The very best VR headsets for 2025
When you’ve ever needed to dive into an entire new world with out leaving your lounge, a VR headset might be your subsequent massive funding. These headsets aren’t only for gaming — though VR gaming is a blast. They will additionally transport you to digital worlds for exploring spectacular environments, immersive exercises and even social gatherings. Whether or not you’re craving an intense health session or a calming digital tour by means of a museum, VR opens up potentialities that go approach past conventional screens.
There are many choices on the market, so that you don’t have to interrupt the financial institution. Inexpensive standalone headsets just like the Meta Quest 2 and Meta Quest 3S supply nice visuals without having any further gear — you may simply put them on and go. However for those who’re able to splurge, the Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional brings an ultra-premium expertise with top-notch visuals and high-end options, although it does include a hefty price ticket.
From standalone units that allow you to wander freely to head-mounted shows (HMDs) that hook up with laptops or PCs with a hyperlink cable for enhanced efficiency, there’s a VR headset for everybody. Many fashions embody options like a cushty head strap for longer classes, Wi-Fi connectivity for easy streaming, and portability that allows you to discover with out limits. So whether or not you’re simply dipping your toes into VR or searching for a top-tier setup, there’s a headset on the market to match your wants.
Desk of contents
How we check VR headsets
I have a tendency to evaluate VR headsets on a number of fundamental standards: Ergonomics, immersion and controls. It is not that onerous to shove a cellular show right into a plastic headset and strap some low-cost elastic headbands onto it. But it surely takes ability to craft one thing that is nicely balanced and does not really feel uncomfortable after half-hour.
My check for ergonomics is pretty easy: How lengthy can I put on a headset till I begin to really feel discomfort? For essentially the most ergonomic units, just like the Quest 3, that would simply be an hour or two. However heavier PC {hardware} usually feels cumbersome after simply quarter-hour — you received’t discover headsets responsible of that on this information.
Immersion, in the meantime, comes from having excessive decision screens with quick refresh charges, so all the things seems sharp and easy. Subject of view can also be a serious aspect, because it describes how nicely VR screens can cowl what you see. Having a slim subject of view makes it really feel such as you’re trying by means of a pair of binoculars, and limits your sense of “presence,” or the concept you’re truly transported to a digital world.
A large subject of view, however, could make it seem to be you’re truly flying over the globe in Google Earth. We have a look at a number of standard video games, like Superhot, Beat Saber and Pistol Whip, on each headset to evaluate how immersed we really feel.
The very best controllers match naturally in your fingers and supply correct monitoring. The business has mainly adopted the design of Meta’s glorious contact controllers, however we’re additionally seeing intriguing leaps ahead like Valve’s finger monitoring gamepads. We decide controllers primarily based on how straightforward they’re to carry, how they maintain as much as sweaty gameplay classes and the way simply headsets can monitor their place in area.
Nonetheless, it’s essential to take a look at a digital actuality headset’s specs as an entire. Relying on what you’re searching for from a VR headset, you’ll wish to think about elements like your PC’s graphics card for those who plan to make use of the headset to play the perfect VR video games. When you’re not trying to put money into a VR headset solely for gaming, options like head monitoring assist you to discover your setting simply by merely shifting your head within the simulator. This usually leads to a extra immersive and life like expertise.
Finest VR headsets for 2025
Photograph by Devindra Hardawar / Engadget
Learn our full Meta Quest 3 VR headset evaluation
Storage capability: 128GB | Battery life: 2.2 hours | Subject of view: 110 levels (horizontal), 96 levels (vertical) | Max refresh fee: 120Hz
The long-awaited follow-up to the Quest 2 is an improve in each respect: It’s extra comfy to put on, it has greater high quality screens and it has full-color combined actuality cameras, permitting you to see the actual world alongside digital parts. Whereas it’s costlier at $500, it’s additionally a much more succesful headset than the Quest 2 and the brand new Quest 3S, with {hardware} and optics that may preserve you fortunately immersed in VR for years.
