Best VR Headsets to buy in 2023: Meta Quest 2, PSVR2 & more

Looking for the best VR headset in 2023? We’ve rounded up the best of the best, as well as highlighting some notable releases you should keep an eye on. 

Donning a VR headset is the best way to immerse yourself and experience games in a whole new way. For those who’ve never used a VR headset, it’s an entirely different experience from simply playing games on a traditional monitor. You’re a part of the game, and interacting with the virtual elements is a surreal experience.

Besides gaming, VR headsets come in handy with fitness, and even experiencing the burgeoning metaverse. These headsets have come a long way in recent years. From requiring a dedicated, powerful gaming PC to fuel a VR headset, we’ve seen a bunch of standalone headsets that are affordable and capable of running graphics-heavy games and applications smoothly.

When discussing some of the best VR headsets, we have the Quest line-up from Meta, which acquired Oculus to instantly become the market leader, HTC’s Vive and XR lineup, and contenders like Apple with its Vision Pro. With many upcoming VR headsets from various brands, the segment is hotting up like never before.

So, let’s look at some of the best VR headsets you can buy right now, and if you want to wait, we have also listed a few that have been announced already and will start retailing soon.

Best VR Headsets in 2023

• Best budget VR headset: Oculus Quest 2
• Best standalone premium VR headset: Quest Pro
• Alternative premium standalone VR headset: HTC Vive XR Elite
• Best premium wired VR headset- HTC Vive Pro 2
• Alternative PC VR headset: Valve Index
• Best budget PC VR headset: HP Reverb G2
• Best VR headset for consoles: PlayStation VR 2
• Best upcoming VR headsets to watch out for
  • Meta Quest 3
  • Apple Vision Pro
• What’s the best VR Headset for you?

Best budget VR headset: Oculus Quest 2

• Max Resolution – 1832 x 1920 per eye
• Field of View – 100°
• Screen Type – Fast Twitch LCD
• Max Refresh Rate – 120Hz
• Weight – 503g
• Tracking Type – Inside-out
• Weight – 503g
• Release Date: October 13, 2020
• Price: Starts at $299
• Requirements: N/A

The Meta Quest 2 is a great standalone VR headset. Even though Meta has flirted with repeatedly raising and lowering its price, the Quest 2 is still a worthy purchase. Meta’s Quest 2 is still among the most popular and affordable VR headsets that money can buy.

It is easy to set up and requires no additional hardware, making it a great value-for-money device. Quest 2 also has a rich library of exclusive applications and games. Even a first-time VR noob can settle in with some stellar titles.

This versatile headset can also be connected to a PC or a console using a cable or wirelessly. The Meta Quest 2 is an entry-level VR headset and a no-brainer for VR enthusiasts, young gamers, and hobbyists.

Best standalone premium VR headset: Quest Pro

Key specs

• Max Resolution – 1800×1920 per-eye per eye
• Field of View – 106° horizontal, 96° diagonal
• Screen Type – 2 x LCD binocular
• Max Refresh Rate – 90Hz (72 Hz mode available)
• Weight – 772g with a head strap
• Tracking Type – 6 DoF Inside-out via 5 integrated cameras
• Release Date: 25 October 2022
• Price: $999
• Requirements: N/A

Like the Quest 2, the Meta Quest Pro is also a standalone VR headset that runs a forked version of Android. It has a premium glass design and two controllers to interact with the device. Though it can also track hand and figure gestures, Meta feels that using a controller is more natural to humans.

Powered by a Snapdragon XR+ SoC, the Quest Pro also supports mixed reality, making it extremely useful in professional settings. The presence of a powerful and dedicated XR chipset also means that the overall performance of the Meta Quest Pro is way better than most VR headsets.

Though it sells at a slightly higher price point, making it out of reach for many enthusiasts, it still offers excellent gaming and VR experience for people who can afford to get one.

