Do you want to buy a VR headset for a PC?
Let’s see how much you need to spend.
How Much Is a VR Headset for a PC?
A VR headset for a PC costs around $700.
The Best VR Headsets
Virtual Reality (VR) is an amazing new technology that allows people to experience things they’ve never been able to before.
It uses headsets and motion tracking to let you see things from different angles and perspectives. You can even interact with them!
Thanks to compelling games and experience, virtual reality has gained some momentum in recent years.
However, it’s still in a somewhat unstable state, with headsets coming and goings fairly quickly. We’re keeping track of the best of what’s available right now.
Meta Quest 2
The Oculus Rift was one of the first big names in the current VR wave. It was arguably because it made VR available for everyone at an affordable price.
Despite Facebook buying Oculus and having phased out the name “Oculus” in favor of “Meta”, the Oculus brand runs deep.
Cost
The Meta Quest 2 ($400) is a standalone VR headset. It’s not quite as good as when it was $200, but we think it’s worth the extra $100.
It’s still relatively inexpensive for a VR platform. You don’t need any additional equipment attached or cables running from the device.
Mobile Components
It’s powered by a mobile processor, specifically the Qualcomm Snapdragon™ 865 chipset, which is powerful enough to run a compelling VR experience.
It also has an incredible library of entertainment options, so you’ll be able to find something that is fun.
Tethered Headset
You can use the Quest 2 as a tethered headset when you purchase the right accessories.
The $79 Link cable is a five-meter USB-C cord that allows you to plug the Quest into your computer and use it like the Oculus Go to play PC-specific virtual reality (VR) titles like Half-Life: Alyx.
Considering most tethered-only computer headsets are still more expensive, the Quest 2 with its built-in wireless capability comes out ahead in terms of the overall cost.
Pros
- Does not require any cables
- A sharp display
- A powerful processor
- Accurate motion tracking
- Optional PC tethering using an optional USB cable
Cons
- Short battery life
Meta Quest Pro
We really enjoy using the Meta Quest 2 because it presents a powerful VR experience without requiring any cables. However, we’re not sure if it’s worth the price tag.
The Meta Quest Pro offers superior performance compared to the original Meta Quest. It has a better display, better controller, and better processing power, and it includes facial recognition technology.
It’s also over $300 cheaper than the Quest 2, so the “Pro” in its name makes sense.
Pros
- An improved design with a more comfortable feel than the Quest 2
- Cool technology for tracking eyes and faces
- A color pass-through camera
- Rechargeable headsets and controllers
- Does not require a computer to operate
Cons
- Expensive
- Meta Horizon’s metaverse is often empty and sometimes buggy
- Short battery life
Sony PlayStation VR
The PlayStation VR is old. But it’s not too late to consider buying one if you own a PS4 or PS5.
After all, it won’t require any additional hardware if you already own one of those game systems.
Library
Sony backed its development of PlayStation VR (PSVR) and has created a large collection of PSVR titles, including Five Nights at Freddy’s: Help Wanted, Moss and Rez Infinite.
Most games don’t require any kind of controller input and can be played using either the DualShock 4 or the DualSense.
Pros
- Immersive VR experience.
- Works with both VR apps and games.
- Support for motion control.
- It has low costs of entry when comparing it to PC-based headsets.
Cons
- Requires PlayStation Camera, but it isn’t included.
- It’s slightly less powerful than its main rivals.
- Motion-tracker glitches when using it in bright light.
Valve Index VR Kit
Valve’s PC-tethered VR headset is pricey, and on paper, it doesn’t stand out much from the competition.
The headsets are just one part of the virtual reality experience, but the Valve Index really stands out for its other major components: the controllers.
They’re revolutionary, able to rack individual finger movements, and make games much more immersive than the standard trigger grips on other controllers.
The HTC Vive has some nice features, but they’re not particularly impressive. It works well with SteamVR, though, which means there are lots of games for it.
Pros
- Immersive, finger-tracking controls
- A high, 120 Hz refresh rate provides smooth motion
- There are lots of VR games for PC via SteamVR
Cons
- Expensive
- Sometimes frustrating tethered design
HTC Vive Pro 2
With its advanced, semi-consumer version, this high-end VR headset offers the sharpest pictures available at 2,448 x 2,448 pixels per screen.
It easily offers the most impressive visual experience we’ve seen in VR yet, but at an expensive price: The headgear alone costs $799, and that figure doesn’t include the base stations and controllers required for use.
It works with Steam VR just like the Oculus Quest and has its own VR app marketplace called Viveport. The Viveport app market allows for unlimited access to VR content, rather than having to pay per piece of content. That’s a nice extra feature outside of Steam VR.
Pros
- The best resolution for virtual reality games
- Smooth motion tracking
- Works with Valve Index controllers
Cons
- Expensive
- Does not include the necessary equipment for controlling the lights
HP Reverb G2
Since HTC and Valve offer much bigger VR game and software libraries than Microsoft, its Windows Mixed Reality platform has dwindled.
Because of this, the previously WMR-specific HP Reverb has been redesigned into the SteamVR-friendly HP Reverb G2 which is cheaper and easier to set up than the Valve Index for tetrahedrally tracked VR experiences.
It has a high resolution for its price, at 2,560 x 1,440 pixels per eye.
If you’re looking for something between the Index and the Vive Pro 2, then this middle ground is an option worth considering. You won’t be able to use room-scale controllers, but you’ll get some positional head movement.
Pros
- For the price, high resolution.
- A comfortable headset and controller
- Works well with SteamVR
Cons
- Camera-based trackers occasionally have glitches
- Even though the Oculus Go Plus costs less than the Oculus Quest 2 (when factoring in the optional USB-C to HDMI adapter), it’s still more expensive than the Oculus Go.
- Windows Mixed Reality is nearly dead as a VR platform.
Conclusion
Most people prefer tethered VR headsets because they’re the most popular choice among users and they’re also the priciest option.
That’s largely because they require a powerful computer to run them properly, which means having to buy a new one every time you want to update.
If you’re willing to spend a little more, though, you can get a great tethered VR experience without having to buy a whole new computer.