The Quest 3 is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chip, which Meta says has double the graphics energy of the Quest 2. That extra energy is noticeable in video games like Crimson Matter 2, which function up to date textures that ship an expertise nearer to PC VR. The Quest 3’s new shows run at 2,064 by 2,208 pixels per eye, providing a fair higher expertise than the PlayStation VR2. Its combined actuality cameras additionally allow you to simply see the actual world, in case you have to rapidly reply a textual content or Slack message. They usually allow video games that may be constructed round your room.
What makes the Quest 3 fascinating is that it provides extra than simply strong VR: It additionally provides you a glimpse at what a combined actuality future might be. Whereas it’s not as sharp or succesful as Apple’s Imaginative and prescient Professional, that’s comprehensible. And identical to earlier Quest headsets, you can too plug it right into a gaming PC for greater high quality VR experiences.
- Sharp new screens and lenses
- Sooner efficiency
- Blended actuality cameras make it simpler to see the actual world
- Adjustable for glasses
- Costlier than earlier than
- Solely 128GB of storage to begin
- No battery life enhancements
$495 at Walmart
Photograph by Devindra Hardawar / Engadget
Learn our full Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional evaluation
Storage capability: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | Battery life: 2 hours | Subject of view: 100 levels | Max refresh fee: 100Hz
With the Imaginative and prescient Professional, Apple is making an attempt to do for VR what the iPod did for media gamers, and what the iPhone did for smartphones. It’s a daring, $3,500 gamble to reshape the world of VR round Apple’s thought of “spatial computing.” It’s extremely costly, considerably uncomfortable and surprisingly buggy, however the Imaginative and prescient Professional is the largest leap ahead we’ve seen within the stagnating VR business in years. Most individuals shouldn’t purchase it, however for those who’re a developer or somebody with cash to burn and wish the perfect immersive headset at present, it’s really in a league of its personal.
- Unbelievable Micro-OLED screens
- Intuitive gesture controls
- Convincing Spatial Audio
- Immersive Video is astoundingly life like
- Extremely costly
- visionOS could be very buggy
- Heavy in comparison with different headsets
- Exterior battery is annoying and does not final lengthy
- Not many native visionOS apps
$3,500 at Apple
Photograph by Devindra Hardawar / Engadget
Learn our full Meta Quest 3S VR headset evaluation
Storage capability: 128GB, 256GB | Battery life: 2-3 hours | Subject of view: 96 levels | Max refresh fee: 120Hz
The Quest 3S is Meta’s newest entry-level VR headset, however don’t let its affordable $300 value idiot you: It’s additionally a exceptional achievement for the corporate. It sports activities the identical Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chip because the Quest 3, in addition to a wholesome 8GB of RAM, permitting it to energy the identical experiences as its pricier sibling. It additionally options Meta’s glorious Contact Plus controllers, which ship strong movement controls, in addition to responsive joysticks and buttons.
The one main draw back is that the Quest 3S isn’t practically as sharp because the Quest 3. It options the identical 1,830 by 1,920 pixel per eye display from the Quest 2, whereas the Quest 3’s display provides 30 p.c extra pixels (2,264 by 2,208 pixels per eye), to ship a sharper and extra life like picture.
VR newbies most likely received’t discover the distinction a lot although, and that’s what actually issues. The Quest 3S is simply as comfy because the Quest 3 to put on, and it might probably simply entry the identical apps and video games on the Meta Quest Retailer. There’s no headphone jack both, however its built-in audio system ship strong enveloping audio for video games like Maestro, and you would additionally plug in a USB-C to three.5mm adapter, or simply pair wi-fi headphones.
The Quest 3S can hook up with gaming PCs over USB-C or wirelessly to play extra intense VR experiences. It will possibly additionally wirelessly stream your gameplay to Chromecast units, or to AirPlay units by mirroring the Quest app from an iPhone. When you’re nonetheless holding onto the Quest 2, or an authentic Quest, the Quest 3S is exactly the cheap improve you’ve been ready for.
