Best budget virtual reality headset

Just look at the Meta Quest 2our top budget VR headset, and we've found plenty more wallet-friendly options. Click to jump to detailed looks at our picks for the best budget VR headsetsor just check the list below:.

Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Reviews ethics statement. The Quest 3 has a newer, faster Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 processor that has better graphics and a higher-res display than the Quest 2, better lenses and redesigned controllers, and it can also blend the virtual and real world with passthrough color cameras, but Apple's headset beats it on display and camera fidelity. It also has hand tracking that works without controllers, but controllers are included to give you two options for input. The Apple Vision Pro is an amazing piece of tech and a bleeding-edge high-end mixed reality headset that also runs iOS and thousands of iPad apps, works without controllers using eye and hand tracking and can run multiple apps at the same time, along with being a virtual MacBook monitor. The Vision Pro could very well be the start of a whole new chapter in headsets, and may turn into the best product in this whole category over time, but not right now for most people.

Best budget virtual reality headset

All of a sudden, VR is interesting again. But for the Apple fanatics, or people who can easily afford it, the Vision Pro is a glimpse at where the entire category might be headed. I tend to judge VR headsets on a few basic criteria: Ergonomics, immersion and controls. It's not that hard to shove a mobile display into a plastic headset and strap some cheap elastic headbands onto it. But it takes skill to craft something that's well balanced and doesn't feel uncomfortable after 30 minutes. My test for ergonomics is fairly simple: How long can I wear a headset until I start to feel discomfort? For the most ergonomic devices, like the Quest 3, that could easily be an hour or two. Immersion, meanwhile, comes from having high resolution screens with fast refresh rates, so everything looks sharp and smooth. Field of view is also a major element, as it describes how well VR screens can cover what you see. We look at a few popular games, like Superhot , Beat Saber and Pistol Whip , on every headset to judge how immersed we feel.

It does all of this as a standalone device that doesn't require a phone or PC, but if you have a gaming PC or laptop, you can connect it with a link cable and access thousands more PC VR experiences.

The Quest 3 has a cord-free design and convincing hand tracking, with the added option to plug it in to a PC to access more-powerful games. You can spend thousands of dollars chasing the best specs in a VR headset, but we think comfort and ease of use are more important elements for most people who want to explore VR. With that in mind, the Meta Quest 3 is the clear winner. It combines good-enough specs with the ability to use it cord free. Yet you can also plug it in to a computer, which opens up even more options for how and where you can use it. The controllers are intuitive and easy to hold. Additionally, the Quest 3 has a wide selection of compatible content, since you can play games, movies, and other experiences from the Meta Quest Store, SteamVR libraries, and, soon, Xbox Cloud Gaming.

Just look at the Meta Quest 2 , our top budget VR headset, and we've found plenty more wallet-friendly options. Click to jump to detailed looks at our picks for the best budget VR headsets , or check the list below:. VR is becoming more available and affordable as the technology behind the best VR headsets grows. Standalone options, like the Quest lineup, make the barrier of entry basically void since you no longer need one of the best gaming PCs or gaming consoles. Many of the best smartphones even offer portals to virtual reality using ultra-cheap headsets. So, to help you navigate this complicated market, we've picked out five of our favorite budget VR headsets you can buy today. The Meta Quest 2 has everything you need in a VR headset for an affordable price. It does all of this as a standalone device that doesn't require a phone or PC, but if you have a gaming PC or laptop, you can connect it with a link cable and access thousands more PC VR experiences. The Meta Quest 2 offers crisp visuals and minimal screen door effect while warding off motion sickness thanks to its high-resolution and Hz refresh rate.

Best budget virtual reality headset

All of a sudden, VR is interesting again. But for the Apple fanatics, or people who can easily afford it, the Vision Pro is a glimpse at where the entire category might be headed. I tend to judge VR headsets on a few basic criteria: Ergonomics, immersion and controls. It's not that hard to shove a mobile display into a plastic headset and strap some cheap elastic headbands onto it. But it takes skill to craft something that's well balanced and doesn't feel uncomfortable after 30 minutes. My test for ergonomics is fairly simple: How long can I wear a headset until I start to feel discomfort?

Doll monkeys

Read our PlayStation VR 2 review. Immersion, meanwhile, comes from having high resolution screens with fast refresh rates, so everything looks sharp and smooth. For that reason, the Quest 2 is still probably good enough for most. As reviewer Sherri L. Standalone options, like the Quest lineup, make the barrier of entry basically void since you no longer need one of the best gaming PCs or gaming consoles. The biggest previous players in the PC VR gaming scene Microsoft, Valve, and HTC have been quiet on that front, especially now that Microsoft has discontinued most of its mixed reality efforts. Headsets with high-quality built-in headphones or speakers eliminate an extra accessory to buy and still leave open the option of swapping in your own pair if you care to. Given that the Quest 3 can probably do most things you'll need, most people will probably pass on the Quest Pro. Still, it's nice to have the upgrade path available. It was developed in cooperation with Valve and has some of the best features from the pricier Index headset, like near-field speakers. In its 3rd generation, Meta has fixed a lot of our common gripes with the hardware — offering impressive passthrough, accurate controllers with decent haptics, and a massive suite of apps and games to experience. Its audio is good enough for immersive VR. Most VR headsets to date have focused on games and individual immersive creative and work apps to explore ideas in mixed reality. If you want to play VR games on a console then the PlayStation VR system is a decent option given its lower price point. They make playing Half-Life: Alyx feel like a dream.

The Quest 3 has a cord-free design and convincing hand tracking, with the added option to plug it in to a PC to access more-powerful games. You can spend thousands of dollars chasing the best specs in a VR headset, but we think comfort and ease of use are more important elements for most people who want to explore VR.

Other headsets we like. But for the Apple fanatics, or people who can easily afford it, the Vision Pro is a glimpse at where the entire category might be headed. And if you're looking out for the absolute best implementation of VR and AR technology and cost is no obstacle , Cupertino's new headset is the best way to go. It's not that hard to shove a mobile display into a plastic headset and strap some cheap elastic headbands onto it. Our comparative understanding of the landscape, and also what's coming, lets us value the present in terms of the future. It's also definitely not wireless, but if you already have some older HTC Vive hardware, you could add on parts of the Index to mix and match. Meta Quest. Best VR headsets: Quick Menu. Throw your hands behind your back, and you might find that your virtual hands no longer respond when you move the controllers. The Meta Quest 3 makes it easier—and fun enough to be worth it—to give VR a try, compared with headsets that require cables and expensive PCs. The Valve Index Controllers can track each individual finger, have both a joystick and a trackpad most controller sets have only a single trackpad , and are more comfortable to hold. A product can look great but still be uncomfortable to use.