Alternative premium standalone VR headset: HTC Vive XR Elite

HTC

Key specs

• Max Resolution – 1920*1920 pixels per eye (3840*1920 pixels combined)
• Field of View – up to 10°
• Screen Type – 2 x LCD binocular
• Max Refresh Rate – 90Hz
• Weight – 625g
• Tracking Type – 6 DoF Inside-out Tracking via 4 cameras
• Release Date: March 2023
• Price: $1099
• Requirements: N/A

Yet another premium VR headset that looks to take on the Quest Pro, Vive Pro 2, and Quest. Despite coming from the once-VR leader, the Vive XR Elite lacks some key modern features like eye tracking and full-body tracking, which puts it in a tight position compared to the others at the same price point.

The Vive XR Elite also offers passthrough video, which means that it supports AR/XR as well. It’s a premium VR headset with its highlights and some quirky cons, which can stream video content over Wi-Fi.

Best PC VR headset: HTC Vive Pro 2

Key specs

• Max Resolution – 2448 × 2448 per eye
• Field of View – 120°
• Screen Type – LCD
• Max Refresh Rate – 120Hz
• Weight – 850g
• Tracking Type – SteamVR Base Stations
• Release Date: 23 September 2021
• Price: $1399/£1299
• Requirements: Gaming PC

If you’re a PC user seeking top-tier performance, the Vive Pro 2 is a worthy rival of the Valve Index. This wired PC VR headset can be transformed into wireless with the help of a Vive Wireless Adapter, but it will set you back an additional $349/£359. HTC’s latest offering features a comfortable design, a 120Hz refresh rate to alleviate possible motion sickness, and a 5K resolution. With a suitable PC, the Vive Pro 2 offers fantastic performance and runs all the VR games flawlessly.

However, there’s a significant drawback – the Vive Pro 2 is the priciest option among the headsets on this list. Moreover, the Vive wand controllers seem antiquated but can be replaced with Valve Index controllers. If you aim to futureproof your PC VR setup, the Vive Pro 2 is a sound choice. It might cater to a limited audience beyond dedicated VR enthusiasts, but it certainly offers a worthwhile return on your investment.

Alternative PC VR headset: Valve Index

Key Specs

• Max Resolution – 1600 x 1440 per eye
• Field of View – 130°
• Screen Type – LCD
• Max Refresh Rate – 144Hz
• Weight – 809g
• Tracking Type – SteamVR Base Stations
• Release Date: 28 June 2019
• Price: $999/£919
• Requirements: Gaming PC

After successfully collaborating with HTC on the original Vive, Valve released its own VR headset, the Index, which exceeded expectations. It offers tethered PC VR experience and is one of the most powerful choices available today, with a refresh rate of up to 144Hz for highly fluid gameplay. Valve has given us a high-grade headset with exceptional sound quality thanks to its superior off-ear speakers and first-rate controllers.

Our only significant concern is the need for a price reduction. It’s been three years since the Index initially hit the market. Although its impressive specs and performance can’t be overlooked, it no longer provides the premium experience it did in 2019. All other headsets mentioned here (except PSVR) surpass the Index in terms of visual resolution, but that doesn’t make the Index any less competitive. If budget isn’t a constraint and you are ok with investing in a powerful PC (if you don’t already have one), this VR headset is a solid choice.

Best budget PC VR headset: HP Reverb G2

Dexerto

Key Specs

• Max Resolution – 2160 x 2160 per eye
• Field of View – 130°
• Screen Type – LCD
• Max Refresh Rate – 90Hz
• Weight – 550g
• Tracking Type – Inside-out
• Release Date: 1 November 2020
• Price: $599/£610
• What Else Do I Need?: High-end PC

The HP Reverb G2 is a mid-tier wired PC VR headset that sits price-wise between the Oculus Quest 2 and the Valve Index. There are several advantages the Reverb G2 has over its rivals. It’s a 4K headset delivering superior visual quality that, while not quite reaching the heights of the Vive Pro 2, is available at half the price. The HP Reverb G2 also incorporates the same audio speakers as the Index.

