When it comes to the best VR headsets, Meta (formerly Oculus) is the obvious choice, with the strongest gaming library, wireless performance, and two solid options in the Meta Quest 3 and 3S to consider.
That said, Meta isn't the only VR or XR headset available today, and there's a strong case to be made that other devices are better for some people. The obvious example is the Apple Vision Pro, which costs way too much for most people but has features and upgrades that Meta can't match.
Plus, console or PC gamers may want to consider the PSVR 2 or Valve Index, even if both have significant drawbacks to consider.
Below, we'll break down your options so you know which VR headset to buy and how much you should spend. With Amazon Big Deal Days approaching in October and Black Friday on its heels, now's a great time to consider buying a VR headset at a discount.
Michael Hicks began his freelance tech career in 2016 covering VR for Techradar and Wearable, covering VR film festivals and early VR games. Since joining Android Central, he's reviewed products like the PSVR 2, Meta Ray-Bans, and various Quest games and mods, while analyzing industry news and leaks.
At a glance
Best overall
The Meta Quest 3 offers both virtual and mixed reality, with twice the Quest 2's graphical power for games and full-color passthrough to your living room.
Best premium
Let's say you have cash to spare and want better graphics than the Quest 3 can offer. In that case, the Apple Vision Pro wins the day, with its epic 23 million pixels and powerful M2 performance.
Most affordable
Meta designed the Quest 3S to run the exact same enhanced Quest 3 software for hundreds less. It has some last-gen Quest 2 traits, but it's still a compelling option.
Best graphics
The built-in halo strap, gorgeous OLED display, built-in eye tracking, and the power of the PS5 all set the PSVR 2 apart from Quest headsets, if you can accept the wire.
Best for PC VR
Even though it's a few years old, the Valve Index remains popular thanks to its wide and crisp display with ultra-fast 144Hz refresh rate, along with other PC VR perks.
Best overall
If we had to recommend one VR headset to buy in 2024, it would be the Meta Quest 3. Why? Because most people today buy VR headsets for gaming, and it's the best option for gaming with its wireless design and massive library of excellent Quest games (with the option to play SteamVR games from your PC, too).
Our Meta Quest 3 reviewer called this "the best VR headset you can buy" in his review, and the Apple Vision Pro's launch the following year hasn't changed that. It's not that Apple's headset doesn't have massive advantages — our Vision Pro vs. Quest 3 guide shows how it wins with gorgeous visuals and raw power — but that the advantages aren't enough to justify spending an extra three grand. At least not for most people.
Apple may have more apps and the power necessary to work in mixed reality, but most people remain happy enough working in their current reality. Outside of VR power users, the Quest 3 has the games and streaming apps you need, plus the ability to use full-color mixed reality at a respectable 18 PPD if you ever need to check your surroundings mid-session.
We'll compare the Quest 3 and its new Quest 3S sibling below, but even though the Quest 3 is too pricey for some, its wider FoV, much-higher resolution, and better IPD adjustment make it the option to beat if you can afford it.
Keep in mind that the Quest 3, despite being the best VR headset, doesn't provide a perfect experience. You'll really need some Quest 3 accessories like an Elite Strap for a more comfortable fit than the default cloth strap provides, the 2-hour battery life is on the short side, and you'll miss out on premium perks like eye tracking.
Still, this headset is our favorite, and since the Quest 3S launch, Meta has discounted the 512GB model to the original $499 price — while dipping the 128GB headset to $429 until it goes out of stock.
Best premium
The Apple Vision Pro is certainly the most exciting VR headset available today. Apple's entry into the mixed-reality space has brought in a bunch of competing brands, all vying to be the best productivity VR headset. With the Quest Pro defunct and the Quest Pro 2 facing multiple cancellations and delays, Apple's headset is your best current option.
Apple's headset offers upsides like immersive mixed-reality apps, a gorgeous display, and powerful performance that no other headset has yet matched. It hits an excellent 34 pixels per degree, while the Quest 3 only hits 25 pixels per degree. The 100º field of view is more pedestrian, making the edges of your vision blurrier than you might expect, but the micro-OLED lenses provide some gorgeous colors that make up for it.
