If you need to escape to digital worlds, having a VR headset that connects to a nice gaming PC can unlock much more prospects. Among the high VR video games work on standalone headsets, however these gadgets are few and much between. Most video games look and play higher in case your VR headset is connected to a succesful PC.
TL;DR – The Finest VR Headsets for PC:
The greatest VR headsets for PC provide sharp shows, comfy designs, correct monitoring, and a seamless connection to a gaming PC or gaming laptop computer. Admittedly, discovering a headset with all these capabilities doesn’t come low-cost. Nonetheless, the Meta 3S, an alternative choice to the Meta Quest 3, is a nice low-cost VR headset for PC for these on a tighter funds. However when you’ve got a little bit extra wiggle room, the Valve Index is the best possibility for Steam integration and even PS VR2 helps PC VR with minimal caveats.
Sadly, you typically don’t get to check out these headsets for match and performance earlier than buying. So, our consultants have finished the hands-on testing and analysis for you, making certain you get one of the best VR headset for PC that fits your wants. Whether or not you’re after versatility or one thing able to push graphics to the acute, certainly one of our 5 picks will suit your PC VR wants.
1. Valve Index
Finest VR Headset for PC
Decision (Per eye)
1440×1600
Refresh Price
120Hz (144Hz experimental mode)
Highly effective and handy built-in audio system
Finest-in-class finger-tracking
Our assessment of the Valve Index is likely to be a couple of years previous, however we nonetheless stand by our opinion that it is among the most uncompromising PC VR headsets available on the market. The 120Hz refresh charge and 1440×1600 decision imply apps and video games look crisp as you progress round and switch your head – tremendous helpful if you’re dodging headcrabs in Half-Life Alyx or recognizing sneaky xenomorphs in Alien: Rogue Incursion. The Index can be flush with premium padding and luxury dials that you could manipulate to create a comfortable match. Although it weighs 1.79lb, you hardly ever really feel uncomfortable due to the well-constructed body and ergonomic concerns.
Handy and cozy flip-down audio system flank your ears, and an easy-to-use passthrough system helps you to rapidly dip out and in of VR at will. The Index’s ties to Steam additionally make it a formidable selection for critical VR players who need entry to an unlimited library of video games.
In contrast to different choices on our record, the Valve Index makes use of exterior ‘lighthouse’ towers to map the room for hyper-accurate monitoring and roomscale VR. Naturally, this summons additional playspace concerns, however the outcomes are price it. Valve’s ‘Knuckles’ controller resolution additionally deserves reward, providing peerless hands-free immersion finger monitoring. The one draw back is the value level, however on this case, you actually get what you pay for – and the platform’s system vendor (Half-Life: Alyx) comes bundled in.
Finest Finances VR Headset for PC
Meta Quest 3S
3
Excellent entry-level standalone/PC VR headset with main efficiency chops, helpful full coloration passthrough, and extra.
Decision (Per eye)
1832 x 1920
VR gaming on PC doesn’t at all times should be prohibitively costly, and the Meta Quest 3S is proof of this. The Meta Quest 3S takes the Meta Quest 3 – which we reviewed and beloved – and drops a couple of options together with the value whereas maintaining all the pieces else intact. After all, the headset is primarily used as a standalone system that works seamlessly with video games and leisure discovered on Meta, making it look like an odd decide for PC VR. However entry to a Steam VR library or different PC VR titles is so simple as buying a hyperlink cable or utilizing streaming apps like Steam Hyperlink or Air Hyperlink with a stable residence Wi-Fi connection.
Furthering the case for utilizing the Meta Quest 3S as a PC VR headset is its lighter, slimmer design, weighing a nimble 1.13lbs. It’s additionally simple to control the headset’s match utilizing a material Y-strap. Nonetheless, in IGN’s Meta Quest 3S testing, our reviewer discovered the strap would come a little bit free with an excessive amount of motion. Nonetheless, it’s comfy sufficient on the pinnacle for longer intervals.
The lenses are the largest downgrade when evaluating the Quest 3 to the Quest 3S. Relatively than pancake lenses, the Quest 3S has 1832×1920, 20ppd Fresnel lenses, sacrificing readability and inflicting distortion. A minimum of full-color passthrough, well-balanced controllers, and top-notch head monitoring are main upgrades over the Quest 2 (and an entire slew of different headsets). Given the Quest 3S is provided with the identical GPU, CPU, and RAM because the Quest 3, its efficiency can be comparable, if not higher for a seamless and snappy VR expertise on a PC or standalone.
