2024 Best VR Headset Recommendations
PCMAG list
1. Apple Vision Pro
Best AR/VR Interface
Apple official website price: $3499.00
Mainland China: Listed within this year
2. Meta Quest 3
Best standalone helmet
Price on Amazon: $499.00
Mainland China: We are discussing cooperation details with Tencent and may go public in the fourth quarter.
3. Meta Quest Pro
Best choice for professionals and enthusiasts
Price on Amazon: $999.99
Mainland China: Negotiating cooperation details with Tencent
4. Meta Quest 2
The highest CP value
Price on Amazon: $199.00 (original price $249.99)
Mainland China: Negotiating cooperation details with Tencent
5. Sony PlayStation VR2
Best compatible with PlayStation 5
Price on Amazon: $599.99
Mainland China: Already listed
Mainland reference price: 4299 yuan (RMB)
6. Valve Index VR Kit
best handle
Price on Amazon: $1397.83
Mainland China: No listing plan
7. HTC Vive Pro 2
Highest resolution
Price on Amazon: $1399.00
Mainland China: Already listed
Mainland reference price: 13,688 yuan (RMB)
China list
1. PICO 4 Pro
Best domestically produced
Reference price: 3799 yuan (RMB)
2. Huawei Vision Glass
Good viewing experience
Reference price: 2589 yuan (RMB)
3. Dapeng P1Pro
Mainly watching movies
Reference price: 1999 yuan (RMB)
PCMAG list
01 Apple Vision Pro
- Best AR/VR Interface
- PCMAG website rating: 4/5 points
- Apple official website price: $3499
- Mainland China: Listed within this year
Reason for selection
Vision Pro is Apple's first AR/VR product.
Apple calls it a “space computer,” not a helmet. No matter what you call it, the Vision Pro is a great product.
Controlled entirely through eye and hand tracking, it's the best and most natural of any device we've tested.
As the first-generation device on Apple's new VisionOS platform, it's surprisingly feature-rich and packs some of the best headset hardware ever.
Suitable for the crowd
Suitable for people who are not short of money.
At $3,500, the Vision Pro is several times more expensive than any other headset we've tested.
If you're willing to spend that much money on a new AR/VR experience, go for it.
But be prepared, Apple may launch a better or cheaper version in the next few years.
Additionally, Vision Pro is incompatible with some software and has stability issues, but these issues can be fixed with updates.
When worn, it feels heavy at the front and light at the back. This shortcoming cannot be fixed through updates.
Extended reading:Bloomberg reveals five fatal reasons for Apple's "Vision Pro return": wait at least 18 months for the second generation
advantage
- Best AR/VR Interface
- Leading eye and hand tracking technology
- No physical handle required
- Clear, colorful display
- Excellent video perspective effect
- Rich Vision OS apps and features
shortcoming
- expensive
- Short battery life
- The front-heavy, rear-light design is uncomfortable
- Compatibility flaw with iPad app
- VR helmet
02 Meta Quest 3
- Best standalone helmet
- PCMAG website rating: 4.5/5 points
- Price on Amazon: $499
- Mainland China: We are discussing cooperation details with Tencent and may go public in the fourth quarter.
Reason for selection
Meta Quest 3 is $200 more expensive than Quest 2, doubling the price, but it adds a color see-through camera, which means it adds AR functionality.
It is also equipped with a higher resolution and a faster processor - the performance of the processor even exceeds that of the Quest Pro.
In fact, the only advantage the Pro has over it is its excellent eye-tracking technology.
Suitable for the crowd
Want to experience VR without being bound by cables? This standalone helmet fits the bill.
The Quest 3 is wireless, packed with features, and has clear picture quality so you can see your surroundings in color.
If you're on a tight budget, the Quest 2 is a great entry-level option. But Quest 3 brings a lot of feature improvements, and it's worth spending the extra money.
advantage
- Color perspective camera allows you to clearly see your surroundings
- high resolution display
- powerful processor
- Comfortable design
shortcoming
- Short battery life
- Lacks eye tracking technology
Extended reading: Actual test experience of Meta headset "Quest 3": lightweight design and computing speed make it a strong rival to Apple
03 Meta Quest Pro
- Best choice for professionals and enthusiasts
- PCMAG website rating: 4/5 points
- Price on Amazon: $999.99
- Mainland China: Talking about cooperation with Tencent
Reason for selection
Meta Quest Pro is packed with cool eye-tracking and face-tracking technology that stands out.
