BEST VR HEADSETS 2022: TOP PICKS FROM HTC VIVE, META, PICO AND MORE

On October 18, 2022

With virtual reality breaking through some long-standing barriers in recent years, there’s never been a better time to pick up a VR headset.

In terms of price and usability, they are now infinitely more accessible than they were a decade ago. It’s not just about the rise of standalone headsets, either, with high-end models now easier to use.

Custom PCs also have the potential to be extremely powerful, helping deliver lifelike virtual environments for those going down the wired VR headset route.

As ever, we’ve been testing some of the very best options on the market, experimenting with games and apps to see how they perform. We assess plenty of different areas when reviewing the latest and greatest VR headsets, including their graphical prowess, how comfortable they are to wear for extended periods of time and what level of compatibility they can offer.

So, let’s detail the best selections around to help you decide which is best for your needs.

WHAT IS THE BEST VR HEADSET?

 
  1. Pico 4
  2. Pimax Vision 8K X
  3. Oculus Quest 2
  4. HTC Vive Pro 2
  5. HP Reverb G2

TOP PICKS

 

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THE PIMAX VISION 8K X

For

  • Some of the best specs you’ll see
  • Ultra-wide field of view
  • Staggering gaming visuals

Against

  • Requires a monster PC to run
  • The Pimax Vision 8K X is undoubtedly the most bonkers and power-hungry virtual reality headset we’ve seen.

This VR headset boasts two 4K displays – one for each eye – alongside an epic field-of-view, and a high refresh rate.

If you’re tech-savvy, have a powerful PC to run it and want the very best, then this is currently it.

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OCULUS QUEST 2

For

  • Amazing value
  • Standalone
  • Comfortable

Against

  • Facebook login mandatory

The Quest 2 is another contender for the title of best VR headset, and that’s not just because it’s one of the most affordable virtual reality headsets around.

It’s a wire-free headset that doesn’t need a PC to run, while still packing enough hardware inside to play some of the best VR games around.

Wireless VR is glorious and gives you plenty of freedom. Other highlights, like hand-tracking, inside-out tracking (meaning no external sensors), passthrough cameras and a clever guardian system, make Quest 2 incredibly fun to play with.

Great visuals, superb audio and the ability to plug in and play more with Oculus Link make Quest 2 even more special, as well.

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PICO 4

For

  • Extremely comfortable
  • Improved visuals
  • Great standalone and tethered performance

Against

  • The standalone library is much smaller than Meta’s

The Pico 4 is very similar to the Quest 2 in that it’s an affordable standalone headset that can also be used to play PC VR titles.

However, the Pico improves on the Quest 2 in numerous ways: it’s more comfortable, has higher resolution displays with better lenses and it’s available at a lower price.


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HTC VIVE PRO 2

For

  • Amazing display
  • Nice and comfortable
  • Plays nice with most games

Against

  • You’ll need a fancy PC

The HTC Vive Pro 2 is the upgraded version of the HTC Vive Pro, and the very best that HTC has to offer.

It has the current best-in-class display, which offers an incredibly high pixel count, great field of view and up to a 120Hz refresh rate, too.

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HP REVERB G2

For

  • Great resolution levels
  • Works nicely with Steam
  • Solid pricing

Against

  • Not the best controllers

It might not be as flashy as others on this list, but the Reverb G2 is currently one of the better VR headsets you can play.

Largely, this is thanks to having some of the best lenses around, combined with one of the highest pixel counts, too. It features 2160 x 2160 resolution per eye, offering some seriously satisfying visuals.

It was also built in collaboration with Valve and Microsoft, meaning it works with both Windows Mixed Reality and Steam VR, giving you the best of both worlds.

Inside-tracking cameras, a comfortable design and fantastic gaming experiences round off a great package.  

HOW TO CHOOSE A VR HEADSET

 

There are plenty of questions that you’ll want to ask yourself before you take the plunge on what could most likely be a quite pricey purchase to enter the world of VR. Here are some of the things you should be asking:

  • How much should you spend on a VR headset?

  • Do you want to go wireless?

  • Is resolution key for you?

  • What are you going to use VR for?

Original Article from Pocket-Lint – Writing by Chris Hall and Adrian Willings.