There's more choice out there than you might think when it comes to the best virtual reality (VR) headsets, so if you're looking to buy one as a gift this Christmas then this guide is here to help you make the best decision.
Which VR headset is the best choice depends on several different factors. How much do you want to spend? What sort of games do you intend to play? Which of your current devices do you want it to connect to – or do you want it to work as a standalone gadget? All this and more needs to be carefully weighed up.
While having multiple VR headsets to pick from can make choosing the right one more difficult, it does mean that there should be one that's an ideal match. Having written about tech since the earliest days of VR, these are my picks for the best three models on the market at the moment, including the specific advantages of each.
T3's top picks
Meta is getting more confident with its VR headsets, and the actual devices are getting even more capable. The Meta Quest 3S is a fantastic all-rounder that's easy to use, affordable, and backed by a strong game library. It's the best pick for most people as you don't need a separate console or PC for it to function.
If you want to spend more money for a more powerful piece of VR hardware, then we have the HTC Vive Focus Vision. The experiences you can get inside this headset are truly superb – thanks to a more detailed field of view – although you are going to need a pretty high-end PC for the best results.
If you already own a PlayStation 5 console, then the Sony PS VR2 is absolutely the best VR headset for you right now. You can take advantage of the hardware power of your console to tap into a wide selection of games that developers have built for the platform – including some Sony exclusives.
Pricing
Meta
Meta seems to have got the pricing just right with the Meta Quest 3S – which is why it's my top pick. It's relatively affordable, without compromising too much in terms of performance and features. Not only is the starting price around budget smartphone level, you'll often find it on sale, and everything you need to start playing is included in the box.
HTC
The HTC Vive Focus Vision gives you heavy-duty VR gaming for a heavy-duty price. It's the most expensive option on this list by far, which is why I've labelled it as the luxury choice. It still offers value for money, because you get some really impressive and immersive VR experiences, but factor in the potential cost of a gaming PC to go alongside it as well.
Sony
The PSVR2 sits somewhere in the middle of the Meta Quest 3S and the HTC Vive Focus Vision as far as price goes – and like the Meta model, it's regularly available at a discount. We're assuming if you buy this then you already have a PlayStation 5, but there's that cost to include too – whether digital, disc or Pro version of the console.
Which wins?
There are lots of reasons why I've selected the Meta Quest 3S as the best VR headset for most people. It's not the most powerful, but it is the best value for money – with a strong ecosystem behind it and an intuitive control system. In our Meta Quest 3S review, we called it a "brilliant option" for the VR headset shopper, giving it five stars.
As well as giving you an affordable entry point into VR, it's also a breeze to set up and use, so it's perfect for beginners. As you get more confident with the controls and features, though, there's plenty more to explore beyond the basics: wireless tethering to a PC if you need it, passthrough video, movie playback support, and plenty more besides.
Then we have the HTC Vive Focus Vision, which is much more capable when you connect it to a powerful gaming PC. As we wrote in our review, it offers superb image fidelity and build quality, as well as a high level of comfort and a range of customisation options – but it is only for those with a substantial budget available.
Finally, there's the Sony PS VR2, a solid and reliable upgrade on the original PlayStation VR headset. Whether or not this is the right choice for you very much depends on one question: do you already own a PS5? If yes, it's probably the best pick; if not, it perhaps isn't. In our Sony PS VR2 review, we said it offers "incredible immersion and detail".
Other options?
If you're not quite sold on the VR headsets that I've picked as the best of the bunch, you do have other options.
The Meta Quest 3, for example, offers higher quality displays compared to the 3S model, but which will of course cost you more – while giving you the same intuitive, accessible VR experience and the same selection of apps and games.
Let's not forget the Samsung Galaxy XR headset either. It's for mixed reality, meaning virtual reality plus a passthrough layer. However, it costs a hefty amount of money, and is only available in the US at the time of writing. If you can get hold of one, and you have the budget to be able to afford it, then it's worth a look – especially as it's backed by Google and the Android ecosystem.