- Quick efficiency
- Comfy to put on
- Wonderful controllers
- Massive app library
- Older Fresnel lenses result in artifacts
- No headphone jack
- Common combined actuality cameras
$299 at Amazon
Photograph By Devindra Hardawar / Engadget
Learn our full PlayStation VR2 headset evaluation
Storage capability: 128GB, 256GB | Battery life: 3 hours | Subject of view: 110 levels | Max refresh fee: 120Hz
The PS VR2 is likely one of the greatest headset we’ve examined. It provides twin 2K OLED HDR screens, successfully providing you with 4K high quality. It’s one of the comfy headsets round. And it has some genuinely refreshing new options, like eye monitoring and headset haptics. (Sure, it might probably actually rock your noggin.) Better of all, the PS VR2 delivers high-quality digital actuality with out the necessity for a $1,000+ gaming PC – all you want is a PlayStation 5.
Now, our suggestion comes with a number of caveats. At $550, the PS VR2 is costlier than the PS5 itself. And it’s unclear how rapidly its sport library will refill. The preliminary run has only some exclusives, like Horizon VR and Gran Turismo 7, and we haven’t seen many new titles since then. But it surely’s nonetheless the best approach to expertise high-end VR, and it’s a serious improve over the unique PS VR.
- Wonderful OLED shows
- Comfy match
- Headset haptics really feel immersive
- Sense controllers are strong
- Extremely excessive launch value
- Restricted new titles
- Long run growth is suspect
$350 at Sony
Photograph by Devindra Hardawar / Engadget
Learn our full Valve Index VR package evaluation
Storage capability: N/A | Battery life: 7 hours | Subject of view: 108 levels | Max refresh fee: 120Hz
Valve’s Index package stays probably the greatest high-end options in the marketplace that gives a really immersive VR expertise. For $999 you get the Index headset, Valve’s finger monitoring controllers and two SteamVR base stations. Whereas we have seen higher-resolution headsets arrive within the final two years, it is nonetheless a really strong choice, with a 1,440 by 1,600 pixel decision, an eye-watering 144Hz refresh fee and a large 130-degree subject of view. I would gladly lose a number of pixels for the Index’s smoother and extra expansive display, that are nonetheless far past most different shopper headsets.
As a SteamVR product, the Index requires putting in two sensors at reverse corners of your room. And naturally, it is wired to your PC. However that clunkiness is price it for the upper refresh fee and extra correct monitoring. Certain, it is not as straightforward to make use of because the Quest 3S, however at this value vary, we assume you may undergo a little bit of inconvenience to get a really high-quality VR expertise.
Valve’s finger monitoring controllers are improbable as nicely, with a handy strap that locks them onto your fingers. They make taking part in Half-Life: Alyx really feel like a dream. It is unlucky that different VR video games have not totally taken benefit of the finger monitoring although.
- 144Hz refresh fee with a 130-degree subject of view
- Wonderful finger-tracking controllers
- Stellar efficiency
- Requires putting in sensors in your room
- Wired design
$999 at Steam
Photograph by Devindra Hardawar / Engadget
Learn our full Bigscreen Past VR headset evaluation
Storage capability: N/A | Battery life: 2 hours | Subject of view: 102 levels | Max refresh fee: 90Hz
Primarily an improve for the Index, the Past is a novel spin on a VR headset from Bigscreen, the developer of a preferred app for watching video in VR. It seems extra like an outsized pair of goggles than a large VR headset. The $999 Past is the lightest VR choice we’ve ever seen (it weighs a tad greater than a deck of taking part in playing cards), and its Micro-OLED screens are sharp and supply near-perfect distinction. Not like LCD screens, black can look genuinely black with the Past.
The draw back, although, is that the Bigscreen Past is dear. It’s $999 by itself for those who’re simply upgrading a Valve Index setup. When you’re ranging from scratch, although, you’ll additionally want to purchase two Steam VR base stations and a pair of Index controllers. That provides as much as a whopping $1,578.
