push detailed, smooth graphics. They also support PC-tethered VR with an optional cable.

The Apple Vision Pro is the most advanced of the standalone headsets by far, and the most advanced headset. Apple doesn't call it a VR headset, but rather a "spatial computer." Still, it's a very similar device to the Quest Pro. It relies entirely on eye and hand tracking for control and has the most intuitive interface. It's also $3,500, which is a huge ask compared with any other headset on 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's "spatial reality" headset announced at CES 2024 is the other model to watch. Details are scant, but Sony says it will run on a Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2+ chip, indicating it could be a standalone headset like the Meta Quest. More interesting are its controllers: a ring and a wand 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. It's been almost a year since we last heard about it. Maybe we'll get more details at CES 2025.

Meta emphasizes that the Quest 3, Quest 3S, 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 can help you understand what's happening based on the few hard details available.

Meta's vision of the metaverse hasn't 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 Magic Leap One and Microsoft HoloLens. They aren't on this list for a few reasons. The most significant one is that they're augmented reality (AR) headsets, not virtual reality headsets. 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 surrounding area. For instance, you can make a web browser pop up in the middle of a room or watch animals run around your coffee table. It's a 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 on this list: They aren't consumer products. Both devices are 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, and the Meta Quest Pro isn't too far behind it. They use pass-through 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 they 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 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.