It’s a worthy choice if you’re comfortable with a tethered setup. However, if the enhanced resolution isn’t your priority, the Quest 2 might be a more attractive option. Unlike Meta’s latest offering, the HP Reverb G2 can’t operate as a standalone device. It’s important to note that early models had reported tracking issues, but fortunately, HP released an update that addressed this problem. As no clear markers differentiate the two versions, we recommend buying a new unit to avoid ending up with the older model.

Best VR headset for consoles: PlayStation VR 2

Key Specs

• Max Resolution – 2000 × 2040 per eye
• Field of View – 110°
• Screen Type – LCD
• Max Refresh Rate – 120Hz
• Weight – 650g
• Tracking Type – Inside-out with PS Camera
• Release Date: 22 February 2023
• Price: From $549/£529.99

The PS VR 2 is designed to enhance your console gaming experience. While it is way more potent than Meta Quest 2 and requires a PlayStation 5 to power it, the PSVR 2 offers AAA VR gaming experiences that you just can’t get on some other VR platforms.

With the PSVR 2, you get 4K OLED panels, a 120Hz refresh rate, and 110-degree FOV for some super smooth, gorgeous images to immerse you in the virtual world.

Priced at $550, the PSVR 2 is way pricier than Meta Quest 2 and lacks backward compatibility. However, the flawless VR experience with a robust library of games pushes the envelope for PSVR 2.

Best upcoming VR headsets to watch out for

Meta Quest 3

Meta

Key Specs

• Max Resolution – 2160 x 2208
• Field of View – Unknown
• Screen Type – LCD
• Max Refresh Rate – 120Hz
• Weight – Unknown
• Tracking Type – Unknown
• Release Date: Later in the year
• Price: $499
• What Else Do I Need?: Nothing

Meta introduced the Quest 3 right before Apple’s Vision Pro announcement to take the sheen off Apple’s most anticipated product. While the Quest 3 hasn’t been made available yet, there is still a lot that we do not know about Meta’s new VR headset.

However, interestingly, Meta did announce the pricing of Quest 3, and at $499 with a ton of upgrades over the Quest 2, this headset is bound to become a segment leader when it starts retailing. It will have a high-end Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 SoC at its core, a 120Hz refresh rate for smoother graphics, and will support hand tracking, voice commands, wireless and Mixed reality.

So, If you don’t immediately need to purchase a new VR headset and want a standalone VR headset, then Quest 3 is worth waiting for.

Apple Vision Pro

Apple

Key Specs

• Max Resolution – 2160 x 3840
• Field of View – Unknown
• Screen Type – micro-OLED
• Max Refresh Rate – Unknown
• Weight – Unknown
• Tracking Type – Unknown
• Release Date: Early next year
• Price: $3,499
• What Else Do I Need?: Nothing

The Apple Vision Pro has single-handedly changed the perspective towards VR headsets. Till now, these headsets were considered an accessory that could be used for gaming and content consumption. While a few Pro headsets have made their presence felt in the past, the Vision Pro cona become a device that can change how we use our smartphones, laptops, and even TVs.

Apple has pitched this as a single device that has the potential to reduce the number of devices you use, and the Vision Pro, with all its premium materials and features, probably will do so. The only hindrance is its exorbitant price. At $3,499, this is only suitable for people who have deep pockets and do not care about using a first-generation device with all its limitations and rough edges.

What’s the best VR Headset for you?

As with most major hardware purchases, the best VR headset ultimately comes down to your own personal preferences and circumstances. There are plenty of choices but not everyone can afford a high-end PC after all, never mind an often-expensive VR headset to go alongside it. 

If nothing but the absolute best will do and you’ve got the funds to back it up, then the Vive Pro 2 is your strongest choice on PC right now, providing a strong 5K experience. If you’re working within a budget, want minimal fuss in setting it up or you’re relatively new to VR, the Oculus Quest 2 is a solid all-rounder. It doesn’t require extra hardware, has numerous exclusives, and Meta’s investing heavily in this platform.

Also, make sure to check out our other guides:

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