September 2023
VR Headsets: MetaRanking
This page highlights the aggregate summary of VR headsets rankings posted by key online experts, as of September 2023.
Summary
On 3 Sep 2023, ReviewFinder team examined a total of 53 VR headset endorsements from 10 reputable publishers.
17 VR headsets were endorsed in total, only 8 made it into this month's ranking. (ReviewFinder requires a minimum of 2 endorsements to be included)
As of 3 Sep 2023, Oculus Quest 2 takes the cake as the most critically-acclaimed VR headset with 10 expert endorsements. 8 experts out of 10 recommended it as the '#1 VR headset' this month.
Brand breakdown
-
HTC: 4 VR headsets
(#1 is HTC Vive Pro 2)
-
Pimax: 2 VR headsets
(#1 is Pimax Vision 8K X)
-
Oculus: 1 VR headsets
(#1 is Oculus Quest 2)
-
Meta: 1 VR headsets
(#1 is Meta Quest Pro)
-
Valve Software: 1 VR headsets
(#1 is Valve Index)
Price breakdown
At a glance - September Ranking
| Rank | Change | Price | VR Headset |
Tom's Guide
|
PCMag
|
TechRadar
|
PC Gamer
|
BestReviews
|
Tom's Hardware
|
Pocket-lint
|
WIRED
|
Forbes
|
CNET
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
- | $500 |
Oculus Quest 2
The Oculus Quest 2 is a virtual reality headset that offers improved graphics, accurate tracking, decent battery life, and reasonably good comfort, making it suitable for various use cases and providing a diverse range of gaming experiences.
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
|
2
|
- | $995 |
Meta Quest Pro
The Meta Quest Pro VR headset receives positive reviews for its graphics, tracking system, comfort, and potential for business applications, making it a versatile and immersive VR headset.
|
3
|
5
|
5
|
-
|
3
|
-
|
1
|
3
|
5
|
3
|
|
3
|
- | Check price |
Valve Index
The Valve Index is a highly praised virtual reality headset that offers impressive graphics, accurate tracking, comfortable design, and a diverse content library, making it suitable for a wide range of users.
|
-
|
3
|
2
|
2
|
-
|
2
|
-
|
-
|
6
|
6
|
|
4
|
- | Check price |
HP Reverb G2
The HP Reverb G2 VR headset offers impressive graphics, a comfortable design, and a comprehensive content library, although its tracking system may not be as strong as some other VR headsets.
|
-
|
6
|
6
|
4
|
5
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
3
|
5
|
|
5
|
- | Check price |
PlayStation VR 2
The PlayStation VR 2 is a highly praised VR headset with impressive graphics, comfortable design, accurate tracking, and a growing library of immersive games.
|
2
|
2
|
3
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
2
|
-
|
2
|
|
6
|
- | $790 |
HTC Vive Pro 2
The HTC Vive Pro 2 is a high-quality virtual reality headset with impressive graphics, accurate tracking, decent battery life, and comfortable wear, making it suitable for a wide range of applications.
|
-
|
4
|
4
|
3
|
-
|
-
|
4
|
-
|
2
|
-
|
|
8
|
+1 | Check price |
Varjo Aero
The Varjo Aero VR headset is highly praised for its exceptional graphics capabilities, accurate tracking system, comfort, and comprehensive content library, making it a top choice for users seeking a highly immersive VR experience.
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
4
|
5
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
9
|
+1 | $2390 |
HTC Vive Focus 3
The HTC Vive Focus 3 is a highly praised virtual reality headset with impressive graphics, accurate tracking, comfortable design, and a diverse content library, making it suitable for various applications.
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
5
|
-
|
5
|
-
|
-
|
We ranked Oculus Quest 2 #1 in September 2023 because:
- 10 independent experts mentioned it in their “best VR headsets” rankings.
- Out of those, 8 experts ranked Oculus Quest 2 as #1.
Tom's Guide
Best VR headset overall
|
Seamless all-in-one VR system
Can connect to PCs
Capable of room-scale VR
Large library of apps
|
Controllers aren’t rechargeable
Requires Facebook account
|
PCMag
Best for Standalone VR / Editors' Choice
|
Doesn't require any cables
Sharp display
Powerful processor
Accurate motion tracking
Optional PC tethering via accessory cable
|
Short battery life
|
TechRadar
The best VR headset for most people
|
Incredibly immersive experiences
Comfortable weight
Easy to use
|
Requires Facebook account linking
Can still cause motion sickness
|
PC Gamer
The best VR headset
|
Oculus Link tethering
Improved graphics
Great price
Steady updates
|
-Fiddly strap
-Now $100 more expensive
-Next-gen Quest is coming this year
|
BestReviews
Best Bang for the Buck
|
There are more than 350 games, media players, fitness apps, entertainment hubs, and more. The intuitive controls are easy to figure out. Untethered capabilities don't require a console or PC to set up. It can be connected to a PC for even more games options.
|
Must have a Meta account to use the headset.
|
Tom's Hardware
Best VR Headset
|
Amazing resolution
Much more powerful than original Quest
|
White picks up dirt and grime
Poor controller ergonomics
|
Pocket-lint
Best budget VR headset
|
Amazing value
Standalone
Comfortable
|
Not as impressive as wired headsets
|
Forbes
Best VR Headset Overall
|
Doesn’t require additional hardware
High resolution
Good library of first and third-party games and experiences
|
Refresh rate not as high as on PC-centric models
Inside-out tracking has some occlusion issues
|
We ranked Meta Quest Pro #2 in September 2023 because:
- 8 independent experts mentioned it in their “best VR headsets” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked Meta Quest Pro as #1.
