Top 3 VR Headsets in 2024

Even for a brief moment, the best virtual reality headsets can make you forget that you have a large piece of foam and plastic covering your face. Even before you step onto your sofa, it will give you the impression that you are in the world of a game.

The Meta Quest 3 is the best VR headset, based on our testing of dozens of models, ranging from the most well-known to the least well-known. Not only is it reasonably priced, but it’s also one of the few VR headsets that feels genuinely novel at the moment. However, the Meta Quest 3S is ready to go for a lot less money if you’re looking for something less expensive. It maintains the Quest 2’s optics while stealing the Quest 3’s excellent processor.

The next step after purchasing one of the top VR headsets is to determine which games are worthwhile to play on it. Half-Life: Alyx will test the limits of your PC, but it demonstrates what VR is capable of. There are many other, less intense sci-fi games to enjoy, like No Man’s Sky. If you want to expand your library ahead of time, I suggest looking into the top VR PC games.

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Last update on 2024-12-19 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

Top 3 VR Headsets in 2024

1.Meta Quest 3

Last update on 2024-12-19 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

The Meta Quest 3, the sequel to the wildly popular Quest 2 that is now nearing the end of its life, is the best VR headset overall. But because of its new lenses, smaller form factor, higher resolution panels, and increased processing power, this new model wins the top spot.

Instead of using bulkier Fresnel lenses, Meta’s most recent headset uses thinner pancake lenses, which helps make the entire device smaller. Although the included fabric strap is still subpar and we advise you to replace it with a better one, it is more comfortable to wear because it doesn’t protrude from your face as much.

Although you can use the Quest 3 without a tether, you’ll likely want to connect it to your gaming PC using a good USB Type-C cable in order to access your Steam library. Using Meta’s Air Link, that option functions best over a strong Wi-Fi connection, ideally Wi-Fi 6E or higher. Although it’s not nearly as good as a dedicated graphics card, the built-in Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 processor is sufficient for many of the VR games available in the headset’s store.

A 2064 x 2208 resolution LCD panel is installed in each eye, and in addition to improved passthrough cameras, the mixed reality and virtual images are of higher quality and clarity than in the Quest 2. Two tappings on the side of the headset quickly provides a detailed view of your surroundings.

A set of upgraded Touch Plus controllers, which do not have the noticeable ring around the hand like the older Quest 2 controllers did, are also included with the Quest 3. Despite the simpler design, controller tracking is as good as you would expect.

The ease of setup of Meta’s VR headset is one of its best features; it only requires a few steps on the headset and app to get going, and there’s no need to tinker with base stations. However, the Quest 3 only lasts for about two hours when playing wireless games and streaming videos, so you won’t be using it all day. About the same amount of time is needed to fully recharge, but you can use the headset while it’s charging via a USB cable.

Despite the controversies and eventual death of Mark Zuckerberg’s metaverse, we really like the Quest 3 for PC VR gaming. It is a lot more expensive than its predecessor but it’s ultimately the best overall VR headset money can buy. If you want something cheaper still, the Meta Quest 3S is your best bet.

In recent years, expectations for virtual reality have undoubtedly fluctuated. Although the grandiose vision of a comprehensive digital world has not yet come to fruition, the Meta Quest 3 is a reorientation of Mark Zuckerberg’s metaverse concept. Rather than a dystopian depiction like in “Ready Player One,” it alludes to the basics: engaging in immersive gaming, watching sports in virtual reality, and engaging in playful arm-waving. And to be honest, that’s all right.

There has been a lot of increasing competition since the Meta Quest 2 was the best VR headset available. The 2020 release of the headset has begun to feel a little dated because, in comparison to more modern devices, its once-impressive Gen 1 Snapdragon XR2 was beginning to feel like an antiquated relic.Heck, when we reviewed it, it was still called an Oculus Quest 2; that’s how old we are talking about.

The Meta Quest 3 is a massive upgrade from the Quest 2. It’s more powerful, its stunning 4K+ pancake lenses make games look phenomenal, it boasts excellent inside-out tracking, and it has a fairly idiot-proof setup. On top of that, it’s priced at only, making it one of the most affordable VR gaming headsets—or, I should say, “mixed reality headsets”—on the market.

2.Meta Quest 3S

Last update on 2024-12-19 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

What might be the best inexpensive VR headset, given that the Quest 3 is currently the best? Why, of course, the Quest 3S!The Quest 3S is both new and old in equal measure, drawing elements from the Quest 3 above it and the Quest 2 before it. In my opinion, it is more of a quality-of-life enhancement to the well-liked but now-canceled Quest 2.

It shares the Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chip with the Quest 3 on the front end. in addition to 8 GB of RAM. This implies that it functions exactly the same as the Quest 3 and can play all of the same games. However, compared to Quest 2, it is significantly more performant in this area.when hooked up to a PC, you won’t notice much of a difference.

This is due to the fact that the Quest 3S uses the same optics as the Quest 2—that is, the same LCD screen and Fresnel lenses. The visual experience is similar to that of Quest 2, meaning it is sharp in the center but a little blurry around the edges. It’s not nearly as sharp as the dual-LCD screens and pancake lenses of the Quest 3.

It is about $200 less expensive than the Quest 3 and still has many of the features we enjoy about Meta’s more expensive product. Excellent tracking, ease of setup, and straightforward wired or wireless connectivity to your gaming PC are all included. The Quest 3S is a very wise purchase in many ways.

