The 3 BEST VR Headsets to buy in 2022

The technical specs for VR headsets might be somewhat overwhelming, but you only need to focus on a few important criteria to choose the best ones.

To begin, is the headset tethered or stand-alone? To offer all of the computing power for VR applications, a tethered VR headset requires a device such as a gaming PC or console. As a result, you’ll need to ensure that your PC has the necessary components to run games while also supporting the VR headset. A standalone VR headset includes all of the technology required to operate its VR programs, removing part of the technological burden from the PC or console.

A VR headset’s positional motion tracking technology is a crucial aspect. Inside-out tracking is a current trend in which cameras on the headset scan your surroundings and then compute your motion relative to those fixed reference points.

External trackers, on the other hand, are more exact, but inside-out trackers are more portable, beautiful, and reduce cable clutter. Following that, high-resolution display screens within the headset aid the image by shrinking the real images. This minimizes the likelihood of seeing the pixel grid when wearing the headset and enhances the immersion. The frame rate also contributes to immersion, with 90Hz being a reasonable working minimum for a headset.

Finally, there is one feature of VR headsets that you may not have considered: your interpupillary distance (IPD). Many VR headsets include adjustable lens spacing, including our top overall selection. Our best overall option should suit 95% of folks.

This merely scratches the surface of everything you should think about when purchasing a VR headset. But don’t worry; we’ve done all of the research for you and selected the finest VR headsets for you below.

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Number 1. Meta Quest 2

 

 

The Meta Quest 2 isn’t the most luxurious VR experience, but it’s likely to be the only VR headset you’ll need to purchase. This headgear provides a degree of freedom that no other VR device can equal.

This is a standalone battery-powered headgear that provides the greatest VR images and performance presently attainable with mobile computing technology. You may use the Quest 2 to play PC VR games through a USB-C connection as well as WiFi.

The Quest 2 also has a vast library of games and experiences that were either created or transferred from other VR platforms. It’s as simple to use as any current game console, yet it still enables individuals who like tinkering with technology to sideload software.

The newest Quest headset from Meta isn’t flawless, but the whole product is more than the sum of its parts. The main issue with Quest 2 has nothing to do with the product itself.

A Facebook account is no longer required to use a Quest VR headset as of August 23, 2022. A Meta account is still required, but it does not have to be connected to Facebook.

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Number 2. Valve Index

 

 

While other headsets, such as the HTC Vive Cosmos Elite, outperform the Valve Index in various respects, the Index remains the greatest PC headset overall.

Valve’s VR headgear is rather pricey, however,v this is mitigated somewhat by Valve’s modular approach. You may purchase any component of the kit anytime you want.

Another key advantage of the Index is that you won’t find anything that works better with SteamVR. After all, this is the gear for which SteamVR is intended. Half-Life Alyx, probably the finest VR game ever, was created for the Index. Other SteamVR-compatible headsets will work OK, but the Index is the ultimate experience for this and numerous other titles.

It’s also worth noting that the Valve Index is a virtual reality headset with positional tracking. While the trend in VR seems to be toward inside-out tracking as the norm, the Index depends on base stations to offer precise room-scale tracking.

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Number 3. Sony Playstation VR

 

 

So, at the moment, there is just one console VR choice, and that is the Sony PlayStation VR. This PlayStation 4 add-on has long been the most economical option to enjoy quality AAA VR experiences equal to those available on PC. Sony accomplished this by combining its Move controllers and PS4 camera peripherals with a low-cost headset.

For a long time, purchasing a PS4 and a PSVR was less costly than purchasing a tethered PC VR headset alone, let alone the powerful PC required. If you have a PS4 and want to get into VR, we highly suggest the PSVR, particularly since it comes with a slew of unique VR titles. The PSVR may also be used with a PS5, but you’ll need Sony’s special (free) adaptor.

The most compelling reason to wait on the PSVR is the impending arrival of the PS5-only PSVR2. It is a headgear that promises to push console VR to the cutting edge, if not beyond.

However, given the scarcity of PS5s and the lack of a release date for the headset, the PSVR remains the best (and only) console VR choice.