The perfect VR headsets for 2025

Learn our full Meta Quest 3 VR headset review

Storage capability: 128GB | Battery life: 2.2 hours | Area of view: 110 levels (horizontal), 96 levels (vertical) | Max refresh fee: 120Hz

The long-awaited follow-up to the Quest 2 is an improve in each respect: It’s extra snug to put on, it has larger high quality screens and it has full-color combined actuality cameras, permitting you to see the actual world alongside digital parts. Whereas it’s dearer at $500, it’s additionally a much more succesful headset than the Quest 2 and the brand new Quest 3S, with {hardware} and optics that may maintain you fortunately immersed in VR for years.

The Quest 3 is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chip, which Meta says has double the graphics energy of the Quest 2. That extra energy is noticeable in video games like Pink Matter 2, which function up to date textures that ship an expertise nearer to PC VR. The Quest 3’s new shows run at 2,064 by 2,208 pixels per eye, providing an excellent higher expertise than the PlayStation VR2. Its combined actuality cameras additionally allow you to simply see the actual world, in case you’ll want to shortly reply a textual content or Slack message. And so they allow video games that may be constructed round your room.

What makes the Quest 3 fascinating is that it presents extra than simply strong VR: It additionally offers you a glimpse at what a combined actuality future may very well be. Whereas it’s not as sharp or succesful as Apple’s Imaginative and prescient Professional, that’s comprehensible. And similar to earlier Quest headsets, you can even plug it right into a gaming PC for larger high quality VR experiences.

Learn our full Apple Vision Pro review

Storage capability: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | Battery life: 2 hours | Area of view: 100 levels | Max refresh fee: 100Hz

With the Vision Pro, Apple is making an attempt to do for VR what the iPod did for media gamers, and what the iPhone did for smartphones. It’s a daring, $3,500 gamble to reshape the world of VR round Apple’s thought of “spatial computing.” It’s extremely costly, considerably uncomfortable and surprisingly buggy, however the Vision Pro is the largest leap ahead we’ve seen within the stagnating VR trade in years. Most individuals shouldn’t purchase it, however if you happen to’re a developer or somebody with cash to burn and wish one of the best immersive headset right now, it’s really in a league of its personal.

Learn our full Meta Quest 3S VR headset review

Storage capability: 128GB, 256GB | Battery life: 2-3 hours | Area of view: 96 levels | Max refresh fee: 120Hz

The Quest 3S is Meta’s newest entry-level VR headset, however don’t let its affordable $300 worth idiot you: It’s additionally a exceptional achievement for the corporate. It sports activities the identical Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chip because the Quest 3, in addition to a wholesome 8GB of RAM, permitting it to energy the identical experiences as its pricier sibling. It additionally options Meta’s glorious Contact Plus controllers, which ship strong movement controls, in addition to responsive joysticks and buttons.

The one main draw back is that the Quest 3S isn’t almost as sharp because the Quest 3. It options the identical 1,830 by 1,920 pixel per eye display screen from the Quest 2, whereas the Quest 3’s display screen presents 30 % extra pixels (2,264 by 2,208 pixels per eye), to ship a sharper and extra lifelike picture.

VR newbies most likely received’t discover the distinction a lot although, and that’s what actually issues. The Quest 3S is simply as snug because the Quest 3 to put on, and it may well simply entry the identical apps and video games on the Meta Quest Retailer. There’s no headphone jack both, however its built-in audio system ship strong enveloping audio for video games like Maestro, and you could possibly additionally plug in a USB-C to three.5mm adapter, or simply pair wi-fi headphones.

The Quest 3S can hook up with gaming PCs over USB-C or wirelessly to play extra intense VR experiences. It will possibly additionally wirelessly stream your gameplay to Chromecast units, or to AirPlay units by mirroring the Quest app from an iPhone. When you’re nonetheless holding onto the Quest 2, or an unique Quest, the Quest 3S is exactly the cheap improve you’ve been ready for.

