Virtual reality (VR), long promised by science fiction, has finally come into its own. Multiple companies and platforms provide a wealth of options for price, performance, and available game titles. The end result—working and playing in a virtual, interactive world—can be a welcome escape. In this article, we’re taking a look at the best VR headsets available right now and a few helpful bundles and kits to get you started.
Whether you’re inside the cockpit of an X-wing in Star Wars: Squadrons, exploring the legendary City 17 in Half-Life: Alyx, or exploring the corners of our real world with Google Earth VR, the horizons are vanishingly distant.
VR headsets
At the core of any VR experience is the headset. Each is a balance of resolution, price, weight, and other factors. Gaming VR headsets typically come with two controllers and all the sensors they need to track movement. Here’s a look at the top VR headsets on the shelf.
HTC VIVE XR Elite Virtual Reality Headset with Controllers
This all-in-one option offers exceptional graphics and high-resolution passthrough in a small package. You’ll have up to 110 Degree field of view and 90Hz refresh rate with up to two hours of continuous power. You can also personalize your experience with IPD (inter-pupillary distance) and diopter dials. And when you do enter the VIVERSE, it’s even easier to socialize, manage digital assets, showcase art, work, and play.
Varjo Aero Virtual Reality Headset
The Varjo Aero headset offers a cutting-edge VR experience with industry-leading visual fidelity for professionals and demanding users. Its optical design is nothing short of breathtaking, utilizing ultra-dense pixels and variable resolution lenses that mimic how the human eye works. Varjo Aero is a top contender for the best virtual reality headset, with the world’s most advanced 200Hz built-in eye tracking technology. Every user can enjoy a truly custom VR experience, tailored to their very own eyes.
HTC VIVE Pro 2 Headset
HTC’s current VIVE Pro 2 is one of the best virtual reality headsets for PC-VR gaming. The super sharp 5K resolution is spectacular; the 120-degree field of view is comfortable and natural; and the 120Hz refresh rate makes games look just like the developers intended. This headset integrates 3D spatial audio for a fully immersive audio-visual experience like none other, and the ergonomic fit keeps you cool, comfortable, and locked in during long gaming sessions.
HTC VIVE Cosmos Elite VR Headset Full Kit
The HTC VIVE Cosmos Elite is currently one of the best midrange virtual reality headsets. Equal parts quality and affordability, casual and hardcore VR gamers alike will be impressed by the punch this headset packs. 1440×1700 resolution screens for each eye, a 90Hz refresh rate, and 110-degree field of view combine for a formidable VR platform most gamers can afford. The flip-up visor is a great touch for quickly coming back to reality so you’re never too far away from the real-life action.
VR Accessories
From extra trackers to batteries and carrying cases, these are the VR accessories that can help you get even more out of your VR headset.
HTC VIVE SteamVR Base Station 2.0
With wide-area tracking, the HTC VIVE SteamVR Base Station 2.0 improves immersion by improving the accuracy of the Vive headset’s tracking.
HTC 3 Pack VIVE Tracker
The HTC 3 Pack VIVE Tracker lets you bring specially designed, real-world objects into your game world, while enabling full-body tracking for an even more immersive experience.
Bundles and Kits
Save money and hassle with pre-built VR bundles and kits.
HTC VIVE Cosmos Elite VR Headset with Accessory Kit
The HTC VIVE Cosmos Elite VR Headset with Accessory Kit comes with everything you need to get started with high-end VR gaming. It includes the 90Hz refresh, 1440×1700 per-eye Cosmos Elite headset, two controllers, two trackers, a base station, cables, and cable converters.
How to Choose a Great VR Headset
There are several key aspects and features to keep in mind when shopping for your first VR headset.
Ecosystem
Before you consider specs, you first want to get familiar with the headset’s gaming ecosystem. For instance, some headsets are compatible with Facebook’s Oculus games, while others work with SteamVR. Some can work with multiple platforms, but not all, and not all games are available on multiple platforms. For instance, if you were to buy Sony’s PlayStation VR headset, it is only compatible with PSVR games.
Specs
Next is resolution. Ideally, you want as high a resolution as you can afford. A lower-resolution headset will look less real, be less immersive, and possibly suffer from the “screen door effect.” This is when you can see the space between the pixels, as if you’re looking at the virtual world through a screen door.
Use
Lastly, consider how you’ll be using the headset. If you only plan on sitting in a chair, you don’t need a “room scale” VR rig. On the other hand, if you want to physically move around a virtual world, consider a model with some kind of full-body or movement tracking.
Is it Worth Buying a VR Headset?
We’re living in the golden age of VR. Never before have more companies made better headsets, and more developers created such excellent content.
On the hardware side, headsets featuring ultra-high resolutions of 8K and beyond help minimize or even eliminate the “screen door effect” that has plagued VR since its inception. High refresh rates, fast processing, and accurate sensors create accurate head and position tracking while reducing the possibility of motion sickness.
When it comes to the software, legendary developers have released games that are not only immersive, but they creatively take advantage of the new medium. For example, Valve released Half-Life: Alyx in March 2020, and it was the first new game in the fabled Half-Life series in more than a decade. This incredible title is exclusively available in VR. Other highly-reviewed games, like Microsoft Flight Simulator and Star Wars: Squadrons released aftermarket patches so they can be played immersively in VR.
Beyond just games, virtual reality will permeate our lives. With VR experiences ranging from mountain climbing to exploring the world in high-resolution in Google Earth VR, there’s always a new, enjoyable escape around the corner.
