When it comes to gaming, Windows PCs have always been better off when it comes to compatibility compared to Macs.
That being said, VR manufacturers have been slowly pushing for compatibility with Apple’s Mac systems in recent years. This has resulted in many newer VR headsets being fully compatible with them.
In this post, we will talk about our top picks for the best VR headsets for Mac.
Winner
HTC Vive Pro
The HTC Vive headset is one of the most high-end VR headsets that you can buy. It comes with controllers and works flawlessly on Mac. Furthermore, it supports Steam VR so you can easily play the VR games present in the Steam library.
Runner Up
Oculus Quest 2
Oculus has a wide variety of titles to its name. Furthermore, it’s completely compatible with Macs and all of the VR programs that are available on it. Another great thing about it is that it’s a standalone VR headset as well.
Also Great
HTC Vive Cosmos
Similar to the HTC Vive Pro, this headset also supports VR gaming through Steam VR. Furthermore, it’s a relatively cheaper version of our top pick. It’s a well-built headset that is highly comfortable and super easy to set up as well.
Now that you’ve had a brief introduction, let’s take a closer look to determine the headset for your needs.
Best VR Headsets for Mac - Top 3 Reviews
#1: Best All-Around VR Headset for Mac - HTC Vive Pro Review
While the HTC Vive Pro is definitely one of the most expensive headsets on the market, we feel its price is justified.
This headset is a powerhouse when it comes to performance and visuals. You get dual OLED screens with a resolution of 2880 x 1600 pixels. The visual performance is extremely crisp and definitely allows you to get immersed in the VR experience.
Factors to Consider Before you Decide to Buy HTC Vive Pro
Price: Its price is definitely the worst part of the HTC Vive Pro. The full system is priced quite high, and it’s definitely something that’ll be out of reach for most average consumers.
User-friendliness: The HTC Vive Pro headset has a very intuitive design that makes it very easy to set up. Furthermore, it comes with a concise and clear instruction manual that makes the setup process even easier for people who are not tech-savvy.
Design and comfort: The HTC Vive Pro is definitely one of the most comfortable headsets that we have tested. The head strap is adjustable, and so are the angles of the lenses. Even people that wear glasses can comfortably wear it on their heads if they adjust it properly.
- Can be worn by glasses wearers
- Comfortable
- Easy to set up
- Compatible with a variety of platforms
- Durable
- Highly expensive
Best All-Around VR Headset for Mac
The best all-around VR headset for a Mac is the HTC Vive Pro, thanks to its great design, durability, and ease of use.
#2: Best Budget-Friendly VR Headset for Mac - Oculus Quest 2 Review
The Oculus Quest 2 remains to be the leader of the market when it comes to VR headsets, and for good reason.
It’s the only VR headset on our list that is also a standalone headset. This means that it can run titles on its own and also be connected to a Mac to run the titles on it.
The Oculus Quest 2 is a highly versatile and lightweight piece of hardware. You can use it with your Mac while at home. If you’d like to take it with you while you travel, you can do so and then use it on its own.
Factors to Consider Before you Decide to Buy Oculus Quest 2
Price: The Oculus Quest 2 is the cheapest VR headset on this list. It’s available for quite a reasonable price, and we definitely feel that for most consumers, it’s a viable option.
User-friendliness: The Oculus Quest 2 provides you with a highly intuitive user interface that you can navigate through to properly set it up. Furthermore, for most games, you don’t even have to configure much. It’s mostly plug-and-play.
Design and Comfort: The Oculus Quest 2 can feel heavy on your nose after extended play sessions. Other than that, the headset is adjustable in many ways and can provide you with comfort as you experience VR gaming.
- Affordable
- Standalone and works with Macs
- Compact and lightweight
- Comfortable
- Sturdy
- Limited title library
Best Budget-Friendly VR Headset for Mac
The best budget-friendly VR headset for a Mac is the Oculus Quest 2 thanks to its cheap price, great compatibility features, and user-friendliness.
#3: Best Comfortable VR Headset for Mac - HTC Vive Cosmos Review
The HTC Vive Cosmos is a more budget-friendly version of the HTC Vive Pro and Pro 2 headsets.
It comes with two wireless controllers and features tracks that do not require external sensors. Hence, you don’t need to go through the trouble of setting those up around your room.
Furthermore, it’s compatible with a variety of products that can further increase its use and accessibility.
For example, it’s fully compatible with the VIVE wireless adapter that allows you to play in VR without cords.
Factors to Consider Before you Decide to Buy HTC Vive Cosmos
Price: While it’s not extremely cheap, it’s much cheaper than what you would expect to pay for a typical HTC Vive headset.
User-friendliness: The headset comes with a super intuitive design. The software setup is also super simple both for Windows PC as well as Mac users.
Design and Comfort: It features an adjustable head strap, ventilated cushions, and a flexible body to ensure you’re comfortable throughout your VR experience.
- User-friendly
- Does not require external sensors (However, can also work with them)
- Lightweight
- Ergonomic design
- Adjustable design
- Great build quality
- Tracking can be inaccurate sometimes
Best Comfortable VR Headset for Mac
The best comfortable VR headset for a Mac is the HTC Vive Cosmos thanks to its ergonomic design, high adjustability and superior build quality.
Best VR Headset for Mac - Buyers’ Guide
When you choose a headset for a Mac, your options can be limited compared to if you had a Windows PC.
