What Headset should I get?
Welcome to Virtual Reality! There are a lot of available VR headsets to pick from to jump into / upgrade your VR experience. This is a non-exhaustive list highlighting common headset choices. If you wish to get more technical details for various VR headsets, I suggest VR-Compare.com.
Common Popular Picks
These headsets are commonly picked and are often great picks for most people
Quest 3
Meta's current top of the line headset. Has their newest SOC which has a large performance jump over the Quest 2, pancake lenses that have near edge-to-edge clarity on the lenses, and Wifi 6E for better PC wireless streaming. Generally a great all around headset if you are welling to put up with Meta software shenanigans. Hard to beat feature-wise at its price point.
- Runs essentially the entire Quest standalone library and is set to do so for years
- Resolution is good, with really good optics that are clear throughout and wide FOV
- Wifi 6E can be of great aid for better wireless VR streaming from your PC
- Good color passthrough, you can just barely use your phone or PC monitors through it
- Thinner compared to other Meta headsets
- Runs Android, and you can install APKs on it manually or through alternate stores like Sidequest
- Not particularly comfortable with its default strap (though its better weight distribution helps)
- Battery life is relatively short even compared to a quest 2 and has high current charging requirements, so be sure to buy trusted battery extenders and chargers only!
- Built in mics are still "eh"
- VSLAM tracking is particularly sensitive to low light environments, ensure your room is well lit!
- Meta headset, Meta software, Meta privacy policies. Agree to sell your soul and digital data to the Zuck. You will need to make an account to use the device.
- The most expensive of Meta's headsets to buy new
This headset both caters to newbies who are willing to spend a bit more dosh than a Quest 3s, but also is a viable upgrade option for those on low end / cheap headsets to something that is all around good, though not necessarily great at any one thing. You can save a little bit of money buying used.
Big Screen Beyond 2 / 2e
For comfort customized for you (as in they 3D scan your face to 3D print a custom face gasket), straight-forward SteamVR compatibility, and great mic quality. Ultimately a great pick for PCVR folk who want something that is comfortable with great optics. Optional eye tracking model exists as well for better social VR immersion!
- TINY, light and comfortable
- Improved lenses means great clarity
- 3D printed custom interface for your face specifically, but you can get generic facial interfaces too
- Relatively high resolution, MicroOled means excellent color contrast
- Excellent microphone (some users even use this headset mic as a desktop mic as well)
- "Just Works" SteamVR compatibility
- Unlike the Big Screen Beyond 1, it is possible to change the IPD, making this headset practical to resell
- Expensive, especially if you need to also buy an audio solution
- No speakers are included (either bring your own dac + earbuds, or spend extra on the audio strap)
- If using the Facial scan interface, you must use an IPhone, Android is not supported nor will it ever due to sensor requirements
- Needs a relatively beefy PC to push at its full resolution
- FPS caps at 75 Hz on certain settings (but can go up to 90 Hz if you decrease resolution / enable compression)
- No passthrough of any sort. This can be a bit annoying when trying to pick up something IRL, like a drink
- Needs some additional work to work in most Linux distros (but is possible!)
- Requires base stations
This headset is for users who are invested in PCVR and have a PC to run it and intend to spend the hours in VR to justify the price. A great headset pick for those interested in Social VR or for simming (especially if you will be in lots of high contrast environments!)
Valve Index (Used / Refurbished)
The most common PCVR headset for years. Made by Valve, and for its time it had great comfort, visuals, and audio. And while the comfort and audio are still great, this headset has become dated, so it may be best to get this used or refurbished). Not the most exciting headset anymore, but there's a reason people RMA this thing multiple times instead of upgrading.
- Considered very comfortable as a headset
- Great microphone and off ear earphones
- Can be found used (or refurbished from Tundra) for a cheap price (I suggest you do this instead of buying new)
- Valve's RMA policy is legendary, often even allowing RMAs when your warranty has long been expired
- Optics, FOV, and other specifications factors are decent even now
- Easy to use on Linux
- Considerable wide FOV compared to a lot of even modern headsets, which may interest simmer users
- Dated now, not worth the unchanged new sticker price
- Passthrough is only OK
- Requires base stations
- Very high failure rate (particularly for controllers and cable issues). Yes Valve has very good RMA policies but this is still frustrating
This is the headset many PCVR people have, and are happy with. Not overly expensive like newer offerings, and while you miss out on the latest optical display developments, its still around decent. Given that it requires base stations, you can get full body tracking, and the controllers with finger tracking are also great. All of these factors makes it a classic pick for VRChat and other social VR players, but this headset is plenty versatile for other PCVR uses too such as simming.
