What is the best VR headset? That depends on what you're hoping to do with your headset, whether it's mostly watch video, play tethered to your PC or play free-roaming games while stood up. Whatever your preference, we've got a recommendation for you. Sure, virtual reality is still a growing technology, but it's at a point where there are some really fantastic games just waiting to be experienced through the right headset.
After hours of gaming, our top choice overall is the FAQ sections of this guide that explain what to look for and answer your VR headset questions.
Why you can trust our advice ✔ At PCGamesN, our experts spend hours testing hardware and reviewing games and VPNs. We share honest, unbiased opinions to help you buy the best. Find out how we test.
Meta Quest 3
Best VR headset overall
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| Screen | 2064×2208 per eye, pancake lenses |
| Refresh rate | 90Hz / 120Hz |
| FoV | 110-degree horizontal, 96-degree vertical |
| Tracking | Inside-out |
- Fully wireless headset and controllers
- Quality built-in speakers
- Easy setup
- Price has increased
- Requires a Meta
There were high hopes for the Meta Quest 3 following big promises made by the Reality Labs team and Mark Zuckerberg, but in a nice surprise, they're delivered on virtually all of them.
Despite a lack of native software at launch, the Meta Quest 3 can take your existing library of Meta games and give them a substantial performance boost, even without developers providing a full graphical overhaul.
An upgrade in every sense of the word, the Quest 3 is a device that can appeal to the masses given its ease of access, and now it's over to developers to provide the killer software that people are going to want to buy a headset to play.
Read our Meta Quest 3 review.
Pico 4
Best non-Meta headset
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| Screen | Single LCD (2160×2160 per eye) |
| Refresh rate | 90Hz |
| FoV | 105 degrees |
| Tracking | Inside-out |
- Wireless
- Comfortable design
- 4K screen
- Not officially available in the US
- Lacks exclusives compared to Quest 2
- Lower refresh rate
It's hard to discuss Pico 4 without comparing it to Meta Quest 2 and 3. Developed by ByteDance subsidiary, Pico, this wireless VR headset is one of the more powerful consumer options currently available.
Utilizing a Qualcomm XR2 processor and Adreno 650 GPU (ed by 8GB of RAM), the Pico 4 boasts a 4K resolution on each of its LCD screens and provides a 105° field of view. Unfortunately, the Pico 4 only has a 90Hz maximum refresh rate, whereas several others can hit 120Hz. But when it comes to standalone VR headsets, it still holds the performance advantage. For example, Red Matter 2 on Pico 4 has a 30% resolution boost over its Quest 2 edition.
Unfortunately, what's currently letting down Pico 4 is its software library. If you're mainly here for games, almost everything you'll find is already on Quest 2. Meta has cultivated some fine exclusives that you won't find here, like The Climb 2 and Resident Evil 4 VR. Right now, Pico 4 only has one major exclusive, which includes Ubisoft's Just Dance VR.
Still, Pico 4 has other advantages. Thanks to a more even weight distribution, it feels more comfortable than Quest 2's front-heavy approach. By utilizing inside-out tracking, setting this up proves easy and doesn't require base stations, like many PC-only headsets. Better still, if you've got a spare USB-C cable going, Pico's latest headset can play PC VR games too, opening up your library further.
Meta Quest 3S
Best budget headset
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| Screen | 1832×1920 per eye, Fresnel lenses |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz |
| FoV | 96-degree horizontal, 90-degree vertical |
| Tracking | Inside-out |
- Standalone and PC compatible at a great price
- Same chipset as the Quest 3 for exclusive games
- Brilliant mixed-reality experience
- Fresnel lenses limit clarity in cases
- Stepped IPD
The jump from the Quest 2 to the Quest 3 proved a bit too pricey for some gamers. Fortunately, the Quest 3S is the successor to the Quest 2 that everyone was hoping for. On paper, it sounds remarkably similar to the Quest 2, offering the same 1,832 x 1,920 resolution displays for each eye, the disappointing inclusion of Fresnel lenses, and the same FoV. However, the magic in the Quest 3S is mostly internal.
