The 3 Best VR Headsets of 2024

The Best VR Headsets for 2024

Best Overall VR Headset

Valve Index

Platform: PC | Resolution: 1440 x 1600

The Valve Index came to the market a few years back as a top-of-the-line contender, and it still holds its own amongst the best VR headsets available today. In fact, it's the best overall despite no longer offering class-leading screen resolution. That's thanks to its excellent tracking, lower GPU demands, and user-friendly design at a reasonable price. The Index brought flawless tracking and smooth visual performance to our Beat Saber sessions, where those characteristics matter most. Though its screen resolution is lower than others, that tends to fade from your mind once you've become immersed in the buttery smooth VR the Index achieves with more modest PC hardware.

Though we have a lot of great things to report about the Valve Index and have enjoyed our time spent with it in VR, it does come with a couple of downsides. Unlike newer units with camera sensors built into the headset for tracking, the Index still relies on external sensor units. If you prefer an easier or more portable setup, this isn't ideal; however, we did find that VR kits with external sensors out-track the camera-based designs. The other issue with the Index is its terrible compatibility with glasses. We could shoehorn our frames inside the visor to get the testing done, but it was the least comfortable headset we tried with glasses due to an extremely tight fit that resulted in hotspots around our temples. This is why we don't recommend the Index if you plan on bringing your specs into VR. If you only wear glasses, look to the Vive Pro 2 Headset instead. It offers far better glasses compatibility and similar performance to the Index.

Read more: Valve Index review

Best Value for PS5 Players

PlayStation VR2

Platform: PS5 | Resolution: 2000 x 2040

The PlayStation VR2 is one of the market's most advanced and thoughtfully designed headsets and the only one built exclusively for a major console gaming platform. It projects excellent visuals thanks to its high screen resolution and advanced eye-tracking capabilities. We also appreciate its streamlined setup, above-average comfort, and convenient adjustability for daily use. This is hands down the best VR headset we've ever tested for glasses compatibility. If you're planning to bring your eyeglasses into VR, you won't beat the comfort level of the PSVR2 due to its forehead-supported headband that keeps the visor off your face, allowing tons of room inside for glasses. Face-strap-based visors cannot compete.

Although the PSVR2 hardware is excellent, it suffers from a closed software ecosystem. PC-based VR kits can access far more VR content than what's currently available in the PlayStation VR library, and to make matters worse, the PSVR2 isn't backward compatible with the original PSVR headset's titles. But, despite its more limited game library, those who already own a PS5 or anyone who wants to avoid the hassle of keeping up with an advanced gaming PC should strongly consider the PSVR2. Even if you have to pick up a new PS5 to work with the PSVR2, the total cost would be less than many PC VR headsets before you even factor in an expensive performance PC. The PSVR2 is one of the most advanced headsets out there and will give you access to PS5 exclusives, including well-optimized versions of some of the biggest AAA VR titles. However, if your priority is to experience the most VR content in a single headset, you should check out the cross-platform-capable Meta Quest 2. While it lacks the advanced performance of the PSVR2, it compensates with the ability to function as a standalone VR platform and can tether to a VR-ready PC for access to top-tier VR games.

Read more: PlayStation VR2 review

Best for Beginners

Meta Quest 2

Platform: Meta and PC | Resolution: 1832 x 1920

The Meta Quest 2 is a tremendous value as a standalone headset, capable of accessing tons of great games and experiences from its native OS alone, but when you pair it with a VR-ready PC to partake of the Steam VR and extended Meta game libraries, the total versatility and value of this entry-level kit is astonishing. There is simply no better option for VR beginners looking to get their feet wet without breaking the bank, and Quest 2 even maintains headroom for them to experience more advanced VR when they're ready to connect it to a PC. The Quest 2 is positively portable and has the most straightforward setup process we tested, thanks to its minimal design with headset-integrated camera-based sensors.

