Best budget virtual reality headset

Just look at the Meta Quest 2our top budget VR headset, and we've found plenty more wallet-friendly options.

All of a sudden, VR is interesting again. But for the Apple fanatics, or people who can easily afford it, the Vision Pro is a glimpse at where the entire category might be headed. I tend to judge VR headsets on a few basic criteria: Ergonomics, immersion and controls. It's not that hard to shove a mobile display into a plastic headset and strap some cheap elastic headbands onto it. But it takes skill to craft something that's well balanced and doesn't feel uncomfortable after 30 minutes. My test for ergonomics is fairly simple: How long can I wear a headset until I start to feel discomfort?

Best budget virtual reality headset

The tech is now more widely available and far more affordable compared to previous years, but it's not always easy to find any cheap VR headset deals. Let's start with the Meta Quest 2 previously the Oculus Quest 2 , which is now firmly established as the go-to option for those looking to get into VR gaming. PSVR 2 also launched earlier this year. The second version of the VR headset for PS5 is now available at multiple retailers after a short period of exclusivity at the PlayStation Direct store. Naturally, it has not been discounted this early. Still, we thought Sony nailed virtual reality on its second try and were full of praise in our PSVR 2 review so it's well worth the investment if you have the money to spend on it. And, lastly, there's the Apple Vision Pro. This is a more premium and professional-focused VR and AR headset, but it still has a lot of productivity and gaming uses that appeal to a general audience. We awarded it 4. Just don't expect any deals for some time - if ever. At the opposite end of the scale, we've also included some of the cheapest headsets that only require your phone to function. The possibilities with this are limited but it can be the least expensive way to try out VR for yourself before taking the plunge on some more expensive kit.

Plus, there's 3D audio support and easy buttons for adjustment.

Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Reviews ethics statement. The Quest 3 has a newer, faster Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 processor that has better graphics and a higher-res display than the Quest 2, better lenses and redesigned controllers, and it can also blend the virtual and real world with passthrough color cameras, but Apple's headset beats it on display and camera fidelity. It also has hand tracking that works without controllers, but controllers are included to give you two options for input. The Apple Vision Pro is an amazing piece of tech and a bleeding-edge high-end mixed reality headset that also runs iOS and thousands of iPad apps, works without controllers using eye and hand tracking and can run multiple apps at the same time, along with being a virtual MacBook monitor.

Just look at the Meta Quest 2 , our top budget VR headset, and we've found plenty more wallet-friendly options. Click to jump to detailed looks at our picks for the best budget VR headsets , or check the list below:. VR is becoming more available and affordable as the technology behind the best VR headsets grows. Standalone options, like the Quest lineup, make the barrier of entry basically void since you no longer need one of the best gaming PCs or gaming consoles. Many of the best smartphones even offer portals to virtual reality using ultra-cheap headsets.

Best budget virtual reality headset

All of a sudden, VR is interesting again. But for the Apple fanatics, or people who can easily afford it, the Vision Pro is a glimpse at where the entire category might be headed. I tend to judge VR headsets on a few basic criteria: Ergonomics, immersion and controls. It's not that hard to shove a mobile display into a plastic headset and strap some cheap elastic headbands onto it. But it takes skill to craft something that's well balanced and doesn't feel uncomfortable after 30 minutes. My test for ergonomics is fairly simple: How long can I wear a headset until I start to feel discomfort? For the most ergonomic devices, like the Quest 3, that could easily be an hour or two. Immersion, meanwhile, comes from having high resolution screens with fast refresh rates, so everything looks sharp and smooth. Field of view is also a major element, as it describes how well VR screens can cover what you see. We look at a few popular games, like Superhot , Beat Saber and Pistol Whip , on every headset to judge how immersed we feel.

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On top of that, the futuristic eye and hand-tracking experience is head and shoulders above the tracking you can find in the competition. This won't be up to the standards of the Meta Quest or HTC just yet, but with some controllers included you might get a better variety of proprietary apps as we saw on the Oculus Go. We run key apps and software on the headsets, using them mainly in standalone mode if they're designed to be self-contained, or with a PC, game console or phone if they're primarily meant as connected peripherals. Let's start with the Meta Quest 2 previously the Oculus Quest 2 , which is now firmly established as the go-to option for those looking to get into VR gaming. Quick Overview. The version from POP! Microsoft's Windows Photos app now has its own generative AI-powered eraser for images. Yes, Apple Vision Pro is being returned to stores - but this could actually be a good thing. The headset comes with on-ear headphones. Meta Quest 2 - GB.

The list in brief 2. Best overall 3. Best premium headset 4.

As reviewer Sherri L. Using technology like VR can often be a highly subjective experience, but by being attentive to details we find we can discover where each product is uniquely useful. Valve's "knuckle" controllers are pressure-sensitive and can track all five fingers, making them almost like gloves. Why you should trust us. We use the headsets for a mix of work, gaming, fitness and creative uses, and stay attentive to where the headsets have pain points moments of discomfort, feelings of disconnect or sensations of nausea or distortion. Reasons to avoid - Camera can be very exacting. The Quest 2's field of view isn't the best — it's been measured at just around 90 degrees — but it's still enough to enjoy most VR experiences. As we explain above, PC VR headsets can generally achieve better quality virtual reality, since they rely on more powerful graphics hardware. It combines good-enough specs with the ability to use it cord free. You'll be playing small movement-based arcade-style games or making the most of the 3D VR videos that are filling YouTube and other apps these days.