Without a doubt, the Quest 3S is the best.if you’re just looking to get into the world of VR and don’t want to spend a lot of money right away. However, we’d still recommend the Quest 3 to the keener VR explorer.The Oculus Quest 2 was the original name of the four-year-old Meta Quest 2 before Meta acquired the VR headset business. Up until now, if you wanted VR without spending a lot of money, this was our budget-friendly suggestion. The Quest 2 is now being retired by Meta, and the Quest 3S will take its place. This new low-cost headset, which retails for has the same display as the Quest 2 and has the same chip and cameras as the Quest 3. The Quest 3S is therefore our new Editors’ Choice winner for affordable VR headsets (though if you want a sharper image, the Quest 3 is worth the extra money). It’s a sufficient upgrade and the greatest headset for anyone wishing to experiment with virtual reality.

The only affordable VR headsets available to consumers for or less are the Meta Quest 3S and its predecessor. With the Valve Index and HTC’s consumer headsets, such as the recently released Vive Focus Vision, costing approximately and the Apple Vision Pro weighing an outrageous the majority of other VR headsets on the market are more expensive and targeted at enthusiasts. Even if they faced more direct competition, the Quest 3S and 3 would still be excellent options for our top picks because they are well-made virtual reality systems with robust hardware and affordable costs.

The USB-C port, power button, and indicator LED remain on the headset’s left side. Likewise, the padded section pressing against your face is the same memory foam arc as the Quest 3’s. In fact, the Quest 3S uses a similar Y-shaped elastic head strap (with the same ability to use the optional hard-backed Elite Strap or Elite Strap with Battery). Two additional position-tracking cameras are on the headset’s lower-left and lower-right corners.

3.Pico 4 Ultra

Last update on 2024-12-19 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

The Pico 4 Ultra, which has a stunning screen and 12 GB of RAM, is superior to the Meta Quest 3 in a few important areas, and you would anticipate that it would cost roughly the same. Pico’s storefront is far less varied and diverse than Meta’s offerings, and it is less likely to see sales because it launched a year after its competitor.

Although there is some light leakage when wearing glasses and tracking can occasionally be difficult when down by your side, this is still a great headset that is well worth getting if you’re tired of Meta’s top pick.

But if you want a headset with a unique selling point or identity, the 4 Ultra will likely let you down. There’s nothing here that isn’t been done by its opposition and it’s not available in the US, which not only makes it harder to get access to but makes it less lucrative for developers to create experiences for.

The headset is among the most comfortable on the market, and the controllers are well-fitting, with textured grips on the bottom, but if you wear glasses, you will experience that dreaded pressure on the bridge of your nose. The headset feels even more like the current VR king because Bytedance has eliminated the ring found in earlier Pico models.

Although it’s a smart idea to house the speaker controls in the headband, this headset doesn’t have a dedicated aux jack, so if you want more immersive sound, you’ll have to use its speakers or a headset on your PC.

Any standalone experience you can throw at the Snapdragon XR Gen 2 chip is more than capable of handling it.at it and the Pico Connect app to connect it to PCVR is not only intuitive but completely unintrusive. The Ultra is a fitting name here as it has simply refined the Pico 4 headset into something more current, even though it mostly serves as an alternative to Meta and not a reason to ditch Zuckerberg’s choice.

The Pico 4 Ultra seems purposefully made to compete with the Meta Quest 3, which is currently the best VR headset available. Let’s address the Meta-shaped elephant in the room. The Pico 4 Ultra actually does a very good job of providing an alternative if you’re looking for a reason to try out a different headset or believe that a different headset fit or a RAM boost will suit you better—as long as you’re in the UK and EU. It isn’t available in the US at this time.

The 256 GB model, which is the only one available right now, costs making it slightly more costly than the least expensive Quest 3 and somewhat less expensive than the most expensive one. This puts it essentially in the same market and makes it a decent competitor out of the box. Both headsets came with a free game, with the former currently getting Blade and Sorcery: Nomad until February 2025, and the latter getting Asgard’s Wrath 2 back when it was released.

Out of the box, the Pico 4 Ultra is a super smooth experience with the controllers feeling natural in the hands, and the glasses spacer snapping into place intuitively. This makes it incredibly easy to just pop it on, use the headset with glasses, and take it off again once you are done. I thought the relative speed at which I could put on that bracer might cause it to slip out during play but it never did. There’s a Lego-esque effect to this that works well.

What are VR lighthouses?

To keep track of your movements, your VR headset needs to use some method of sensing both the headset itself as well as the controllers in your hands. The first VR headsets used base stations that are known as lighthouses, individually placed sensors, or positional trackers, which are plugged into your PC.

This is the most accurate method of tracking but is cumbersome, and unless they’re permanently installed in a room, you’ll need to set them up each time you want to play, and that includes calibrating them anew every time.

What is inside-out tracking in VR?

Inside-out tracking means you don’t need external sensors as the headset can keep track of both itself and the controllers around it. Originally this method wasn’t as effective, wasn’t quite as responsive, and broke immersion in-game.

But with the best VR headset, the Meta Quest 3, the tech is almost on par with the lighthouse in terms of responsiveness now. And is certainly far more convenient.

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