Still, it costs $3,500 plus tax, AppleCare+, and lens inserts, making it something that everyday people can't afford. It's truly for specialists and enthusiasts, at least until Apple's rumored second version with a cheaper display becomes available.
Our sister site iMore had hands-on time with the Vision Pro, and it praised the "exceptional" experience of watching 3D movies in-headset, while a spatial video of a child's birthday party was so immersive that it literally brought the author to tears. They also praised the intuitiveness of the gesture controls, which is a relief since the Vision Pro has no dedicated controllers.
On the other hand, a second iMore writer tested the Vision Pro and took a less enthusiastic view. She equated the video experience to an IMAX theater and said the battery pack isn't a big deal if you're using it while sitting. On the other hand, she noted several times how the "heavy" headset design detracted from the immersion, and that the gesture controls didn't always work until after a couple of tries.
The bottom line is that Apple did a fantastic job with its first attempt, but it needs to prove that it can make future Vision headsets more accessible and emphasize VR gaming for the masses before it truly challenges the Quest 3.
Most affordable
We predict more people will end up buying the Meta Quest 3S than the Quest 3. It supports the same game enhancements and exclusives, along with most of the same accessories, and should receive Meta Horizon OS software support for just as long. Most importantly, it costs $200 less, and Meta can be stingy when it comes to headset deals. For Quest 2 fans used to the $299 price point, the Quest 3S is what they've been waiting for.
While we won't have our Quest 3S review before it launches on October 15, we got hands-on time with the headset and came away with the impression that this truly is, in many ways, as Quest 2.5. The cloth strap is decently comfortable but lacks support; the headset itself is slightly trimmer than before, but still front heavy enough that you'll want an Elite Strap. The Fresnel lenses have a distinct sweet spot, and the resolution is unchanged from the last generation.
So why upgrade to the Quest 3S? Because of the new Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chip — lifted straight from the Quest 3 — and full-color mixed-reality cameras for proper passthrough to your living room. The Quest 2 and 3 share most of the same games, but the Quest 3 (and now Quest 3S) have major enhancements to graphics and gameplay thanks to the extra horsepower. And the old headset's low-res, black-and-white passthrough was barely useable, while the Quest 3S can support amazing experiences that let you see family and friends while you play.
If you're weighing the Meta Quest 3S vs. Quest 3, it comes down to whether or not you still like your Quest 2. If so, you might not mind the similar resolution and FoV, and will simply want to preserve access to new exclusives and MR titles like Batman: Arkham Shadow, Laser Dance, and Alien: Rogue Incursion. Otherwise, you may want to spend the extra money on the Quest 3 for its visual boost and quadrupled storage.
Best graphics
On paper, the PSVR 2 is an excellent headset that gives the Quest 3 a run for its money, if you already own a PS5 and don't mind a wired experience. In practice, the PSVR 2's post-launch life has disappointed us somewhat, making it a bit harder to recommend this year.
Visually, PS VR2 gives you a 120Hz OLED display with a 110º field of view and a respectable 800 pixels per inch, higher than the Quest 3S (773 PPI) but well short of the Quest 3 (1,218). The OLED display gives you richer colors than an LCD and hits a smooth 120Hz backed by the PS5's powerful CPU cores, but we do wish its resolution was slightly richer, and the fresnel lenses have a noticeable sweet spot that the Quest 3's pancake lenses lack.
Our PS VR2 review explained that the headset is quite comfortable thanks to the adjustable halo strap, but that the cord from the PS5 draped on the user's back takes some getting used to. We appreciated the button to switch into B&W passthrough mode at the time, but the Quest 3 arriving later that year with full-color passthrough, however, made this latter perk less special.
Directly comparing the PSVR 2 vs. the Quest 3, Sony's headset has the upside of the PS5's raw power, enabling AAA experiences like Horizon Call of the Mountain and VR ports like Resident Evil 8 and Gran Turismo 7. Otherwise, aside from these few exclusives, the PSVR 2 mostly has ports of Quest titles, so the experience isn't that different.
We noted on the PSVR 2's one-year anniversary that the number of exclusives has disappointed us compared to the original PSVR; since then, Sony laid off a number of people from its London and Firesprite studios that had been working on VR titles. That makes us less than enthused about Sony's lack of commitment to its VR headset.
