The salutary VR headsets on the market can deliver a phenomenally immersive virtural reality experience , so it ’s important to select the correct headset for your needs .
It can be hard to make that decicision , however , with plenty of factors to consider . Do you want an all - in - one headset like the popularMeta Quest 3 , or do you want something in high spirits - end like theVive Pro 2to play your PC VR games ? You must also consider technical eyeglasses like FOV , resolution , display technical school and more .
It ’s also crucial to moot the platform you ’ll be using – thePSVR 2is the only headset that ’ll mold with a PS5 , for instance , while Meta ’s standalone Quest headset offer up a much wider depository library of game than competing headset from Pico .
That might seem daunting , but our team of experts is here to help .
The Trusted Reviews squad has reviewed all the big names in the VR headset market and compose a hand - pick list of those that we wholeheartedly commend . Only headset with at least a 4 - star valuation are weigh for this inclination , so you’re able to be confident you ’re splashing the cash on a top - calibre twist .
And if you ’re have 2d thoughts about get into VR , it ’s deserving check out ourbest games consoleandbest gaming laptoplists rather .
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Learn more about how we test VR headsets
Every VR headset we review move through a serial of uniform checks designed to estimate key thing let in build quality , puff , screenland quality , carrying into action and the game library .
We ’ll test a VR headset for at least a week , and quiz all of the useable feature article . We ’ll verify to typeset it up multiple multiplication to determine its accessibility and whether most homes would be able-bodied to accommodate it . We ’ll also play a wide selection of games to see how the headset do with each one .
And if a VR headset is wireless , we ’ll make indisputable to value the battery life , both when make for game and running basic apps .
Meta Quest 3
Pros
Cons
Meta Quest 3S
PlayStation VR 2
Vive Pro 2
Pico 4
Pico 4 Ultra
Trusted Score
No company has tree the VR market quite like Meta and while the company now has several great VR headset for consumer to choose from , it ’s the Meta Quest 3 that offer the best overall experience for most people .
The Quest 3 already had a sturdy act to follow in its forerunner but Meta has managed to build upon what made the Quest 2 great with better performance across the board and some much needed quality of life tweaks .
Most of the Quest 3 ’s ascent can be chalk up to the new Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chipset which allows everything to run a swell deal quicker this time around , and ensuring first-class performance across the board in VR and AR applications .
talk of AR , this is the biggest bound forward for the Quest 3 . Because of a much improved passthrough way , the Meta Quest 3 is capable to interact more seamlessly with your surroundings and defend the late crop of augmented realism apps and biz .
There ’s also a new Depth Sensor that comes into play , which tolerate the Quest 3 to more accurately establish a edge around you , keeping you protect while you toy whilst also incurring far fewer accidental warning as you move around your allotted space .
As if all this was n’t enough , the Quest 3 even sport mellow declaration 4K+ screens – everything looks well than before , with text now at the level where it ’s light to say without any sign of blurring . There ’s also Wi - Fi 6E accompaniment as well for faster downloading and stream with a compatible router .
The one main downside to the Quest 3 is that it be considerably more than the Quest 2 , which might be the better option for VR partizan on a budget . Still , if you may afford the added expense , you ’ll absolutely have it away what Meta has managed to attain here .
For the longest metre , this spot was occupied by the fantabulous Oculus / Meta Quest 2 , but with the release of the Quest 3S , Meta has raised the bar on what to expect from a more budget friendly VR headset .
In fact , sept who are still sporting the Quest 2 will likely be impressed to know that the 3S ’s Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 poker chip brag double the graphical baron . It ’s the same chipset that sport in the more expensive Quest 3 , so from a value perspective , you ’re not miss out on the core play performance by prefer for the low-priced pick .
Of course , the real temptingness of the Meta Quest 3S for anyone looking to get into VR is that Meta still boasts the wide catalogue of apps , biz and experiences , and the list keeps growing . Quest exclusives like Batman : Arkham Shadow make the platform influence enough on its own , but optimise versions of streaming apps like YouTube and Prime Video are the icing on the cake .
To consider that you may plunk into all of this with a machine that starts at £ 289.99/$299.99 , there is n’t really another VR headset out there that can compete at that cost level . Even the Meta Quest 3 , with its higher price tag of £ 469.99/$499.99 , is a far greater investment and in all likelihood more than what the average consumer would be willing to pass .
