How to choose a VR headset? Here we have selected seven top international VR headsets (recommended by the US PCMAG website) and three Chinese-made headsets (based on comprehensive evaluations from Chinese websites). This article is sourced from an article written by TouchSea Technology and compiled, translated, and written by Yuan Yuxu, published by Yuan Universe Daily.
Table of Contents:
2024 Best VR Headset Recommendations
PCMAG List
Chinese List
PCMAG List
01 Apple Vision Pro
02 Meta Quest 3
03 Meta Quest Pro
04 Meta Quest 2
05 Sony PlayStation VR2
06 Valve Index VR Kit
07 HTC Vive Pro 2
Chinese VR Headset List
01 PICO 4 Pro
02 Huawei Vision Glass
03 DPVR P1 Pro
PCMAG List
1. Apple Vision Pro
Apple Official Website Price: $3,499.00
China Mainland: To be released within this year
2. Meta Quest 3
Amazon Price: $499.00
China Mainland: Currently in discussions with Tencent regarding cooperation details, may be released in the fourth quarter
3. Meta Quest Pro
Amazon Price: $999.99
China Mainland: Currently in discussions with Tencent regarding cooperation details
4. Meta Quest 2
Amazon Price: $199.00 (original price $249.99)
China Mainland: Currently in discussions with Tencent regarding cooperation details
5. Sony PlayStation VR2
Amazon Price: $599.99
China Mainland: Already released
China Mainland Reference Price: 4,299 yuan (RMB)
6. Valve Index VR Kit
Amazon Price: $1,397.83
China Mainland: No plans for release
7. HTC Vive Pro 2
Amazon Price: $1,399.00
China Mainland: Already released
China Mainland Reference Price: 13,688 yuan (RMB)
Chinese List
1. PICO 4 Pro
Reference Price: 3,799 yuan (RMB)
2. Huawei Vision Glass
Reference Price: 2,589 yuan (RMB)
3. DPVR P1 Pro
Reference Price: 1,999 yuan (RMB)
01 Apple Vision Pro
Best AR/VR Interface
PCMAG Website Rating: 4/5
Apple Official Website Price: $3,499
China Mainland: To be released within this year
Reason for Selection
Vision Pro is Apple’s first AR/VR product.
Apple refers to it as “Spatial Computer,” not just a headset. Regardless of the name, Vision Pro is a good product.
Its control is achieved entirely through eye and gesture tracking and is the most effective and natural among the devices we have tested.
As the first-generation device on Apple’s newly launched platform, VisionOS, it has surprisingly complete features and some of the best hardware configurations ever seen in a headset.
Suitable for
People who don’t mind the price.
Vision Pro is priced at $3,500, several times more expensive than any other head-mounted device we have tested.
If you are willing to spend that much money on a new AR/VR experience, then go for it.
However, be prepared as Apple may release better or cheaper versions in the coming years.
Additionally, Vision Pro is incompatible with some software and has stability issues, but these problems can be fixed through updates.
The drawback of feeling heavy in the front and light in the back when wearing it cannot be fixed through updates.
Further reading:
Bloomberg reveals five fatal reasons for Apple “Vision Pro returns”: Second generation at least 18 months away
Advantages:
Best AR/VR interface
Leading eye and gesture tracking technology
No physical controllers required
Clear and vibrant display
Excellent visual perspective effect
Rich Vision OS applications and features
Disadvantages:
Expensive price
Short battery life
Uncomfortable design with heaviness in the front and lightness in the back
Compatibility issues with iPad applications
VR Headset
02 Meta Quest 3
Best Standalone Headset
PCMAG Website Rating: 4.5/5
Amazon Price: $499
China Mainland: Currently in discussions with Tencent regarding cooperation details, may be released in the fourth quarter
Reason for Selection
Meta Quest 3 is $200 more expensive than Quest 2, doubling the price, but it adds color pass-through cameras, which means it adds AR capabilities.
It also comes with higher resolution and faster processors, with the processor’s performance even surpassing that of Quest Pro.
In fact, the only advantage Quest Pro has over it is the excellent eye tracking technology.
Suitable for
Wanting a wireless and immersive VR experience without being bound by cables? This standalone headset is perfect.
Quest 3 is wireless, packed with powerful features, and has a clear display that allows you to see the colorful surrounding environment.
If you have a limited budget, Quest 2 is a good entry-level choice. But Quest 3 brings many improvements, and it’s worth spending a little more money.
