Best VR headset 2024

There were high hopes for the Meta Quest 3 following big promises made by the Reality Labs team and Mark Zuckerberg, but in a nice surprise, they’re delivered on virtually all of them.

Despite a lack of native software at launch, the Meta Quest 3 can take your existing library of Meta games and give them a substantial performance boost, even without developers providing a full graphical overhaul.

An upgrade in every sense of the word, the Quest 3 is a device that can appeal to the masses given its ease of access, and now it’s over to developers to provide the killer software that people are going to want to buy a headset to play.

Read our Meta Quest 3 review.

It’s hard to discuss Pico 4 without comparing it to Meta Quest 2, though you can understand why. Developed by ByteDance subsidiary Pico, this wireless VR headset is one of the more powerful consumer options currently available.

Utilizing a Qualcomm XR2 processor and Adreno 650 GPU, the Pico 4 boasts 4K resolution on an LCD screen, 105°field-of-view, and 8GB of RAM. Unfortunately, Pico 4 only has a 90Hz maximum refresh rate, whereas many others can hit 120Hz. But when it comes to standalone VR headsets, it still holds the performance advantage. For example, Red Matter 2 on Pico 4 has a 30% resolution boost over its Quest 2 edition.

Unfortunately, what’s currently letting down Pico 4 is its software library. If you’re mainly here for games, almost everything you’ll find is already on Quest 2. Meta has cultivated some fine exclusives that you won’t find here, like The Climb 2 and Resident Evil 4 VR. Right now, Pico 4 only has one major exclusive, which includes Ubisoft’s upcoming Just Dance VR.

Still, Pico 4 has other advantages. Thanks to a more even weight distribution, it feels more comfortable than Quest 2’s front-heavy approach. By utilizing inside-out tracking, setting this up proves easy and doesn’t require base stations, like many PC-only headsets. Better still, if you’ve got a spare USB-C cable going, Pico’s latest headset can play PC VR games too, opening up your library further.

As the biggest VR headset in market share, the jump from Quest 2 to Quest 3 proved a bit too pricey for some gamers. When it became the Meta Quest 2, it also had a $299 price, a lot cheaper than Meta Quest 3’s $500 asking price.

Fortunately, the Quest 3S is the successor to the Quest 2 that everyone was hoping for. On paper, it sounds remarkably similar to the Quest 2, offering the same panel with 1832 x 1920 pixels per eye, the disappointing inclusion of Fresnel lenses, and the same FoV. However, the magic in the Quest 3S is mostly internal.

Sporting the Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 found in the standard Quest 3, the Quest 3S offers up to twice the performance of the Quest 2 – and it shows. The fact that games like Batman: Arkham Shadow and Metro: Awakening run so well on a budget headset is nothing short of spectacular, and the mixed reality is almost as good as the original Quest 3. And, the use of Quest Link or the Steam Link app makes it easy to connect to your gaming PC and dive into plenty of PC-exclusive VR games.

As much as we’d prefer the comfortable pancake lenses, as well as the improved resolution of the Quest 3, if you don’t want to break the bank by testing virtual reality out, the Quest 3S is a brilliant option that offers very little in terms of downsides.

Read our Meta Quest 3S review here.

The Valve Index makes the most compelling argument for high-fidelity, tethered PC VR – provided you’ve got the rig to deal with the workload. And it does so by breaking the mold in a few ways.

The Valve Index’s off-ear speakers – while one of its most questionable features pre-launch – turned out to be one of the headset’s strongest feats. They’re somehow both immersive and comfortably distant from the ear without any sound leakage… witchcraft.

Aside from glorious audio, the Index offers dual 1,440 x 1,600 RGB LCD screens, fitted with a greater number of subpixels than their AMOLED alternatives. They’re also a touch wider when it comes to field of view and capable of running at up to 144Hz, rivaling the best gaming monitor.

The result is a display with greater sharpness, clarity, and eye comfort for longer periods. And its controllers are seriously the best ones out there. The Index truly is the definitive device for virtual reality on Steam.

Read our Valve Index review.

It’s easy to look at the HTC Vive Vision Focus specs and come away disappointed, especially compared to the likes of the Quest 3. A high-resolution display is let down by an aging chipset, the same found in the Quest 2, as well as a high price, Fresnel lenses, and a disappointing standalone library that feels underwhelming. However, the HTC Viveo Vision Focus is much more than that.

With neat features like eye-tracking, as well as some quality-of-life improvements that make it one of the most comfortable headsets to wear, the HTC Vive Vision Focus is an improved HTC Vive Pro 2 – without the need for setting up base stations. The standalone library isn’t much, especially compared to the Quest’s offering. But for PCVR players, this is a brilliant headset.

The lengthy battery life and the hot-swappable battery system make it easy to keep playing your favorite games for longer, and the fact that it comes with mixed-reality is just an added bonus. If you’re a dedicated PCVR player, this is a great option.

The HTC Vive Cosmos fits snugly between the Oculus Rift S and the Valve Index. While costly, you receive the best that HTC, originators of the almighty Vive, can offer, truly completing the best gaming PC setup money can buy.

The Cosmos comes equipped with inside-out tracking, a whopping 2880 x 1700 resolution across new LCD panels, and new and improved ergonomics to keep the headset stable and comfortable. Undeniable heavy hitter headset specs, but a lack of standalone mode means you’ll need to pair it with a capable rig.

The new controllers are a redesign of the original Vive, and many of the extra add-ons for the original kit can also be reused with the Cosmos. Wireless connectivity powered by Intel WiGig, Lighthouse tracking support, and Vive Tracker support is all set for imminent rollout on the new and improved Vive.

Price isn’t on HTC’s side, and similar headsets could arrive with a more competitive MSRP in the future. That said, even lofty tags can’t strip the device of its strengths, and the Vive Cosmos is a fierce addition to this list.

Created in collaboration with Microsoft and Valve, the HP Reverb G2 is a VR headset with comfort at its core. Its flexible material adjusts to fit the user’s face, meaning you can stay within your favorite virtual world for longer. You can also adjust the headset’s lenses for different eye distances, which should help prevent eye strain.

The Reverb G2 also blows punches with some of the more lavish headsets on this list, with 2160 x 2160 resolution per eye that almost matches the HTC Vive Pro 2. It also serves as a good step up from the Oculus Quest 2, thanks to its 114-degree field of view.

In terms of price, the Reverb G2 sits between the Quest 2 and HTC Vive Cosmos. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, especially since its specs are a force to be reckoned with. However, HP isn’t a brand intrinsically tied to virtual reality, so there’s a chance to-be enthusiasts won’t notice the tech giant’s offering.

If you’re looking for a reliable headset with neat specs and solid construction, the Reverb H2 won’t disappoint. Naturally, if you’re looking for ultra-precise tracking, you’ll need to invest in something like the Meta Quest Pro. Otherwise, HP’s face contraption should check most of your VR gaming boxes.