The Bigscreen Past additionally requires a customized face cushion, which is constructed from a 3D facescan if you place your order. Sadly, that makes it more durable to share than different headsets. There’s additionally no room for glasses, because it’s so slim. You should purchase prescription lens inserts from Bigscreen for a further charge. And naturally, you’ll must reside with a cable tethered to your PC, there’s not one of the freedom of the cordless Meta Quest headsets.
For all of its complexity, although, the Bigscreen Past delivers essentially the most immersive PC VR expertise I’ve ever seen. Because it’s so gentle, you may simply put on it for hours. Along with its wonderful screens, it’s the best choice for VR fans who don’t thoughts coping with price and complexity for true immersion.
- Extremely gentle and comfy
- Sharp and vivid Micro-OLED screens
- Works alongside current Valve Index equipment
- Costly
- No built-in audio
- Nonetheless displays artifacting like different VR headsets
$999 at Bigscreen
Different VR headsets we’ve examined
HTC Vive Focus Imaginative and prescient
The Vive Focus Imaginative and prescient is a glossy premium standalone VR headset that may additionally ship strong PC VR. But it surely’s additionally operating growing older {hardware}, it’s riddled with software program points and it’s costly in comparison with the Meta Quest 3.
Meta Quest Professional
As nice because the Meta Quest 3 is, the Quest 2 remains to be an excellent entry-level VR headset, and it’s price contemplating if it’s on sale beneath its present $250 checklist value. The Meta Quest Professional, on the the hand, is an costly boondoggle greatest ignored.
HTC Vive Professional 2
Outdoors of Meta’s {hardware}, the HTC Vive Professional 2 stays a improbable PC headset, however it’s far costlier than the Valve Index, which is extra comfy and provides higher audio.
VR headset FAQs
How do VR headsets work?
On the most simple degree, a VR headset is solely a top quality display that you simply’re holding as much as your face. For a wired headset, the precise work of rendering a sport is completed on both a PC or sport console. For utterly wi-fi units, just like the Meta Quest 3, that work is dealt with proper on the headset. They depend on both exterior sensors, or sensors constructed into the headsets, to map your bodily area. Whereas you should use a standard gamepad or keyboard and mouse in VR, they usually use movement monitoring controllers to immerse you of their 3D environments.
What VR headset is greatest for full physique monitoring?
Whereas we’re nonetheless ready for a really nice haptic VR bodysuit to reach, you may nonetheless obtain correct physique monitoring with most Steam VR-compatible PC headsets. The Valve Index and HTC Vive Professional 2 each depend on room-tracking sensors that may map your physique extra successfully than the built-in sensors on opponents. You can even add HTC Vive Trackers to wrist and leg straps, in addition to belts, for even higher protection. The Meta Quest 3 doesn’t have any straightforward physique monitoring options, however you may add Vive trackers when it’s plugged into your PC to imitate a Steam VR headset.
Just a few experiences, like VRChat, benefit from full physique monitoring in the meanwhile. At the moment there aren’t any physique monitoring options for the PlayStation VR and VR2, however we’re intrigued by the corporate’s Mocopi physique trackers, which had been actually introduced in Japan.
What VR headsets are higher than Oculus?
Oculus is the earlier title for Meta’s VR {hardware}. At the moment, Meta solely helps the Quest 3, Quest 3S and Quest Professional, all of that are wi-fi headsets. As we clarify above, PC VR headsets can usually obtain higher high quality digital actuality, since they depend on extra highly effective graphics {hardware}.
What VR headsets work with Xbox?
At the moment, Microsoft’s Xbox consoles don’t help any VR headsets.
Current updates
November 2024: Added the HTC Vive Focus Imaginative and prescient to the “others we examined” part.
October 2024: Up to date our “greatest low-cost VR headset” high choose to be the Meta Quest 3S.