With that said , there is a reasonableness why the Quest 3S is able to undersell the standard Quest 3 on price and it ’s partly due to a few small ( but potentially meaningful ) compromises . The most important change is the economic consumption of a fresnel electron lens which results in less detail around your peripheral vision , and the same 1832 x 1920 per eye declaration found on the Quest 2 .
Even with that work against it , we never witness that apps running on the Quest 3S were an eye - sore , so the decision over whether or not to get the 3 over the 3S will come down to an hold of visual fidelity . For pure note value however , the Meta Quest 3S ca n’t be beat .
ThePlayStation VR 2headset has a number of impressive feature . It has a 4 K OLED exhibit , eye - tracking technologyand establish - in tactile feedback to increase the immersion tenfold .
It is crucial to note that this headset requires aPS5to function , and does n’t offer the wireless freedom that theMeta Quest 3andPico 4do . But on the promising side , the PSVR 2 can leverage the magnate of the PS5 , offering high quality experience likeHorizon Call of the Mountain .
The PSVR 2 is a big upgrade on its predecessor too , with more ergonomic restrainer and a streamlined frame-up that only requires a single USB - C connexion .
But is the PlayStation VR 2 worth the extortionate price when the Meta Quest 3 is usable at a lower fee ? That will depend on its secret plan support ; if PlayStation can keep pumping out first - political party games like Horizon , this may well become the good VR headset on the grocery store .
TheVive Pro 2provides the very best practical reality experience of all the headsets on this leaning , with a super - shrewd 5 cat valium resolution , faultless trailing functioning and a immense selection of immersive VR games and apps .
But with the headset retailing for over £ 1000 when clump with the required accessory , it ’s only really worthwhile for hardcore VR enthusiast or those already invested in the Vive ecosystem . The need for outside tracking detector also intend you fundamentally need to take up an intact room to maximise your use with the Vive Pro 2 , which plainly is n’t possible for everyone . And let ’s not bury the penury for a high - powered personal computer to plug the headset into .
If you adore VR and are happy to look past those obstacles , then you ’ll be treated to one of the best VR experience currently uncommitted . During examination , we were incredibly impressed with the likes of Half - Life Alyx and Paper Beast , with speck - accurate trailing .
The 120Hz refresh rate and 5 KB answer ensure you ’re get the absolute best visuals from a VR headset , even with the lack of an OLED screen . So if you want a top - notch VR headset and money is no egress , then the Vive Pro 2 is an amazing option .
ThePico 4offers the close experience to the Meta Quest 3 headset , with an all - in - one design that does n’t ask any cables or external PC to work . It even outstrip the Quest in certain area .
first of all , the Pico has a better design . press just 295 Hans C. J. Gram , it ’s lighter than every other headset on this list . The use of a plastic headband also ensures a secure scene , so you should n’t have to worry about adjusting it on your drumhead every few seconds . Overall , this result in a more comfortable experience .
The Pico 4 also has a superior screen firmness of purpose compared to the Quest 2 , though it ’s matched more closely by the newer Quest 3 . Our testing showed that this helped to make sharper simulacrum , with individual pixels becoming less noticeable . The headset even features colour passthrough , allowing you to see your surroundings even when the headset is hugging your face .
The only major affair holding the Pico back from beat the Quest is its substandard game library . It ’s miss a identification number of VR biz gems , include Beat Saber , Resident Evil 4 and Moss . As a effect , we evoke you go over out the Pico plot ’s depository library before you pull yourself to a leverage of the headset .
The Pico 4 Ultra is the Pico 4 ’s bigger blood brother , surpassing the entry - grade standalone headset with a few fundamental characteristic that allow it better contend ( and even excel against ) the popular Meta Quest 3 .
This includes higher - resolution 32MP RGB cameras and a Modern depth detector for better passthrough and miscellaneous reality capabilities , while the newer Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chipset and 12 GB of RAM massively boosts performance for better visuals in VR experience .
However , the primal merchandising point of the Pico 4 Ultra is doubtlessly its full - body tracking capabilities . In accession to redesign ringless controllers that are more well-fixed to have , the Ultra model also proffer trackers to be worn on the ankles for true body trailing . This provide a much more realistic experience not only in social VR apps , but fighting games , though they need to be purchased separately as an extra accessory .
Like the steady Pico 4 , the only tangible drawback of the Pico 4 Ultra liken to the Quest 3 is its standalone plot library ; while the offering has improved since the launching of the Pico 4 , it ’s nowhere close as extensive as Meta ’s offerings , some of the good of which are exclusive to Meta ’s political platform .
Test Data
Full Specs