3. HTC Vive Professional 2
Finest VR Visuals
HTC Vive Professional 2
1
The HTC Vive Professional 2 is the VR headset for all of you graphics addicts
Decision (Per eye)
2448 x 2448
Excellent graphical constancy
Intense {hardware} necessities
The HTC Vive Professional 2 retains all the pieces trying sharp and detailed with minimal display screen door impact due to its 2448×2448 per-eye decision. That’s paired with a butter-smooth 90 to 120Hz refresh charge able to benefit from vibrant vistas and realism in Microsoft Flight Simulator. Its fast-switch LCD panels even help a 120-degree discipline of view for deeper immersion in all of the motion. Nonetheless, these optics are demanding, so a beefy gaming PC is required to maintain up.
The HTC Vive Professional could provide a formidable 5K decision, however its design isn’t as revolutionary. Don’t get us improper: This VR headset is comfy sufficient, maintaining weight well-balanced and providing supportive cushioning, a wonderful adjustable head strap, and the flexibility to tweak the gap between lenses; it’s just a bit bit clunky and a ache to arrange. The headset requires two base stations and a number of other cords simply to get it powered on and dealing along with your PC. Guess that’s the value you pay for unmatched constancy.
Although the primary focus of a VR headset could also be visible, the HTC Vive Professional additionally excels in audio efficiency, so investing in a gaming headset isn’t essential. As an alternative, headphones are built-in, producing booming hi-res audio to put you on the heart of the motion.
Though we’ve not reviewed the HTC Vive Professional 2 ourselves, we did go hands-on with the unique HTC Vive Professional and had been total impresed by the picture high quality and luxury it offered.
4. HTC Vive XR Elite
Finest VR Headset for Work and Play
HTC Vive XR Elite
2
In case you want a VR headset that you are able to do combined actuality work on, take a look at the HTC Vive XR Elite
Decision (Per eye)
1920 x 1920
Handy wi-fi design
Extremely adaptable and cozy to put on
Not a local PC VR resolution
Adaptability is an enormous bonus when selecting a PC VR headset, and the HTC Vive XR Elite is a brilliant selection if you happen to’re in search of an HMD that fits each skilled and informal settings and affords digital, augmented, and mixed-reality experiences. If you wish to get some work finished at a digital desk and expertise the depth of PC VR gaming, the XR Elite is price contemplating.
The principle caveat with the XR Elite is that you simply’ll have to make use of a hyperlink cable or the Vive Streaming app to entry the PC VR library. The tradeoff right here is the system’s portability and viability for working environments versus the uncooked energy provided by true PC VR headsets just like the Valve Index.
The HTC Vive XR Elite’s wi-fi design and unobtrusive audio system make it an ideal touring companion, an answer for enterprise journeys and play classes on the street. Though it is not greatest in school, the 1920×1920 decision per eye and 110-degree discipline of view present vibrant and clear visuals. Like its HTC Vive Professional sibling, the XR Elite additionally affords a number of lens and band changes for a safe match.
5. PlayStation VR2
Finest VR for Console and PC
PlayStation VR2
7
Constructed-in monitoring cameras, eye monitoring, 4K OLED panels, and two tactile Sense controllers with adaptive triggers and haptic suggestions include this VR headset designed for the PS5.
Decision (Per eye)
2,000 x 2,040
Some options solely obtainable on PS5
That’s proper: The PlayStation VR2 works on PC. The VR headset, as soon as solely for PlayStation 5, now can join to a different system with a PC adapter for $59.99. The setup is pretty easy: You simply want to attach the adapter to the only USB-C twine that comes on the PS VR2. A DisplayPort 1.4 cable can be required and, like most headsets, you’ll want a gaming PC that meets the minimal necessities to run. Fortunately, most funds gaming PCs match the invoice. From there, with a Steam account, you possibly can play Steam’s spectacular library of VR video games.