Advantages:
Color pass-through cameras for clear view of the surrounding environment
High resolution display
Powerful processor
Comfortable design
Disadvantages:
Short battery life
Lack of eye tracking technology
Further reading:
Hands-on experience with Meta’s “Quest 3” headset: Lightweight design, processing speed makes it a strong competitor against Apple
03 Meta Quest Pro
Best choice for professionals and enthusiasts
PCMAG Website Rating: 4/5
Amazon Price: $999.99
China Mainland: Currently in discussions with Tencent regarding cooperation details
Reason for Selection
Meta Quest Pro comes with cool eye tracking and facial tracking technology, which performs outstandingly.
However, its price is much higher than Quest 2 and Quest 3.
Therefore, before buying, you need to confirm whether eye tracking technology is a must-have for you.
Suitable for
Meta Quest Pro is suitable for professionals who need a powerful VR headset for collaboration, as well as VR enthusiasts who want to experience excellent eye tracking and facial tracking technology.
Advantages:
Improved design for a more comfortable fit than Quest 2
Cool eye and facial tracking technology
Color pass-through cameras
Both the headset and controllers are rechargeable
Operation without the need for a connected PC
Disadvantages:
Expensive price
Meta Horizon’s metaverse is often empty and sometimes has malfunctions
Short battery life
Further reading:
Meta releases high-end VR headset Quest Pro; Zuckerberg changes profile picture for promotion and gets criticized
04 Meta Quest 2
Best cost-performance ratio
PCMAG Website Rating: 4.5/5
Amazon Price: $199 (original price $249.99)
China Mainland: Currently in discussions with Tencent regarding cooperation details
Reason for Selection
Quest 2 (formerly Oculus Quest 2) has a great price, with an official list price of under $300.
This is a standalone VR headset that doesn’t require external wires or additional hardware.
It is powered by mobile components, namely the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 chipset, which is capable of delivering interesting VR experiences.
It has a very rich experience library, so you are sure to find interesting content.
You can also spend an additional $79 to purchase the Link Cable and connect it to a PC.
Suitable for
This headset is great and is currently the most cost-effective product on the market.
Although its upgraded version, Meta Quest 3, performs better in all aspects (including faster processors, higher-resolution displays, and color pass-through cameras), it is also priced $200 higher, doubling the price.
If you want to try VR without spending too much money, then this is a good choice.
Advantages:
No need for any wired connections
Clear display
Powerful processor
Precise motion tracking
Optional connection via a wired connection
Disadvantages:
Short battery life
Lack of eye tracking technologyPC
Disadvantages
Short battery life
05 Sony PlayStation VR2
Best compatibility with PlayStation 5
PCMAG website rating: 4.5/5
Amazon price: $599.99
China: Already on the market
Reference price in China: 4,299 RMB
Reason for choosing
PlayStation VR 2 is a major upgrade from the previous version.
By combining the powerful performance of PlayStation 5 with new eye tracking and motion control technology, VR games become more immersive.
In addition, this lightweight headset has excellent specifications, including a clear OLED display that provides a resolution of 2000 x 2040 pixels for each eye.
Target audience
PS VR2 is suitable for gamers who are willing to fully support Sony’s next-generation VR vision.
After all, this headset is not cheap, costing nearly $600, and it is not compatible with games from the previous version of PlayStation VR (which is why the previous version is still on the list).
But it is comfortable to wear, has high hardware specifications, and has a strong lineup of launch games, including “Horizon: Call of the Mountain” and “Jurassic World: Aftermath”.
Advantages
Excellent graphics and sound effects
Strong lineup of launch games
Practical eye tracking technology
Lightweight design
Easy to set up
Disadvantages
Not compatible with games from PlayStation VR
Further reading:
Dynamic Zone Test Unboxing》PSVR2: Comfortable to wear, prevents motion sickness, and provides an immersive experience! Sony’s secret weapon for the Metaverse?
06 Valve Index VR Kit
Best controllers
PCMAG website rating: 4/5
Amazon price: $1,397.83
China: No plans for release
Reason for choosing
This headset needs to be connected to a PC with a wire and is expensive. In terms of specifications alone, it is not much better than its competitors.
But its controllers are very good, even revolutionary. After all, the VR experience depends not only on the headset itself but also on the controllers.
Its controllers can track the movement of each finger, making games that utilize this feature more immersive. In “Half-Life: Alyx,” you can see your fingers moving, which is amazing.