But its price is much higher than Quest 2 and Quest 3.
Therefore, before purchasing, you need to confirm whether there is a real need for eye tracking technology.
Suitable for the crowd
Meta Quest Pro is suitable for professionals who need a powerful VR headset for collaboration, as well as VR enthusiasts who want to experience outstanding eye tracking and face tracking technology.
advantage
- The improved design brings a more comfortable wearing feeling and a more comfortable fit than Quest 2
- Cool eye and face tracking technology
- Color perspective camera
- Helmet and handlebars are rechargeable
- No need to connect to PC to operate
shortcoming
- expensive
- Meta Horizon's metaverse is often empty and sometimes glitches
- Short battery life
Extended reading: Meta launches high-end VR headset Quest Pro; Zuckerberg was criticized for changing his avatar in publicity
04 Meta Quest 2
- Best value for money
- PCMAG website rating: 4.5/5 points
- Amazon price: $199 (original price $249.99)
- Mainland China: Talking about cooperation with Tencent
Reason for selection
Quest 2 (formerly Oculus Quest 2) is very affordable, with the official guide price not exceeding $300.
This is a stand-alone VR helmet that requires no external cables or other additional hardware.
It is powered by mobile components, namely the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 chipset, which is enough to perform interesting VR experiences.
It has a very rich library of experiences, so you're sure to find something interesting.
For an additional $79, you can buy a Link Cable and connect it to your PC.
Suitable for the crowd
This helmet is great and currently the most cost-effective product on the market.
Although its upgraded version, the Meta Quest 3, performs better in every aspect (including a faster processor, a higher-resolution display, and a color see-through camera), it also costs $200 more, doubling the price.
If you want to try VR without spending too much money, this is a great option.
advantage
- No wiring required
- clear display
- powerful processor
- Accurate motion tracking
- Selective connection to PC via cable
shortcoming
- Short battery life
05 Sony PlayStation VR2
- Best compatible with PlayStation 5
- PCMAG website rating: 4.5/5 points
- Price on Amazon: $599.99
- Mainland China: Already listed
- Mainland reference price: 4299 yuan (RMB)
Reason for selection
PlayStation VR 2 is a major upgrade from the previous version.
It combines the powerful performance of PlayStation 5 with new eye tracking and motion control technologies to make VR games more immersive.
In addition, this lightweight helmet has excellent features, including a clear OLED display that provides 2000 x 2040 pixels for each eye.
Suitable for the crowd
PS VR2 is for gamers who are willing to fully support Sony's next-generation VR vision.
After all, the headset isn't exactly cheap at nearly $600, and it's not compatible with games from the last version of PlayStation VR (which is why it's still on the list).
But it's comfortable to wear, has high hardware specs, and has a strong library of launch games, including "Horizon: Call of the Mountain" and "Jurassic World: Aftermath."
advantage
- Excellent graphics and sound effects
- Powerful launch game library
- Practical eye tracking technology
- Lightweight design
- Easy to set up
shortcoming
- Games not compatible with PlayStation VR
Extended reading: Actual test and unboxing in the dynamic zone》PSVR2 is comfortable to wear, prevents dizziness, and has a strong sense of immersion! Sony’s metaverse weapon?
06 Valve Index VR Kit
- best handle
- PCMAG website rating: 4/5
- Price on Amazon: $1397.83
- Mainland China: No listing plan
Reason for selection
This helmet requires a wired connection to a PC and is expensive. From a pure configuration point of view, it is not much better than competing products.
But the handlebars are great, even revolutionary. After all, the quality of the VR experience not only depends on the helmet itself, but also has a lot to do with the handle.
Its handlebars are able to track the movements of each finger, making games that take advantage of this feature more immersive. In Half-Life: Alyx, you can see your fingers move around, and the effect is stunning.
Although the configuration of the helmet itself is not outstanding, the refresh rate is high and the picture is clear and smooth.
Through SteamVR, it can connect to Valve's Steam store, so the VR game resources are very rich, but there may not be many games that support its characteristic finger tracking function.