Best for PC VR
We prefer wireless VR headsets wherever possible, especially since the Meta Quest 3 can connect wirelessly to gaming computers for PC VR. Still, if you look at the monthly Steam survey, you'll note that only the Valve Index can compete with Meta for PC VR gaming. That's for a good reason.
The Valve Index came out in 2019, and while some aspects of it are dated, others were ahead of its time. For instance, its field of view and refresh rate trumps what newer headsets offer, and its controllers offer a cool finger-tracking mechanic that other headsets may not offer. While newer headsets rely solely on inside-out tracking, the Valve Index's base station tracking certainly works well enough if you play VR games in one specific space.
You also benefit from direct access to the SteamVR interface, whereas the Quest 3 accesses it through an intermediary app. Games like Half-Life: Alyx are a joy to play, with mechanics that the Quest 3's mobile processor can't handle.
The main downside of the Valve Index is its advanced age. Valve still sells it, but everyone is waiting for a new version (allegedly codenamed "Deckard") that'll have better resolution, plus (allegedly) a wireless design. So while the Valve Index belongs on this list of the best VR headsets, we're not sure we'd recommend buying a new one this year.
How to choose
How to choose between the best VR headsets
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Ultimately, the Meta Quest 3 is the best VR headset you can buy, regardless of whether you own a PC or a console, because the Quest 3 doesn't need another device to offer an immersive experience. The lack of a wired tether makes it easier to forget that you're in your living room.
The PSVR 2 and Valve Index are fully reliant on a PS5 or PC, respectively, and the Apple Vision Pro is meant to be used in tandem with other Apple devices like a MacBook or iPhone. The Quest 3 is our first choice because it doesn't require as much setup to enter a virtual world.
If you look at the Steam Hardware Survey under "VR headsets," you'll see that the Quest 2 remains the most popular PC VR option, followed by the Quest 3 and Valve Index. Even though they're not strictly designed for PC gaming, they're still a popular option with hardcover VR fans.
Of course, the best VR headset for you might not even be out yet. We'll break down your future options in the next section, in case the Quest 3 doesn't appeal to you.
Best upcoming VR headsets
Now that the Meta Quest 3S has arrived, you'll have a while to wait for anything new: the Meta Quest 4 isn't expected to arrive for a couple more years. Leaks suggest that Meta will sell a Quest 4 and Quest 4S in 2026, allowing it to target budget shoppers while also challenging the Vision Pro with a fancier version for VR superfans.
That said, Meta has licensed out its Horizon OS to third-parties, promising an "all-new performance gaming headset" from ASUS ROG and "mixed reality devices for productivity, learning, and entertainment" from Lenovo. We don't know when they'll arrive, but they'll give VR fans new options for hardware while keeping familiar software and their Quest libraries.
Meta also has designs on selling a new Quest Pro 2, but it's run into roadblocks. Meta and LG partnered in early 2024 to make a Pro 2, only for that headset to be canceled by June. Then Meta allegedly canceled an internal Quest Pro 2 prototype in August, though CTO Andrew Bosworth responded to the news that they "have many prototypes in development at all times." Who knows when the Quest Pro 2 will arrive, but it's likely Meta still wants to make one.
If you're waiting for a cheaper Vision Pro alternative for productivity, we know that Samsung and Google have partnered on such a headset — possibly called Samsung Glasses — with Samsung hardware and Google-made Android XR software. It was supposed to arrive in 2024, but we suspect it's been delayed to 2025.
You may hope Apple plans to make its own affordable successor to Vision Pro. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo dashed those hopes a bit by suggesting Apple plans to sell the Vision Pro 2 in the second half of 2025 with an M2 chip upgrade and Apple Intelligence integration. "The price of the M5-powered Vision Pro may not change much," he warns. But analyst Mark Gurman contradicted him, claiming Apple wants to sell a "cheaper model next year" before a Vision Pro 2 in 2026. Either way, if the Vision Pro gives you sticker shock, you can always wait.
On the gaming front, we've heard continued rumors about the Valve Deckard headset, a standalone PC VR console. Even though leakers keep presenting evidence of its existence, it's been over five years since the Valve Index launched, and we'd love to see more evidence that the company is invested in VR (and challenging Meta). We don't expect Deckard to arrive soon, but we can hope.