Although the headset itself does not have outstanding specifications, it has a high refresh rate and clear, smooth visuals.
Through SteamVR, it can be used with Valve’s Steam store, so there is a wealth of VR game resources. However, there may not be many games that support its unique finger tracking feature.
Target audience
This headset has powerful performance and revolutionary controllers, making it the preferred choice for PC VR players.
If you are just starting to experience VR on a PC, then choose it.
If you already have a headset compatible with SteamVR, such as HTC Vive, Vive Cosmos Elite (not the regular Cosmos), or Vive Pro 2, and their base stations, you can purchase the controllers separately for $280 without buying the entire Valve Index system.
Advantages
Immersive finger tracking controllers
Smooth motion with a refresh rate of up to 120Hz
A wide selection of VR software available on PC through SteamVR
Disadvantages
Expensive price
Occasionally frustrating wired design
07 HTC Vive Pro 2
Highest resolution
PCMAG website rating: 4/5
Amazon price: $1,399
China: Already on the market
Reference price in China: 13,688 RMB
Reason for choosing
This headset has excellent performance and is targeted towards enthusiasts and professionals, sitting between consumer-grade and professional-grade. The resolution for each eye is 2448×2448 pixels, making it the clearest display currently available.
It is quite expensive: the headset alone costs $799, not including the base stations and controllers (but the good news is that it is compatible with Valve Index controllers).
Like the Valve Index, it is compatible with SteamVR and has its own VR software store, Viveport.
The store offers a subscription-based service called Viveport Infinity, which provides unlimited access to various VR applications without the need to purchase software separately. This is a nice added benefit.
Target audience
If you want to have the best VR experience currently available on the market but don’t want to buy professional-grade devices, then the Vive Pro 2 paired with Valve Index controllers is your best choice.
It is expensive, costing $1,300, and also requires a PC with equivalent performance, but its visual effects and control experience are really great.
Advantages
Highest resolution for VR games
Smooth motion tracking technology
Compatible with Valve Index controllers
Disadvantages
Expensive price
Base price does not include necessary base stations and controllers
01 PICO 4 Pro
Best Chinese-made VR headset
Reference price: 3,799 RMB
The latest model of PICO headset, an independent VR headset that does not require connection to a phone or computer.
It uses the same XR2 Gen1 chip as the Meta Quest Pro and has facial and eye tracking capabilities.
It has a 220-degree field of view, providing an extremely immersive experience.
It is comfortable to wear and features a battery pack at the back, adopting a 1:1 weight distribution mode to reduce fatigue from prolonged use.
The comfort of the eye mask is much better than the sponge of the Quest 2.
PICO Store is currently the most complete VR software platform in China.
While it may not have as many exclusive applications as the Oculus Store, the Oculus Store is basically unusable in China, as both registration and purchases are more complicated.
PICO was one of the earliest VR hardware startups in China. The proportion of companies that have exited or cut VR business lines during the same period may account for 99%.
02 Huawei Vision Glass
Good movie-watching experience
Reference price: 2,589 RMB
The appearance of Huawei’s VR glasses is unique, resembling AR, and it weighs only 112g. It looks like a high-tech pair of sunglasses and requires connection to other devices. It features a Micro-OLED screen with good image quality, clear details, and high color saturation, providing a good movie-watching experience. It supports independent adjustment of nearsightedness from 0 to 500 degrees for each eye, allowing nearsighted individuals to see clearly without wearing glasses. It is primarily designed for movie-watching, and separate controllers need to be purchased for gaming.
It is reported that Huawei will launch the Vision headset, which will use self-developed chips, weigh 350g, and be priced at around 15,000 RMB.
03 DPVR P1 Pro
Focused on movie-watching
Reference price: 1,999 RMB
No need to connect to other devices, you can play directly after wearing it.
It has an extra-large screen, measuring 800 inches, and is equipped with a custom ultra-clear LED display, with excellent detail and color performance.
It also has dedicated cinema, bedroom, and seascape movie-watching modes to meet the movie-watching needs of different people.
It has rich resources, with over 300 small games and video resources available on major video apps.
It is primarily focused on the movie-watching experience.
Although it can also be used for gaming, the gaming experience is not as good as the movie-watching experience, especially since its controller is just a small remote control, only suitable for playing small games. If you want to play AAA games, you need to purchase separate controllers.