Best Entry-Level VR Headsets For Beginners

VR is the future of everything, and when AR is added into the mix, the possibilities of innovation in gaming and productivity are endless. Back when VR was new and technology hadn’t really caught on, this medium was more of a spectacle than anything else. Not only was it exorbitantly expensive, but also required the buyer to be a tech-head to hook it up and get it running.

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That’s not the case anymore. The market is flooded with standalone VR headsets that even people who have never used VR before can just strap on and jump in, with no complicated setup and no unnecessary cable management required.

5 Meta Quest 3

Meta’s Finest Headset

Specifications

Dubbed as an “all-in-one mixed reality headset”, the Meta Quest 3 is the newest entry into the Quest lineup, one that adds AR into the mix as well, thanks to the 4x camera that allows spatial tracking as well as complete RGB passthrough allowing the user to view their environment from within the headset.

The device is a standalone headset with its own software and battery and can be used completely wirelessly if the built-in apps fulfill the purpose. But if someone wants to use it with their PC for VR gaming, they would need to use the Quest Link cable. This will let them use the headset like any other PCVR headset, which probably makes the Meta Quest 3 the most convenient yet versatile VR headset on the market right now.

4 PSVR 2

Sony Getting Comfortable With VR

Specifications

Sony’s foray into the world of virtual reality, which was once restricted to the PS4 or PS5 only, is now finally accessible to PC users thanks to the recently released PSVR2 PC Adapter. Compared to the Meta Quest 3’s LCD display, the PSVR 2’s display is far more vibrant with truer blacks and higher contrast thanks to the OLED it uses.

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For PS5 users, setting up a PSVR2 is as simple as plugging one end of a USB-C cable into the headset and the other end into the console. This is followed by some basic in-console setup, including designating a play area. On a PC, using the PC adapter, it’s comparatively more complicated, mainly because the PSVR2 controllers have to be connected to the console using Bluetooth, and some users have reported connectivity and lagging issues with the controllers.

3 Meta Quest 2

VR At A Bargain

Specifications

While the Meta Quest 3 is the latest and greatest from the tech giant, it would be a sin to not mention its predecessor. The Meta Quest 2 is not too old and was released in Q4 of 2020. Support for it isn't going anywhere anytime soon since its the perfect entry-level VR headset for people who don't need the AR and video pass-through that comes with its successor.

The Meta Quest is a standalone VR headset that can be used wirelessly thanks to its built-in software and comes with its own apps and games. But if someone wants to use it with PCVR, setting it up with a PC is as simple as connecting both with a link cable.

2 HTC Vive XR Elite

Best In The Business

Specifications

HTC, once popular for creating amazing smartphones, is now an A-player in the VR headset space. The newest HTC Vive XR Elite is one of their best VR/AR headsets yet, and poses direct competition to the Meta Quest 3, albeit at a much higher price point. But for that extra money, this standalone VR headset provides unparalleled comfort, adjustable lenses for eye-glasses wearers, and a modular design with hot-swappable batteries.

Like any other VR headset, it can stream VR games from a PC wirelessly or using a USB-C cable.

1 Special Mention: Pico 4 Ultra

Creating Ripples In The VR Market

Specifications

Building on the design of its predecessor, the Pico 4, this revised version fixes many of the issues of the previous model, bringing it into direct competition with the Meta Quest 3. It allows pass-through video with AR, a complete standalone VR experience thanks to the Snapdragon XR Gen2 chip in it, and full body tracking, allowing users to use their hands as controllers in addition to the controllers that it comes packed with. The pass-through video feed is much better than the older Pico 4, and even the Meta Quest 3.

The headset is currently released in China (August 20), with a worldwide release expected to be around late 2024.

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