Sporting the Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 found in the standard Quest 3, the Quest 3S offers up to twice the performance of the Quest 2 – and it shows. The fact that games like Batman: Arkham Shadow and Metro: Awakening run so well on a budget headset is nothing short of spectacular, and the mixed reality is almost as good as the original Quest 3. And, the use of Quest Link or the Steam Link app makes it easy to connect to your gaming PC and dive into plenty of PC-exclusive VR games.
As much as we'd prefer the comfortable pancake lenses and improved resolution of the Quest 3, if you don't want to break the bank with your first go at virtual reality, the Quest 3S is a brilliant option that offers very little in of downsides.
Read our Meta Quest 3S review here.
Valve Index
Best Steam VR headset
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| Screen | Dual 1440×1600 LCD |
| Refresh rate | Up to 144Hz |
| FoV | 130 degrees |
| Tracking | Steam VR base stations |
- Fantastic audio
- Minimal screen door
- Accurate tracking
- Expensive
- Bulky
The Valve Index makes the most compelling argument for high-fidelity, tethered PC VR – provided you've got the rig to deal with the workload. And it does so by breaking the mold in a few ways.
The Valve Index's off-ear speakers – while one of its most questionable features pre-launch – turned out to be one of the headset's strongest feats. They're somehow both immersive and comfortably distant from the ear without any sound leakage… witchcraft.
Aside from glorious audio, the Index offers dual 1,440 x 1,600 RGB LCD screens, fitted with a greater number of subpixels than their AMOLED alternatives. They're also a touch wider when it comes to field of view and capable of running at up to 144Hz, rivaling the best gaming monitor.
The result is a display with greater sharpness, clarity, and eye comfort for longer periods. And its controllers are seriously the best ones out there. The Index truly is the definitive device for virtual reality on Steam.
Read our Valve Index review.
HTC Vive Vision Focus
Best VR headset screen
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| Screen | 2x LCD (2488×2488 per eye) |
| Refresh rate | 90 Hz |
| FoV | 120 degrees |
| Tracking | Inside-out |
- Brilliant screen
- 120-degree field of view
- Can be used standalone or wired to a PC via DisplayPort
- price
- Old standalone chipset
- Fresnel lenses
It's easy to look at the HTC Vive Vision Focus specs and come away disappointed, especially compared to the likes of the Quest 3. A high-resolution display is let down by an aging chipset, the same found in the Quest 2, as well as a high price, Fresnel lenses, and a disappointing standalone library that feels underwhelming. However, the HTC Vive Vision Focus is much more than that.
With neat features like eye-tracking, as well as some quality-of-life improvements that make it one of the most comfortable headsets to wear, the HTC Vive Vision Focus is an improved HTC Vive Pro 2 – without the need for setting up base stations. The standalone library isn't much, especially compared to the Quest's offering. But for PCVR players, this is a brilliant headset.
The lengthy battery life and the hot-swappable battery system make it easy to keep playing your favorite games for longer, and the fact that it comes with mixed-reality is just an added bonus. If you're a dedicated PCVR player, this is a great option.
How to choose the best VR headset
Choosing the best VR headset for PC gaming isn't necessarily complicated, but there are some crucial factors to consider, which you can read more about in the.
Each headset, whether made by HTC, best VR games on PC with a different flavor of immersion, and the most expensive option isn't necessarily the best. To help you get on your virtual feet, we've tested the latest VR headsets to see what they're like to use in real life, beyond their launch hype.
When putting this list together, we drew from a lot of personal hands-on experience with a number of the most highly regarded VR headsets. When you're trying to decide which one is right for you, there are several key factors to keep in mind.
The place to start is price. Considering that different VR headsets offer different focuses, it's no surprise that their price range can vary quite frequently. The Meta Quest 3S offers budget standalone and PC gaming for just $300/£290, while devices such as the Bigscreen Beyond will set you back $1,000/£1,150 before you get the required accessories. For anyone starting out in VR, we absolutely recommend starting with a cheaper option so you can get a sense of whether you enjoy it and what type of gaming you like, which can then help guide you when picking a more expensive option.
Next to consider is what you want to use your VR headset for. If you're only interested in PC gaming, then an option such as the Valve Index is focused exclusively on that. If you foresee yourself using VR on the sofa or elsewhere then standalone options such as the Meta Quest 3, Meta Quest 3S, and Pico 4 will be the way to go.