Pico 4 Ultra
For people who want something like a Quest 3 but would rather give their data over to Bytedance instead of Meta. Arguably better than a Quest 3 in many ways, if you can get your hands on one. While also a great PCVR headset, its slightly less locked down nature and better hardware make it a interesting choice over the Quest 3 for those who want to run externally installed productivity software or emulators.
- Has more RAM than the Quest 3 for better multitasking
- Higher resolution passthrough cameras than the Quest 3
- Hand Tracking is good enough to make navigation in VRChat actually usable
- Does not require a login unlike the Meta headsets
- You are able to change between firmwares, see here
- Pico Connect is actually quite decent compared to Meta Connect
- Controller batteries are less of a hassle to replace
- Generally better Android tinkering support than the Quest OS if you wish to have some fun
- You can use Pico Trackers for Native Full Body Tracking
- Wifi 7 means even better PC VR streaming, assuming you have such a router
- DIFFICULT TO GET IN THE UNITED STATES
- Personally I find some elements of the OS menu a bit annoying compared to Quest, but this will likely be solved with time
- Often a bit pricier than the Quest 3
- Virtual Desktop can be a bit finicky if you have flashed the firmware of the device
- Far fewer apps on the store here than on Quest, missing notable titles such as Beat Saber. (There are some efforts to port over Quest games but its still dicey)
This headset is an interesting pick for those who may want a Full Body Tracking native on their headset without base stations, or those who would like to install emulators or other interesting mods / android apps to turn this headset into a standalone productivity machine, though this is still great for PCVR too
Still Good Picks
These headsets are still fine to many, but you should be a bit more aware of any downsides before purchasing them.
Quest 2
An extremely common headset even today. While now dated due to its old SOC and optics, they still can be great for new VR users, both for standalone meta software and for PC VR streaming. They can be found used cheaply as well (I would pay no more than 150 dollars used for the headset + controllers).
- Cheap (if used), popular
- Can run the vast majority of stand alone software well
- Can do PCVR streaming
- Resolution is decent
- Will eventually soon lose support
- Not particularly comfortable with its default strap
- IPD is limited to 3 specific settings
- Passthrough is black and white
- Mic audio is meh
- Meta headset, Meta software, Meta privacy policies. Agree to sell your soul and digital data to the Zuck
This headset is for VR newbies who have a gaming capable PC and want to a cheap VR headset with decent visuals, and / or people want a cheap headset that can play a majority of Meta's stand-alone titles without needing a PC at all.
Quest 3s
Essentially just the Quest 3 SOC shoved into a Quest 2 shell with many of the same limitations of the quest 2 optics and display. It's passthrough and handtracking however is still good, and in some situations may even surpass the pricier and higher tier Quest 3....
- Runs essentially the entire standalone library and is set to do so for years at a cheaper price
- Wifi 6E can be of great aid for better wireless VR streaming from your PC
- Very good color passthrough, hand tracking is arguably better than the Quest 3 due to the built in IR emitters
- Not particularly comfortable with its default strap
- Battery life is relatively short even compared to a quest 2 and has high current charging requirements, so be sure to buy trusted battery extenders only!
- Built in mics are still "eh"
- IPD is limited to 3 specific settings
- at this point, the older (blurrier) frensel lenses and screen from the quest 2 are a harder pill to swallow
- Meta headset, Meta software, Meta privacy policies. Agree to sell your soul and digital data to the Zuck
This headset is for those who want the latest SOC to play the latest Meta standalone exclusive titles but want to save a buck. I would argue this isn't a good upgrade path from someone on a quest 2 for PCVR streaming use since the optics are the same. However for new VR users, especially those interested in standalone titles, this may be a good purchase if you want to play newer Meta titles.
Vive Pro 1 (Eye)
An older headset but still loved by many. Has good visuals, speakers, and is quite comfy, and can be generally got for pretty cheap. Except the Eye tracked variant, which is scalped to all hell because it arguably has the best eye tracking of any headset. Period.
