Top pick
The Quest 3 has a cord-free design and convincing hand tracking, with the added option to plug it in to a PC to access more-powerful games.
You can spend thousands of dollars chasing the best specs in a VR headset, but we think comfort and ease of use are more important elements for most people who want to explore VR. With that in mind, the Meta Quest 3 is the clear winner. It combines good-enough specs with the ability to use it cord free. Yet you can also plug it in to a computer, which opens up even more options for how and where you can use it. The controllers are intuitive and easy to hold. It can track you as you move around a room, and it comes with some of the best mixed reality abilities we’ve experienced. Additionally, the Quest 3 has a wide selection of compatible content, since you can play games, movies, and other experiences from the Meta Quest Store, SteamVR libraries, and, soon, Xbox Cloud Gaming.
Upgrade pick
This headset’s screen handily beats the competition, but you’ll need a high-end computer to make the most of it.
Also great
An upgrade to HTC’s stock controllers, we think the Valve Index Controllers are the best combo of comfort and accurate tracking.
You’ll need two base stations to operate an HTC Vive Pro 2 Headset.
For players searching for the latest and greatest VR headset for playing video games, we think the HTC Vive Pro 2 headset paired with Valve Index Controllers and two HTC SteamVR Base Station 2.0 units is the best combination. The Vive Pro 2 has the crispest screen we’ve tried (though you’ll need a powerful computer to max out its abilities), while the Valve Index Controllers combine comfort with the best hand tracking we’ve experienced. Together, they provide an especially immersive VR experience.
Budget pick
If you’re looking for the least expensive way to access the best VR games, this is it.
If you don’t mind a downgrade in specs and the lack of mixed reality experiences, the Meta Quest 2 is a bargain (currently $300). It’s just as easy to use as the Quest 3, and the two headsets share the same expansive library. However, the new generation of games is best played on the Quest 3.