Suitable for the crowd
This headset is powerful and has revolutionary handles, making it the first choice for PC VR players.
If you're new to experiencing VR on PC, this is the one to choose.
If you already have a SteamVR-compatible headset, such as the HTC Vive, Vive Cosmos Elite (not the regular Cosmos), or Vive Pro 2 and their base stations, you can purchase the $280 handlebars separately without having to Buy the entire Valve Index set.
advantage
- Immersive finger tracking handle
- Up to 120Hz refresh rate provides smooth motion pictures
- There are tons of VR software to choose from on PC via SteamVR
shortcoming
- expensive
- Occasionally frustrating wired design
07 HTC Vive Pro 2
- Highest resolution
- PCMAG website rating: 4/5 points
- Price on Amazon: $1,399
- Time to be launched in mainland China: Already on the market
- Mainland reference price: 13,688 yuan (RMB)
Reason for selection
This helmet offers excellent performance and is aimed at enthusiasts and professionals, somewhere between consumer and professional grade. The resolution of each eye reaches 2448×2448 pixels, which is the clearest picture on the market.
It's pricey: the helmet itself costs $799, not including the base station and grips (but the good news is, it can be used with the Valve Index grips).
Like Valve Index, it is compatible with SteamVR and has its own VR software store - Viveport.
The store provides a subscription-based Viveport Infinity service, which provides unlimited access to various VR applications without the need to purchase separate software. This is a nice perk.
Suitable for the crowd
If you want to have the best VR experience currently on the market, but don’t want to buy a professional-grade device, then the Vive Pro 2 with Valve Index handle is your best choice.
It's too expensive, costing $1,300 and requiring a comparable PC, but the visuals and controls are really great.
advantage
- Highest resolution for VR games
- Smooth motion tracking technology
- Compatible with Valve Index grips
shortcoming
- expensive
- The base price does not include the necessary base station and handle
List of Chinese-made VR helmets
01 PICO 4 Pro
- Best Made in China
- Reference price: 3799 yuan
The latest model of PICO helmet, a stand-alone VR helmet that does not require a connection to a mobile phone or computer.
It uses the same XR2 Gen1 chip as the Meta Quest Pro, with face tracking and eye tracking functions.
With a 220-degree field of view, it can present a highly immersive experience.
The comfort level is good. The battery is located at the rear and adopts a front-to-rear 1:1 weighting mode, which can reduce the fatigue caused by long-term wearing when the neck is tilted forward.
The comfort of the eye mask is much better than the sponge of Quest2.
PICO Store is currently the most complete VR software platform in China.
There are not as many exclusive apps as there are in the Oculus store, but the Oculus store is basically unavailable in China, and Oculus is more troublesome to register or purchase.
PICO is one of the earliest VR hardware startups in China. For companies in the same period, the proportion of logging out + cutting off VR business lines may account for 99%.
02 Huawei Vision Glass
- Good viewing experience
- Reference price: 2589 yuan
Huawei's VR glasses have a special appearance, very similar to AR, and weigh only 112g. When worn, they look like a pair of high-tech sunglasses and need to be connected to other devices. Equipped with a Micro-OLED screen, the picture quality is good, details are clear, color saturation is high, and the viewing experience is good. Supports 0-500° independent adjustment of monocular myopia, so myopic friends can see clearly without wearing glasses. Mainly for watching movies, if you want to play games, you need to buy an additional controller.
According to the news, Huawei will launch the Vision helmet, which will use self-developed chips, weighs 350 grams, and sells for about 15,000 yuan.
03 Dapeng P1 Pro
- Mainly watching movies
- Reference price: 1999 yuan
No need to connect other devices, just put it on and play directly.
The ultra-large screen is 800 inches, equipped with a custom-made ultra-clear LED display. The details and color expression of the picture are very good.
There are also multiple viewing modes such as exclusive cinema, bedroom, and sea view to meet the viewing needs of different people.
Rich in resources, there are more than 300 mini-games alone, and video resources can be viewed on major film and television apps.
Focus on the movie-watching experience.
Although it can also play games, the experience is not as good as watching movies, especially because its handle is just a small remote control, which can only play small games. If you want to play those 3A masterpieces, you also need to buy another handle.
