Virtual Reality is not an unknown term anymore and the VR stream is revolutionizing the tech world every passing day. If you want to experience the immersion of the VR world and you are looking for a VR headset, you must do some research beforehand so you can buy a product that best suits your needs.
We will show you some of the best headsets that are available in the market.
What is the Best VR Headset for Beginners?
The best VR headset for beginners is Meta Quest 2.
The Best VR Headsets
Meta Quest 2
The Oculus Rift was one of the first big names in the current VR wave. It was arguably the first to bring VR into the mainstream market.
Despite Facebook buying Oculus and having phased out the “Oculus” brand from their own products, the Oculus roots run deeper than just the headset itself.
Pros
- Does not require any cables
- A sharp display
- A powerful processor
- Accurate motion tracking for VR games
- Optional PC tether via USB cable
Cons
- Short battery life
Price
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 extra equipment connected to the headset, nor do you need any cables running from the headset.
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It has powerful mobile components, including the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 chip, which is enough to power compelling VR experiences.
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It also has an incredible library of those activities, so you’ll find one that is fun.
Tethered
You can use the Quest 2 as a tethered device if you buy the right accessories (and have a powerful computer).
Link Cable
The Link Cable is an adapter that allows you to connect the Quest 2 to a computer and use it just as if you were using the Rift S. It works for PC-based VR games like Half-life: Alyx.
Considering most tethered-only PC headsets are still more expensive than Quest 2 with the cable included, it actually ends up coming out ahead in value when added to the headset.
Sony PlayStation VR
The PSVR is old, but it’s not too bad. If you own a PS4 or PS5, it might be worth checking out.
Pros
- Immersive VR experience.
- Works with both VR and non-VR apps and gaming experiences.
- Motion control support.
- Compared with PC-based headsets, low costs of entry.
Cons
- Requires PlayStation Camera, but it isn’t included.
- It’s slightly less powerful than its main rivals.
- Sometimes, when playing in brightly lit environments, there may be some issues with the camera.
Hardware
After all, it won’t require any additional hardware if you already own one of those consoles.
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Sony backed its development of PlayStation VR (PSVR) and has already released several titles for the headset.
- Five Nights at Freddy’s 2: Help Wanted
- Moss
- Rez Infinite
- Until Dawn: Rush of Blood.
Controls
Most games don’t require motion controllers and can be played using either the DualShock 4 or the DualSense.
If you’re planning on buying a PSVR bundle, make sure you know whether or not the controllers come with it.
Valve Index VR Kit
Pros
- Immersive, touch-based controllers
- A high, 120 Hz refresh rate delivers smooth movement
- There are lots of VR applications for PCs via SteamVR
Price
On paper, the SteamVR headset isn’t really any better than its competitors.
Controller
The headset is just part of the overall VR experience, but the Valve Index really stands out for its impressive controller design.
They’re revolutionary, allowing for individual finger movements and making games much more immersive than the traditional triggers found on most gamepads.
It’s amazing to watch your fingers move in Half-Life: Episode 3.
Headset
While the headset isn’t outstanding, it still offers crisp, smooth visuals with a high frame rate.
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The system integrates with Steam’s VR platform via SteamVR, so there is a huge library of VR titles available for purchase, even if only a small percentage of them would be interested in using the controller.
HTC Vive Pro 2
Pros
- The best resolution for virtual reality games
- Smooth motion tracking
- Works with Steam Controllers
Visuals
With its advanced features, this semi-consumer VR headset offers the best image quality available at 2,448 x 2,448 pixels per screen.
Price
At first glance, Oculus Go seems to be an excellent choice for anyone looking to get into VR. However, if you’re willing to spend a bit more than its competitors, you can get a better experience.
Viveport
It’s compatible with SteamVR, just like Oculus Quest 2, and has a separate VR software store in the shape of Viveport.
The store has the subscription-based VivePort Infinity service, which allows for unlimited access to VR content. It’s a nice extra feature if you’re not already using SteamVR.
HP Reverb G2
Pros
- For the price, high quality.
- Comfortable headset and controllers
- Works reliably with SteamVR
Cons
- Camera-tracked motion capture systems occasionally have glitches.
- Even though the Oculus Go Plus costs less than the Oculus Quest 2 (when factored in), it’s still more expensive than the Oculus Go.
- Microsoft has killed off its own Windows Mixed Reality platform
SteamVR-Friendly
Microsoft’s Windows Mixed Reality platform has been declining for quite some time now since HTC and Valve offer far bigger VR game and software library options.
As a result, the previous WMR-specific HP REVERB has been reworked into a SteamVR-compatible version called HP REVERB G2.
Price
Compared with the Oculus Quest 2 headset, it’s cheaper and easier to set up but less comfortable and doesn’t offer positional tracking.
Resolution
It has a high resolution for its price, at 2,560 by 2,560 pixels per eye.
PC-Tethered
If you’re looking for something between console-based VR gaming and full-blown PC-tethered gaming, then this middle ground might be right up your alley.
Camera-Based Tracking
It also works with cameras instead of using base stations, which means you don’t need to set up base stations as you would for the Index or Vive Pro2.
How to Choose the Best VR Headset for You?
Finding the right VR headset for you may be largely dependent upon your current financial situation.
There are several features that set apart different types of headsets. These include screen resolution, panel type (LCD vs OLED), FOV (the angle at which the headset displays images), and tracking support.
Screen Resolution
A good VR headset is usually the highest-resolution version available. It’s because the resolution is so important for the overall quality of the virtual reality game, and a high-res screen will eliminate the screen door effect and ensure that your gaming experiences feel fresh and immersive.
Panel Type
As OLED technology continues to improve, so too will VR headset screens.
If you’re looking to stay at the forefront of new technology, then it may be worth waiting until the perfect headset with an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display comes out.
Field of View (FOV)
Among the best VR headset manufacturers, the average field of view is approximately 100 degrees, with variations ranging from 90 degrees to 110 degrees.
A wider field of view means that you’ll be able to look around you more easily, and a better headset will allow for a more realistic sense of depth perception.
If you want to play games using your VR headset, then it’s important to ensure that you’re playing at least 100-110 degrees.
Tracking Support
Cheap VR headsets use onboard cameras to help them keep tabs on where they’re placed in a virtual environment.
However, at the top end of the market, more specialist devices usually use additional hardware like tracking base stations to set up accurate 3D tracking with far greater precision.
If you want to play games on a console without using an external controller, you might be better off buying one of these consoles instead of a PS4 Pro.
If you’re splashing out, it’s well worth buying a tracking system that can accurately measure your entire playing surface.
Conclusion
So, if you’re looking for the best VR headset for newbies, then the Oculus Quest 2 is the one to go for. It’s the cheapest choice, and it’s also easy to set up.
It’s also got high-quality audio, and it’s the one that supports Valve Index controllers, which means it’s the only one that works with SteamVR.
If you have any further questions, please leave them in the comments section.