However, as you might expect, Quest 2's value-optimization and minimal design choices hinder it in some respects. Though the screen resolution is respectable and the camera-based sensors are convenient, standalone visual fidelity and tracking aren't always up to par with PC VR kits that rely on external sensors and high-powered PC graphics cards. Likewise, the minimalistic strap design is a mixed bag. Comfort is lower than more complicated head strap designs, and it's finicky to fit the first time around, but it's among the easiest to take on and off after that. Battery life maxes out between two to three hours, which is decent for casual gaming but may limit more serious players and sneak up on anyone who doesn't charge the headset after each use. Still, we need more than these shortcomings to dissuade us from wholeheartedly recommending the Quest 2 to any beginner looking to try out VR in a truly standalone headset. The same goes for budget-minded PC gamers who want a capable VR kit that doesn't deplete their savings. However, if you're looking for the same streamlined experience with higher comfort, better visuals, and superior tracking and are okay with fewer VR gaming options, check out the excellent PlayStation VR2. It's your best bet if you want AAA VR game quality and don't have the time or money to keep up with a gaming PC.

Read more: Meta Quest 2 review

Compare Products

Compare select up to 5 products to compare

	Score	Product	Price
	86	Valve Index Best Overall VR Headset	$999
	85	PlayStation VR2 Best Value for PS5 Players	$550
	74	Vive Pro 2 Headset	$799
	65	Meta Quest 2 Best for Beginners	$200

How We Test VR Headsets

At GearLab, we've been testing VR headsets for about as long as consumer VR headsets have been available to test, and we've learned a thing or two about what sets the most immersive VR headsets apart and for whom they will work best. For this review, we went deep into the research for over a dozen of the top VR headsets on the market and selected the most compelling to purchase and put to the test across five essential metrics.

• Tracking (35% of overall score weighting)

• Comfort (30% weighting)

• Visuals (15% weighting)

• Daily Use (15% weighting)

• Ease of Setup (5% weighting)

For detailed info on our testing process, see our How We Test VR Headsets article.

Why Trust GearLab

The main product tester for this segment was our senior research analyst, Austin Palmer. He's a driving force behind our world-class, data-driven approach to consumer product testing and an experienced PC gamer. He's spent a lot of time in VR, too, having thoroughly tested nearly all of the VR headsets to come to market over the last several years.

Analysis and Test Results

To help identify the best VR headset for every type of user, from the total beginner to the VR veteran, we developed five weighted metrics to test them — tracking, comfort, visuals, daily use, and ease of setup.

Value

Gearing up for VR can be expensive. When you tally up the high cost of a VR headset, motion controllers, sensors, and the performance PC to run it all, total dollars can climb high enough to rival or exceed pretty much any other gaming niche where specialized hardware is required (i.e., racing and flight sims). Thankfully, there are a few VR headsets out in the wild that offer exceptional value, and we tested them for you. The first one we'll mention is the PlayStation VR2. When you consider the combined cost of a PS5 and a PSVR2, which comes with everything you need to dominate on the level console-VR field, you're still well under the price of many PC VR kits, without even factoring in the spendy PC it takes to power them. There's the Meta Quest 2 for the most budget-conscious. Ironically, it's the cheapest headset we tested and the most versatile. It can play standalone or tether to a VR-ready PC to walk both worlds and enjoy more VR game variety than any other headset can match. Last but not least, the Valve Index was once considered a high-priced, cutting-edge VR hardware splurge, but fast forward a few years, and it's a relative bargain in the VR market that still holds its own with flawless tracking, smooth visual performance, and superior ergonomics for daily use.

Tracking

We weigh tracking heavily in our review, as it's one of the pillars of VR immersion and a vital mechanic in VR games and experiences. Throughout testing for this metric, we paid close attention to both the VR headset and its motion controllers. Although the headsets we tested ran on three different platforms (PC, Meta, PS5), we did find common testing ground in our go-to rhythm game, Beat Saber. Units that could keep up in Beat Saber's 360-degree songs tended to score highest in this metric, and there was definitely a pattern of superior tracking performance from headsets that rely on external sensor units instead of camera sensors integrated into the visor.

The excellent Valve Index led the pack with flawless tracking, giving us an edge in BeatSaber's 360-degree songs, where we could bag far away notes with higher consistency than other headsets. The story was almost the same across all headsets using external sensor units. The HTC Vive Pro 2 scored just under the Index.