That being said, there are still a decent number of manufacturers that have developed VR headsets that work with Mac OS.
Similar to if you were buying a VR headset for a PC, there are a few factors you must take into account.
These factors are:
Price
You must take your budget into account when you browse the market for a VR headset for your Mac. For starters, you must factor in what the highest amount is that you’re willing to spend.
However, your goal should never be to spend that exact amount. Many VR headsets are present out there which are quite expensive. While they may be within your budget, they may be expensive because of the extra features they have.
In many cases, users buy these expensive VR headsets, only to find that they come with extra features that they have no use for. Hence, be wary of this.
Furthermore, don’t go for too cheap of a VR headset either. This is because if a VR headset is too cheap, there’s a high chance that it may not be high-quality. It might be made from sub-par materials that have jagged edges and may not be durable.
It may also be poorly constructed with components not fitting to each other properly or in a crooked way. It may also be highly uncomfortable or unpleasant to use due to its design.
Hence, don’t compromise on these essential components of a VR headset just because it’s cheap.
User-Friendliness
VR can be difficult to get into, especially if you’re not very tech-savvy. Hence, it’s the job of VR headset manufacturers to ensure that their headsets are super easy to understand.
It’s a good idea to go through the user reviews and user footage for different VR headsets before you decide to buy any specific one. Checking out the footage for the menus of a VR headset can really help you get an idea of whether or not it would be suitable for you.
Furthermore, when you read user reviews, it can be a great way to gain insight into the type of experience a certain headset will offer you. You can then determine for yourself whether or not it’s a headset you would enjoy or not.
If you’re not a tech-savvy person, you should avoid all VR headsets that are “aimed at developers” or professionals of the industry.
Instead, you should be more focused on consumer-focused VR headsets as they are easy to set up and understand.
On the other hand, if you’re one of the Mac users that want more control over their VR headset, then you can go for the less consumer-friendly options.
It’s all about understanding what your needs and requirements are and then opting for a VR headset that fits them.
Compatibility
When we talk about compatibility, obviously, you must first ensure that the virtual reality headset that you intend to buy is compatible with a Mac.
Secondly, you must also consider the virtual reality games you want to play and experience. The type of VR games that you want to play will factor in heavily when it comes to your choice of compatible VR headsets.
This is because certain virtual reality games are only available on certain virtual reality headsets. Steam VR is supported by Mac OS.
In our opinion, you should opt for a VR headset that supports Steam VR tracking and can work on a Mac. This combination will provide you with the largest library of VR games that are currently available on the market.
Design and Comfort
Playing VR games for an extended period of time can be tiring. In this case, you want your virtual reality headset to be as comfortable as possible.
It needs to be tight enough not to fly off of your face, but at the same time, it should also not be claustrophobic.
As you can probably imagine, VR headset manufacturers have a real challenge when it comes to designing them. However, there are great examples of comfortable VR headsets out there that let you really get immersed into the experience since you barely feel them.
These would be the HTC Vive Pro, Oculus Quest 2, and many more.
Build Quality
Last but not least, you must ensure that the virtual reality headset you get is highly durable.
It should be able to withstand minor drops and hits. Furthermore, it should also be resistant to wear and tear. Remember that long VR sessions can become quite sweaty; your VR headset should have measures to ensure it does not get damaged over time it.
The material used for it should be lightweight so as not to hinder you. However, it should be durable at the same time as well.
It’s a good idea to buy a virtual reality headset in person. This is because you can inspect the headset for yourself to ensure that it’s well-crafted and will last you a long time.
On the other hand, if you can’t buy it in person and have to buy it online, then we recommend that you check out user reviews for it.
If a VR headset is notorious for breaking down within a few months, you can quickly hear about it by going through user reviews.
Best VR Headset for Mac - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I Use VR on a Mac?
Yes, you can definitely use VR on a Mac. There are many VR titles, apps, and programs available that are configured for virtual reality.
Furthermore, there are now many options of compatible VR headsets to choose from that can run with Mac systems.
Is Steam VR Available on Mac?
Yes, Steam VR is available on Mac. Hence, you can easily buy any VR headset that supports Steam VR tracking and enjoy all of the VR games that are present in the Steam library.
It’s definitely a great combination to go for if you run a Mac OS.
Which Oculus Headsets Work with Mac?
In the past, Oculus headsets did not work with Mac OS. Oculus famously stated that the Rift and S headsets do not work with Macs and are optimized for Windows PCs.
However, the most recently released Oculus Quest 2 is fully compatible with systems that run Mac OS.
What is the Apple VR Headset?
The Apple VR Headset is a product by Apple that is known to be in production at the moment.
It’s reported to be a virtual reality as well as a mixed reality headset. The headset will incorporate many exterior cameras and sensors to take advantage of the actual environment in order to create your virtual one.
When will the Apple VR Headset be Released?
Apple’s VR headset is expected to be released sometime in 2022.
Final Verdict
Those are our picks for what Mac users can pick up if they want to get into the world of virtual reality.
Regarding the best VR headset, we feel that the HTC Vive Pro takes the cake here. Not only is it highly compatible, but it’s also super easy to set up. The high adjustability also ensures it can be used by all members of the household with ease.
The only thing holding it back is its price. However, if you have the budget to snag this one up, it’s definitely worth it. It’s a headset that will stay relevant for many years to come.
Which headset do you think is the best for Mac users? Let us know in the comments section below.