There’s a catch, as not all the PS VR2 options will work when enjoying on PC. You’ll not get HDR help on the 2000×2040 per-eye OLED panels, however motion ought to nonetheless look crisp in 4K with no display screen door impact and really feel immersive with the 120Hz refresh charge and 110-degree FOV. Different options like eye-tracking, adaptive triggers, headset suggestions, and controller haptics received’t be obtainable. Although these extras could be good, we don’t assume they’re deal breakers. You may nonetheless get pleasure from a cushty match, finger-touch detection, rumble, 3D audio, and see-through view when PC gaming.
Past a couple of caveats, our hands-on testing of PS VR2 exhibits that it is an ideal possibility for PC VR. In case you’ve obtained a PS5 and are on the fence about shopping for the VR headset, we predict this new performance makes an ideal case for the acquisition. It’s costly, costing over $600 with the adapter, but it surely’s nonetheless a steal in comparison with a lot of our different PC VR headset picks.
Select the Finest VR Headsets for PC
We’ve chosen these PC VR Headsets based mostly on our experience and expertise with VR, in addition to IGN opinions and client suggestions. When shopping for a VR headset, there are extra than simply digital specs to contemplate, with bodily consolation being a necessary side of the expertise. For instance, consolation dials, airflow, and construct high quality impression how the headset will really feel when used. Nonetheless, it’s additionally essential to contemplate the expertise beneath the hood, with the efficacy of a headset’s components correlating with efficiency within the video games you want to play.
Then there are quality-of-life options to contemplate, just like the efficacy and magnificence of a headset’s monitoring resolution or passthrough and refresh charge, which governs the fluidity you expertise inside a given recreation.
PC VR FAQ
Do I want a robust PC to make use of VR?
Like PC video games, VR headsets and VR video games have minimal and advisable system necessities that you simply’ll want to satisfy to get the related functions working easily. In case you’re leaping into PC VR to play a particular set of video games, it’s price investigating the system necessities earlier than making any huge purchases to make sure you’ll be capable to benefit from your proposed headset. Typically talking, you’ll need high-end {hardware} in your gaming rig, comparable to potent graphics playing cards and processors, to play probably the most demanding VR video games. If constructing a gaming rig for PC VR is out of your funds, it’s price contemplating a number of the standalone headsets available on the market, which work wirelessly without having an exterior laptop.
What VR headsets don’t require a PC?
VR headsets for PC are mighty succesful, however if you happen to’d wish to play away from residence and even in a unique room out of your laptop, you’ll want to search out another choice. The Meta Quest 3S and your complete Quest lineup are nice hybrid choices that excel as standalone VR headsets. The Pico 4 works equally to the Meta Quest and is nice for individuals who don’t desire a tether. We’d be remiss to not point out the Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional; it’s wildly highly effective solo, and it seamlessly integrates into the Apple ecosystem, proving an modern technique to work on the greatest MacBooks.
PlayStation VR2 doesn’t require a PC. Nonetheless, you’ll want the PS5 to benefit from the actually spectacular VR expertise. Some ultra-cheap VR headsets additionally use the display screen of your smartphone for a enjoyable, extra immersive expertise that’s particularly well-suited for kids.
How do you guarantee one of the best VR headset for PC expertise?
Past having a robust gaming PC and a succesful, comfy VR headset, think about these different components too. A well-lit area ensures you could have probably the most correct monitoring. You’ll additionally need the liberty to maneuver across the space you’re enjoying in, so the area must be freed from obstacles or furnishings that might journey you up or get tangled in wires. It could be useful to put a rug or different objects that point out if you’re leaving the devoted play space. Fortunately, some headsets include their very own indicators.
When do VR headsets normally go on sale?
Virtually all the greatest VR headsets which are PC appropriate will drop in costs a couple of totally different occasions yearly. One of many total greatest purchasing occasions for VR reductions is Amazon Prime Day, which takes place in July yearly. After that, Black Friday and Cyber Monday are inclined to have one of the best total offers persistently. Each occasions are inclined to primarily provide Meta Quest offers, however generally different headsets can be found at a reduction.
Sarah Thwaites is a contract tech author at IGN, with bylines at GameInformer, TrustedReviews, NME and extra.
Danielle Abraham is a Tech freelance author based mostly in Los Angeles who spends her free time creating movies and geeking out over music historical past.