Although not quite as impressive in tracking precision overall as headsets with external sensor units, the PlayStation VR2 did a phenomenal job in Beat Saber's 360-degree songs. It's easily the best of any of the more convenient built-in sensor-based headsets we've tested when it comes to tracking.

It's probably worth mentioning that even the worst tracking headsets, like the Meta Quest 2, will do fine for most VR games and experiences; you just wouldn't want to rely on one of them if you're going for a top spot on the Beat Saber leaderboards or demand tracking consistency and precision in general.

Comfort

Comfort in VR is difficult to dial in, but some headsets do it better than others. When we test a VR headset for comfort, we're paying attention to a few key areas: weight and balance, face mask fit and feel, how hot and sweaty the headset gets, and how much room there is for glasses. The number one factor that determines comfort is the head strap or headband design. The most comfortable headsets had headband designs that kept the weight off our faces.

The PlayStation VR2 is a standout headset for comfort. It weighs in at just over 1.5 pounds and features the best headband design and glasses accommodation of the bunch. The forehead-supported headband keeps the visor's weight off your face, which is a significant improvement over most headsets, but PSVR2 really steals the show when it comes to space for glasses. Since its visor doesn't have to contact your face, you can wear your glasses as usual and then pull the visor up close to the lenses. There shouldn't be any hotspots or severe pressure, as with other headsets, but you may sacrifice a bit of FOV with your specs, extending the space between your eyes and the headset's lenses.

Visuals

When evaluating a VR headset's visuals, we're primarily concerned with field of view (FOV) and screen door effect (SDE). FOV is just like it sounds: it's the total area (in degrees) you can see in VR; the more, the better. SDE refers to the human eye's ability to pick up pixels and the spaces in between, which results in an effect much like looking at scenery and objects through a mesh screen. This is an issue in VR because the eye is so close to the headset's internal displays. VR headsets with higher screen resolution tend to exhibit less SDE, but FOV has more to do with the overall hardware design.

The PSVR2 has impressive eye-tracking tech of 2,000 x 2040 pixels per eye. It has a low SDE, great field of view, and good refresh rates to contribute to a highly immersive visual experience.

One thing worth mentioning on the topic of VR visuals is that while crisper and clearer visuals are usually better for immersion, there's also a lot to be said about the smoothness of motion. Headsets like the Valve Index may not have the highest screen resolution to keep SDE at a minimum, but they can still have high refresh rates or require lower GPU power to keep frame rates high. Also, we almost always forgot about SDE altogether after a few minutes of VR immersion, no matter what headset we were in.

Daily Use

We score VR headsets' daily use on the convenience of getting a good initial fit and how easy it is to take them on and off once set. This metric also weighs in on the sound quality of the headsets' speakers and microphones and the quality of the interpupillary distance (IPD) controls.

Once again, the Valve Index shows off its premium pedigree through superior ergonomics and sound quality. Initial setup is a breeze, and taking the headset on and off is quick and easy, thanks to a spring-like elasticity. The sound from the internal mic and over-the-ear headphones was good, and we appreciate that they don't get in the way when putting the headset on. IPD is adjustable from a linear slider on the bottom of the visor.

Ease of Setup

We measure every VR kit's ease of setup by how difficult it is to configure the required hardware, software, and settings. In this metric, it's tough to beat the convenience of headsets with built-in sensors that don't require the additional setup time, hassle, and space like external sensor units do.

Headsets that don't require advanced hardware score well in this metric, as do headsets with highly intuitive or streamlined setup guidance.

Without a doubt, the most straightforward headset to set up is the Meta Quest 2. It requires no tether, no external sensors, and no PC or console to play. The initial setup is straightforward and streamlined through a well-guided tutorial, and the Quest 2's “Guardian” is the best VR barrier setup we've seen.

The runner-up was the PlayStation VR2, another headset with integrated sensors and the streamlined setup you might expect from a highly refined PS5 accessory.

Conclusion

Hopefully, you've found this best-in-class VR headset review helpful and informative. We've touched on everything from the most advanced headset, aimed squarely at spendy enthusiasts and developers, to the humblest entry-level offering for VR beginners. And remember, if you want a deeper dive, we've written individual reviews for all VR headsets we mentioned here. That's where we get into the nitty-gritty of how they performed across each of our carefully considered, expertly tested metrics.