- Comfortable (if you dont mind larger headsets)
- Great colors / contrast thanks to AMOLED displays
- Good speakers
- Can be made wireless with the WiGig module, which has lower streaming latency and compression compared to even the best Wifi Solutions
- Eye tracking on the relevant model is arguably the best of any headset due to the Tobii tracker and the uniquely permissive license granted to this headset specifically (typically other Tobii tracked headsets are contracted not to give out as detailed data to applications)
- Compatible natively with the Vive Face tracker
- Works seamlessly with SteamVR
- Great support under Linux
- Older, using older frenel lenses, same resolution as the index
- Heavier than a lot of more modern headsets
- The eye tracked variant is scalped to absurd prices currently
- Microphone isn't the best
- Wigig wireless needs to be installed via PCIE card
You can get the standard Vive Pro 1 for pretty cheap these days (under 150), and for users who do not mind heavier headsets (such as simmers), it may be a worthy pick for the price given the display. However, if you want the best eye and face tracking realistically possible, getting the eye variant with the vive face tracker is certainly the way to go, if you are willing to spend the money on the scalped prices of those components.
Headsets to be Cautious About
Perhaps there is no such thing as a bad headset, just a bad price. Regardless, these headsets, while you may see used, may have significant caveats you should be aware of before diving straight in.
ANY WMR HEADSET
I will group all WMR headsets (such as the HP Reverb G2, for example) in this group. Microsoft is canceling support for the WIndows mixed reality portal, meaning those headsets will not work by default on Windows 11 or even newer version of Windows 10. This means the market is flooded with these headsets for extremely cheap, because many people cannot use them.
There has been work on the Linux Monado project to bring them back, and if you are interested in this path, then getting a WMR headset is actually a great cheap way to get a decent specced headset, but it is still early days!
Quest 1
Severely outdated, which also means it can be found used for very cheap (aim for about 50-100 USD for the headset + controllers). Too old to run most stand alone applications, but still capable of functional PC VR streaming.
- Very Cheap.
- Oled screen has great colors
- Can still do PCVR streaming
- Unlike the Quest 2, does have a fully adjustable IPD slider
- Old, OS updates haven't come in years. Most stand alone software for meta will not run
- Low resolution
- Not particularly comfortable with its default strap
- Built in audio solution for speakers and microphone are pretty bad
- Passthrough is black and white
- Hand tracking is lackluster
- Fabric body can be difficult to clean, be cautious if buying used as it can grow mold
- Meta headset, Meta software, Meta privacy policies. Agree to sell your soul and digital data to the Zuck
This headset is for people who have a gaming capable PC but want to spend the least possible money on a VR headset that needs minimal tinkering to get working, though some will still be needed. If you actually enjoy VR, you will want to avoid this headset or upgrade from it.
Quest Pro
DO NOT BUY THIS HEADSET UNLESS YOU UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE GETTING YOURSELF INTO! This headset has face and eye tracking, but also a slew of issues related to its controllers overheating and breaking after failed updates, as well as other random issues related to headset tracking, and its terrible color passthrough. Still, one of the few headsets that have quite good face tracking for both the eyes, eyebrows (this is a bit unique actually). and the mouth. In addition, the optics are actually pretty good too (and is what the quest 3 essentially copied for its own optical stack).
- Face and Eye tracking! And good tracking at that!
- You can stick you tongue out at people
- Pancake lenses with near edge-to-edge clarity
- Optional Local dimming to improve blacks (though not all users like this)
- Can technically run the vast majority of stand alone software well
- Despite being on (mostly) the same Quest 2 SOC, has WiFi 6E for better PCVR streaming performance
- Controllers are rechargeable instead of using AA batteries
- Some users really like the open gasket mode of this headset
- Infamous for having problems caused by Meta firmware updates breaking things. Broken features include passthrough lagging terribly, controllers overheating / powering off constantly, or just bricking permanently. Controllers are also expensive to replace.
- Should you have an issue, Meta support is infamously unhelpful
- STRAP IS NOT REPLACEABLE, which is very unfortunate since its often not comfortable. You can order replacement padding and headphones to make it better, however. However, the headset may feel like a helmet that could fall off with fast movements or user turns their head over 90 degrees
- Nonremovable headstrap make the headset essentially impossible to sleep in if laying down, especially for side sleepers
- Even a little bit of sweat can permanently destroy the face tracking sensors!