Learn our full PlayStation VR2 headset review

Storage capability: 128GB, 256GB | Battery life: 3 hours | Area of view: 110 levels | Max refresh fee: 120Hz

The PS VR2 is likely one of the greatest headset we’ve examined. It presents twin 2K OLED HDR screens, successfully supplying you with 4K high quality. It’s probably the most snug headsets round. And it has some genuinely refreshing new options, like eye monitoring and headset haptics. (Sure, it may well actually rock your noggin.) Better of all, the PS VR2 delivers high-quality digital actuality with out the necessity for a $1,000+ gaming PC – all you want is a PlayStation 5.

Now, our suggestion comes with a couple of caveats. At $550, the PS VR2 is dearer than the PS5 itself. And it’s unclear how shortly its sport library will replenish. The preliminary run has only some exclusives, like Horizon VR and Gran Turismo 7, and we haven’t seen many new titles since then. But it surely’s nonetheless the simplest technique to expertise high-end VR, and it’s a significant improve over the unique PS VR.

Learn our full Valve Index VR kit review

Storage capability: N/A | Battery life: 7 hours | Area of view: 108 levels | Max refresh fee: 120Hz

Valve’s Index kit stays among the finest high-end options in the marketplace that gives a very immersive VR expertise. For $999 you get the Index headset, Valve’s finger monitoring controllers and two SteamVR base stations. Whereas we have seen higher-resolution headsets arrive within the final two years, it is nonetheless a really strong choice, with a 1,440 by 1,600 pixel decision, an eye-watering 144Hz refresh fee and a large 130-degree discipline of view. I would gladly lose a couple of pixels for the Index’s smoother and extra expansive display screen, that are nonetheless far past most different client headsets.

As a SteamVR product, the Index requires putting in two sensors at reverse corners of your room. And naturally, it is wired to your PC. However that clunkiness is price it for the upper refresh fee and extra correct monitoring. Certain, it is not as straightforward to make use of because the Quest 3S, however at this worth vary, we assume you will endure a little bit of inconvenience to get a very high-quality VR expertise.

Valve’s finger monitoring controllers are incredible as effectively, with a handy strap that locks them onto your palms. They make enjoying Half-Life: Alyx really feel like a dream. It is unlucky that different VR video games have not absolutely taken benefit of the finger monitoring although.

Learn our full Bigscreen Beyond VR headset review

Storage capability: N/A | Battery life: 2 hours | Area of view: 102 levels | Max refresh fee: 90Hz

Basically an improve for the Index, the Beyond is a novel spin on a VR headset from Bigscreen, the developer of a preferred app for watching video in VR. It appears to be like extra like an outsized pair of goggles than a large VR headset. The $999 Past is the lightest VR choice we’ve ever seen (it weighs a tad greater than a deck of enjoying playing cards), and its Micro-OLED screens are sharp and provide near-perfect distinction. In contrast to LCD screens, black can look genuinely black with the Past.

The draw back, although, is that the Bigscreen Past is pricey. It’s $999 by itself if you happen to’re simply upgrading a Valve Index setup. When you’re ranging from scratch, although, you’ll additionally want to purchase two Steam VR base stations and a pair of Index controllers. That provides as much as a whopping $1,578.

The Bigscreen Past additionally requires a customized face cushion, which is constructed from a 3D facescan whenever you place your order. Sadly, that makes it more durable to share than different headsets. There’s additionally no room for glasses, because it’s so slim. You should buy prescription lens inserts from Bigscreen for an extra price. And naturally, you’ll need to reside with a cable tethered to your PC, there’s not one of the freedom of the cordless Meta Quest headsets.

For all of its complexity, although, the Bigscreen Past delivers essentially the most immersive PC VR expertise I’ve ever seen. Because it’s so mild, you’ll be able to simply put on it for hours. Along with its superb screens, it’s the most suitable choice for VR fans who don’t thoughts coping with value and complexity for true immersion.