Best VR Headset in 2024

Combining quality VR and affordability, the

Resolution & Refresh Rate

Performance is always incredibly important in gaming, but this can actually impact your health, too. While low resolutions can result in the “screen door effect,” which makes things look worse, poor frame rates and resolution can also cause eye strain and even motion sickness. While these normally occur at refresh rates lower than 90Hz, your mileage may vary.

Stationary vs Room-Scale

The most immersive VR experience is the room-scale one. Being able to move about freely (called “six-degrees of freedom”), jump, crouch, and move around lets you truly experience the wonder of VR. Realistically, not everyone has room, or the ability, to participate in that.

If you have limited mobility, or don’t have room in your home, options that only track head movement instead of body movement is the way to go. This is perfectly suited towards watching movies, and similar activities.

Tracking System

Much like the difference between Station VS Room-Scale, the tracking system is also really important and it will influence how your headset feels to use.

The Meta Quest 3 and more use inside-out tracking, which means the headset tracks your movement using cameras and sensors built into the headset. This means you don’t have to set up external cameras around your room, but it also means it’s less accurate.

If you are operating in a smaller space, or are a more casual user, inside-out tracking might be for you. If you want the best experience and have access to extra room, pick a headset with external tracking.

Wired vs Wireless

This originally wasn’t a choice at all. The first VR headsets had cables, but lately more and more wireless options are becoming available. Like many of the other choices on this list, this basically comes down to “freedom” vs “performance.”

While wireless sets mean you won’t trip over a cable, and you can wander more freely in a larger space, wires aren’t that obtrusive once you get used to them, and they will give your headset higher bandwidth, which generally means the best resolution and image quality. Having a wire also means you don’t have to worry about headset batteries running out.

If that is important to you, picked a wired set, although there are several very high quality sets that can be used both wired and wirelessly, which is a great way to go if you aren’t sure what you want.

VR has tons of promise, and not just in the gaming space. As the years go on, you may be able to attend concerts for all of your favorite bands, visit other planets in our solar system, and more, all from the comfort of your own home. Follow our guidelines, and we hope you’ll discover a whole new frontier of entertainment, education, and more.

VR Headset FAQ

What’s the Difference Between VR and AR?

Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are terms often thrown around in the gaming world but have some distinct differences.

AR is a much more accessible technology, as almost anyone with a smartphone can use it. With AR, you get virtual features in the real world, often through your phone or headset’s camera. One of the best examples of an AR game is Pokemon Go, where you use your phone’s camera to navigate through the real world, and virtual elements, such as Pokemon or PokeStops, appear. You can even interact with these elements through your device. But, of course, they are not actually physically in front of you. Augmented reality is just adding to your current surroundings. Apple’s Vision Pro uses AR in extremely fun and innovative way.

VR uses some aspects of AR but takes things to another level by eliminating the real-world setting. Instead, your entire world is computer generated, so it doesn’t matter where you’re actually physically located. All of your surroundings are replaced, and what you see is controlled by a computer system. Therefore, headsets block out the real world, blindfolding you for a fully immersive experience. Some great VR game examples are Half-Life: Alyx, which places you in a dystopian sci-fi universe, or the PSVR 2 version of Gran Turismo 7, where you’ll be residing in the cockpit of a car.

What’s a Good Meta Quest 3 Alternative?

The Meta Quest 3 appears to be in a league of its own with its standalone functionality, impressive motion tracking, and budget-friendly price. That means finding a suitable alternative is a challenge.

Of course, you could go with the Meta’s Quest Pro, but it’s pricey and not even meant to play games. The HTC Vive XR Elite offers similar specs to the Quest 3 and even lets you play PC VR games wirelessly over a WiFi 6/6E. However, the astronomical $1,000 price is hard to justify when you get very few extras and can snag the Quest 3 for $500.

That leads us to our best Meta Quest 3 alternative: the Pico 4. The Pico 4 and Quest 2 have a lot in common, as they’re both standalone wireless headsets, run on a similar processor, and support PC VR. A longer battery life, lighter design, more clarity, and a wider field of view even give the Pico 4 a slight edge over the Quest 3. But as great as the Pico 4 sounds, it has limited availability in the US, sometimes making the reasonably priced headset more expensive stateside. If you decide to grab the Pico 4, be sure to do research and shop around before purchasing.

What VR Doesn’t Need a PC?

The majority of VR requires a PC to function, which can be difficult if you don’t have a powerful computer ready to run these often graphically intensive games or want freedom in where you play. Luckily, there are a few standalone VR headsets and options that run on other devices.

You can use Meta Quest 3 and the whole lineup of Meta headsets without being connected to a PC thanks to powerful processors. But if you’re looking to play some PC VR offerings, you can always link Meta Quest to your PC. The Pico 4 is another great standalone option similar to the Quest 3. The HTC XR Elite is also ready to run VR apps and games sans a connection.

Those with a PlayStation 5 can grab PlayStation VR2 for a truly spectacular VR experience, though you can’t use the headset with PCs. There are also a few smartphone VR options, like the Atlasonix VR Headset, but don’t expect too much from these budget VR headsets that use your phone’s screen.

Of course, Apple’s Vision Pro is an extremely powerful standalone device. But it’ll easy integrate into the Apple Ecosystem and connect to MacBooks for an innovative way to work on your devices.

Does the Nintendo Switch have VR?

Yes, the Nintendo Switch has VR and a handful of VR games, but it’s relatively simple and lackluster compared to what the VR headsets are capable of on this guide.

For the Switch, you’ll usually rely on the device’s own screen and slot it into a headset. One of the most popular options is the Nintendo Labo VR Kit, which features fun-shaped cardboard designs that you create yourself. Otherwise, you’ll find slightly more robust options with straps. There is a convoluted process to using the Switch with a more high-tech VR headset. However, it’s quite complicated and requires additional hardware. So, if you’re looking for a more immersive experience when playing the gaming handheld, you’re better off grabbing one of the best Nintendo Switch headsets than seeking out VR.

What’s Happening to Windows Mixed Reality?

Microsoft has announced it will be forgoing support of Windows Mixed Reality, its virtual and augmented reality platform, in a future Windows software release expected in late 2024. This will include both the Portal app and SteamVR driver, which are necessary for the Windows Mixed Reality headsets to function. The VR headsets should continue to work with Steam until late 2026. After that, there will be no updates or technical support.

When Do VR Headsets Go on Sale?

Although some of the best VR headsets never actually get discounted, there are generally a few times a year when you can find discounts on popular models. One of the overall best shopping events for VR discounts is Amazon Prime Day, which takes place in July every year. After that, Black Friday and Cyber Monday tend to have the best overall deals consistently. Both events tend to primarily offer Meta Quest deals, but sometimes other headsets are avaialable at a discount.

Brian Barnett writes reviews, wiki guides, deals posts, features, and more for IGN. You can get your fix of his antics on Twitter (@Ribnax) or check out his show on Twitch (The Platformers).