- Battery life is not the best, especially with face tracking turned on
- Built in mics are not the best, which is funny given this was Metas attempt at specifically a social VR headset
- Passthrough is technically color, but projected onto a black and white image, and this looks terrible
- Meta headset, Meta software, Meta privacy policies. Agree to sell your soul and digital data to the Zuck
You know who you are. This headset is for rich furry ERPer social VR aficionados who wants to make silly faces in games like VRChat (for PC, since face tracking isn't supported on VRC on Quest standalone), but you aren't quite crazy enough to go for a full on Vive Pro Eye setup. This headset is for those willing to put in the effort to get it to work and deal with various software shenanigans caused by Meta never QA'ing their updates. You are experienced in the field of PCVR and know what you are getting yourself into, and if so can have quite a lot of fun with this headset as it provides great all-in-one face tracking with good optics. However if you are a newbie, you should look for a different headset instead, Otherwise, understanmd that even if you get this headset working, tomorrows update may break it again anyways.
Rift S
The successor to the original Oculus Rift, this abandoned headset is similar to a quest 1, but is PC only. It being a native PC meta headset does mean it can play the older PC oculus VR games.
- Can be used to natively play Oculus PC games
- Can often be found very cheap used
- PCVR headset but doesn't need any external base stations of any sort
- Abandoned by Meta, meaning software is becoming out of date as its no longer maintained
- Refresh rate caps at 80 Hz
- Known microphone bug causes mic to occasionally fail, making it frustrating to use in social VR situations
Similar to the Quest 1, this headset isn't really for anyone unless you are aware of the down falls and are willing to deal with them because you got this used on a very good deal. However it being PC only and using older software may make it a bit more challenging for some newbies compared to the Quest 1.
Vive (2016)
The oldest headset on this list. Developed by Valve and manufactured by HTC, the first VR headset that popularized room-scale tracking, This dated headset has very noticeable screen door effect by today's standards, but they can be found cheap, are built like tanks, and generally just work for PCVR applications.
- One of the VR headsets of all time
- Can often be found very cheap used
- Cheap way to enter lighthouse tracked PCVR, which many users prefer for its better tracking, especially for full body tracking
- Low resolution makes it easier for lower end PCs to drive
- OLED screen has great color contrast
- Headset and controller are built like tanks
- Vive wand controllers have triggers that players of shooter style games often prefer
- Able to swap to other lighthouse tracked controllers and trackers, notably Index controllers
- Easy support on linux
- Dated, the resolution is particularly low and screen door effect is extremely noticeable
- Passthrough camera can be finicky to enable and even if it works, its pretty bad (even though its color)
- Vive wands have a control scheme that is awkward to use in many games that prefer finger tracking or Oculus style button layout (though you can swap to other controllers, most commonly index controllers)
- Only compatible with 1.x base stations, which can only be found used and will eventually fail
This headset is for people who are on a budget today but intend to upgrade in the future to other base station tracked devices, most notably full body tracking trackers. You are fine with the screen door effect at least for now, and are intended to stay firmly in the PCVR ecosystem. I would honestly spend no more than 75 dollars for this headset + its link box.
Big Screen Beyond 1
THIS HEADSET IS NO LONGER MANUFACTURED AND PLEASE READ BEFORE BUYING USED. While this headset was the defacto "comfy" social VR headset of choice by many (including yours truly) it is being phased out by the Big Screen Beyond 2 and is no longer manufactured. Due to the non adjustable IPD, you need to either be very careful that the used BSB you purchase is for your IPD or be comfortable in taking apart the headset to change it yourself.
- TINY, light and comfortable
- 3D printed custom interface for your face specifically
- Relatively high resolution, MicroOled means excellent color contrast
- Excellent microphone (some users even use this headset mic as a desktop mic as well)
- "Just Works" SteamVR compatibility
- Relatively low resell value due to the "fixed" IPD
- Notable glare issues in very dark scenes (unlike the second gen)
- FOV isn't the best, further marred by poor edge clarity
- No speakers are included (either bring your own dac + earbuds, or spend extra on the audio strap)
- Face scan required using an iphone (you can borrow one as they use a webpage) to purchase
- Needs a relatively beefy PC to push at its full resolution
- FPS caps at 75 Hz on certain settings (but can go up to 90 Hz if you decrease resolution / enable compression)
- No passthrough of any sort. This can be a bit annoying when trying to pick up something IRL, like a drink
- Needs some additional work to work in most Linux distros
People who already bought this headset before the BigScreen 2 came out may be happy to stick with their first gens. However, if you are buying new, please be wary about the limitations with the IPD or be prepared to do the work yourself. If you can get this cheaper than a new BSB 2, you can still enjoy this, especially for a sleeping headset.