Best for Most

amazon.com

walmart

techradar.com

ign.com

notebookcheck.net

steam

Wirecutter

This headset’s screen handily beats the competition, but you’ll need a high-end computer to make the most of it.

TechGearLab

If you're entering the VR market excited for the absolute premium experience, then look no further than the Vive Pro 2 Headset. Topping the charts in three of our five metrics, this headset is easily the strongest performer we tested. With this model, you'll get massive play areas, fantastic tracking, a streamlined design that caters to users with glasses, and, not to mention, gorgeous visuals. When the Vive Pro 2 shines, the premium offering is genuinely incredible. 
However, in the ever-innovating world of VR headsets, even the premium experience does have a few issues. The Vive Pro 2 suffers when it comes to setup. Requiring sensors to achieve fantastic tracking, there is a requirement to set up an array around your play area. And if the price was not already high, the entry-level for this headset is a high-performing PC, which most laptops will not meet. Overall though, if you can meet the PC and financial requirements for the Vive Pro 2, it offers the best VR experience available.

If you're entering the VR market and excited for the complete premium experience, look no further than the Vive Pro 2 Headset. Topping the charts in three of our five metrics, this headset is easily the strongest performer we tested. With this model, you'll get massive play areas, fantastic tracking, a streamlined design that caters to users with glasses, and, not to mention, gorgeous visuals. When the Vive Pro 2 shines, the premium offering is genuinely incredible. 
However, in the ever-innovating world of VR headsets, even the premium experience does have a few issues. The Vive Pro 2 suffers when it comes to setup. Requiring sensors to achieve fantastic tracking, there is a requirement to set up an array around your play area. And if the price was not already high, the entry-level for this headset is a high-performing PC, which most laptops will not meet. Overall though, if you can meet the PC and financial requirements for the Vive Pro 2, it offers the best VR experience available.
Read more: Vive Pro 2 review

Upgrade Pick

pcmag.com

cnet.com

The Quest 2 has a cord-free design and convincing hand tracking with the added option to plug it into a PC to access more powerful games.

If you're on the hunt for an excellent headset that doesn't need to be tethered to a PC, our top recommendation is the Oculus Quest 2. This VR headset offers a top-tier interactive and highly immersive virtual reality experience. It's intuitive and easy to use, and motion tracking is by far some of the best we've seen. The Quest 2 is one of the most versatile options out there because you can use the included tether to attach to a PC which greatly expands the available VR experiences. Best of all, this unique product offers an excellent VR experience at a price that makes virtual reality approachable for most folks. It's not the best VR headset ever, but it is the best for most people.
We have very few gripes about the Oculus Quest 2. It fits slightly tighter than other models, so it did not earn top marks for comfort. Wearing glasses with the headset on can be somewhat problematic, even with the included insert. Additionally, this option doesn't quite compare to the premium models in terms of interactiveness and visual immersiveness. Yet it is not so far behind that most folks would prefer to fork over the extra hundreds of dollars those premium headsets cost. Considering all that, we can't stress enough how much we recommend this product. It's one of our absolute favorites, and we think it's the perfect option for anyone who wants a hassle-free standalone headset. 

If you're on the hunt for an excellent headset that doesn't need to be tethered to a PC, our top recommendation is the Meta Quest 2. This VR headset offers a top-tier interactive and highly immersive virtual reality experience. It's intuitive and easy to use, and its motion tracking is by far some of the best we've seen. The Quest 2 is one of the most versatile options out there because you can use the included tether or connect to a PC over WiFi via its Air Link feature, which greatly expands the available VR experiences. Best of all, this unique product offers an excellent VR experience at a price that makes virtual reality approachable for most folks. It's not the best VR headset ever, but it is the best for most people.
We have very few gripes about the Meta Quest 2. It fits slightly tighter than other models, so it did not earn top marks for comfort. Wearing glasses with the headset on can be somewhat problematic, even with the included insert. Additionally, this option doesn't quite compare to the premium models in terms of interactiveness and visual immersiveness. Yet it is not so far behind that most folks would prefer to fork over the extra hundreds of dollars those premium headsets cost. Considering all that, we can't stress enough how much we recommend this product. It's one of our absolute favorites, and we think it's the perfect option for anyone who wants a hassle-free standalone headset. 
Read more: Meta Quest 2 review

theverge.com

expert-review

The Best VR Headset

If you want to try out VR while spending the least amount of money possible, the obvious choice is the Google Cardboard. This headset is a simple cardboard frame for your smartphone and lenses. Its minimalist design provides a surprisingly good viewing experience. There is a single button to press to activate the touchscreen on your phone. 
This product can't compete with the top models that cost hundreds more. We wish it had a strap to secure the Google Cardboard to your head; since cardboard isn't the most comfortable material to hold against your face. It's also quite tiring to hold it in place the entire time you are using it. The single-button interface limits the amount of interaction with your virtual environment, making the Cardboard more of a VR viewer. Taking these flaws into consideration, we recommend the Google Cardboard for someone who's not necessarily a tech expert but wants to give VR a try on the cheap. 

VR Headset Comparison