Getting into the nitty gritty of VR headset specs, resolution is one of the most important factors. Some VR games do their best to create a super realistic world filled with intricately detailed graphics. If that's the type of game that you like to play, you'll want as high a resolution as possible. The same goes for watching realistic VR video. If you're more interested in a casual, fun VR experience with games such as Beat Saber, though, then resolution is less of a priority.
Refresh rate is another crucial spec to look out for. Most headsets are "fast enough" with refresh rates of 72Hz or more but for the best experience – especially if you think you might be at all sensitive to motion sickness with VR – you'll want a higher refresh rate of 90Hz or more.
For those new to VR, the ease of setup could also be a key factor. Some of these headsets are designed so that they can essentially be used right out of the box (e.g. Meta Quest 3, Pico 4) thanks to inbuilt WiFi and batteries, whereas others (e.g. Valve Index, Bigscreen Beyond) are designed to be plugged into a PC, using your graphics card and other hardware to power the experience. The latter can be more of a pain to setup.
Along similar lines, some headsets have better in-built motion tracking than others. Most more modern headsets have so-called outside-in tracking that use sensors on the headset to track your movement but most older headsets require base stations to help the headset track you. These can be a pain to position around your room.
VR headset FAQs
Does VR cause sickness and headaches?
It depends on you. Yes, virtual reality gaming can lead to nausea and headaches, but unfortunately it's very difficult to tell if you'll be affected until you try it. However, there are a few steps you can take to minimize how badly you're affected.
One approach to try is only playing for short periods of time when you start. Set a timer for yourself for 20mins, for instance, then step away for a while before jumping back in. Also, have your first few forays into VR be when sat down, rather than jumping in and playing a free roaming game. Watch some VR videos, play some simpler games, and just generally get used to the feeling before taking your first steps.
Another general point is that the quality of the headset you're using can massively affect your nauseous feelings. If you've tried really basic VR before and not enjoyed it, you may find a quality headset doesn't have the same affect. Higher resolution screens and higher refresh rates can hugely smooth out the VR effect, making it feel much more natural.
It's also important to that this is just a matter of adjustment -similar to how rollercoasters make some people feel sick – and that it is not doing any permanent harm.
Is VR bad for your eyes?
No, there is no proof that using a VR headset can harm your eyes, just as there isn't for prolonged use of computer screens or looking at phones. that said, just like with those devices, taking breaks is certainly to be advised. This should reduce any eyestrain. Having said this, VR headsets will always come with an age restriction as they are not to be used by small children who are still developing.
Is VR worth it in 2025?
Absolutely. We'd say that as each year goes by, VR headsets become more and more appealing do to ever-improving technology. There's quite a large library of games that make use of VR now, or that are entirely built around its use. This isn't a fad that's going to go away any time soon and we recommend trying some of the amazing VR experiences that are currently available.
What do you need for VR?
To get started in VR these days all you need is a VR headset. The first few generations of modern VR headsets required a PC to power the graphics output. However, the likes of the Meta Quest 3/3S and Pico 4 can run completely on their own, with the Quest headsets in particularly having an impressive array of games available directly through the headset.
However, if you want to play your Steam game library, you will need a PC to stream those games from your PC to the headset. Connecting to a PC also opens up lots of other possibilities, such as transferring VR videos to your headset, streaming other non-Steam games and more.
Some headsets can connect to a PC natively via a USB-C connection while others use a DisplayPort connection from your graphics card. Meanwhile others such as the PlayStation VR 2 (PSVR 2) require a dedicated adapter to convert your PC's output to use with the headset.
What VR headset has the highest resolution?
The HTC Vive Pro 2 is still the highest resolution VR headset you can buy, despite being a few years old. It has a per-eye resolution of 4,896 x 2,448 pixels. That compares to 1,832 x 1,920 for the Quest 3 and 2,160 x 2,160 for the Pico 4. However, that headset is extremely expensive and not a good choice for home gaming. Meanwhile, the Pimax Crystal Light has a per-eye resolution of 2,880 x 2,880, but we're yet to test this headset, which is for PCVR only – it doesn't offer standalone use.
The Meta Quest 3 is our choice for the best VR headset, so if you're picking one up we can get you started with thebest free Meta Quest 3 games so you're not short on ideas for what to play.