Tom's Guide
The best mixed reality headset
|
Comfortable to wear
Doesn't isolate you from the real world
Convincing spatial audio
|
Very expensive
Short battery life
Working in VR is still unintuitive
|
PCMag
Best for Pros and High-End Enthusiasts
|
Improved design with a more comfortable fit than the Quest 2
Cool eye- and face-tracking tech
Color pass-through camera
Rechargeable headset and controllers
Doesn't require a PC to operate
|
Expensive
Meta Horizon's metaverse is often empty and sometimes buggy
Short battery life
|
TechRadar
The best headset for comfort
|
Comfortable for long sessions
Impressive performance
Sleek controller design
|
Short battery life
One of the more expensive options
|
BestReviews
Comfortable & Versatile
|
The company's premier VR headset includes a high-quality screen and top-of-the-line control schemes for a comprehensive experience. There's 256 GB of onboard storage and 12 GB of RAM with spatial audio and movement/face sensors.
|
The Metaverse itself fails to live up to the tech and other uses.
|
Pocket-lint
Best VR headset
|
Superb visuals and sound
Excellent inside out tracking
Comfortable fit
Flexible uses
|
Hefty price tag
Fiddly base station
|
Forbes
Best Enthusiast VR Headset
|
Impressive facial and eye tracking
VR visuals have enhanced color and contrast
Controllers are light and intuitive
|
Very expensive compared to its competition
The Horizon Metaverse will be more interesting once more people buy the headset
|
Methodology: combine opinions of key experts
Identify Experts
We identify key publishers and experts that consistently review and recommend VR headsets.
Capture Rankings
For each publisher we find a currently recommended "top 10" list of VR headsets, it must be updated in the last 9 months.
Aggregate Rankings
We put all those lists together and aggregate them. The more frequently a product is recommended, the higher it is in our ranking
Experts chosen for September 2023 ranking
Tom's Guide
PCMag
TechRadar
PC Gamer
BestReviews
Tom's Hardware
Pocket-lint
WIRED
Forbes
CNET
We ranked Valve Index #3 in September 2023 because:
- 6 independent experts mentioned it in their “best VR headsets” rankings.
PCMag
Best Controllers / Editors' Choice
|
Immersive, finger-tracking controllers
High, 120Hz refresh rate delivers smooth motion
Lots of VR software available on PC via SteamVR
|
Expensive
Occasionally frustrating tethered design
|
TechRadar
The best headset for PC gaming
|
Widest field of view
'Knuckle' controllers great for tracking
Well-supported game library
|
Requires a high-end GPU
Still expensive compared to competition
|
PC Gamer
The best tethered VR headset
|
Best in class hardware
Comfortable to wear
Virtually no SDE
|
Setup is awkward
|
Tom's Hardware
Best VR Headset for PC
|
RGB subpixel array eliminates screen-door effect
Wider FOV than comparable headsets
Excellent audio quality
|
Very heavy
Less comfortable than the HTC Vive Pro
Cushions are glued on
|
Forbes
Best VR Headset For Hand Controls
|
High refresh rate delivers smoother VR
High resolution gives crisp visuals
External Lighthouse sensors offer class-leading tracking
|
No official wireless option
It's expensive for the full kit
|
We ranked HP Reverb G2 #4 in September 2023 because:
- 6 independent experts mentioned it in their “best VR headsets” rankings.
PCMag
Best for Simple, Tethered VR
|
High resolution for the price
Comfortable headset and controllers
Works reliably with SteamVR
|
Camera-based tracking has occasional hiccups
Much more expensive than the Oculus Quest 2, even when factoring the optional cable for PC tethering
Windows Mixed Reality is almost completely dead as a VR platform
|
TechRadar
The best affordable VR headset for PC
|
No screen door effect
Easy to set up
Incredibly high-resolution lens
|
Motion Tracking lacks some precision
Requires a decent gaming PC
|
PC Gamer
The best mid-range VR headset
|
Easy setup and long cable
Accessible physical IPD Toggle
No screen door effect
|
FOV below average
Limited tracking volume
|
BestReviews
High resolution
|
Screen resolutions of 2160 x 2160 pixels per eye afford exceptional picture quality.
The lenses can be adjusted to different eye distances.
Near-field speakers create more realistic audio than headphones.
|
Cameras need good lighting for best accuracy.
Head tracking can be inconsistent.
|
Forbes
Best Value VR Headset For PC
|
One of the highest resolution VR headsets available
Inside-out tracking makes makes it easy to setup and use day to day
Capable motion controllers come as standard
|
Inside-out tracking has some occlusion issues
Lacks high refresh rate of some other VR headsets
|
We ranked PlayStation VR 2 #5 in September 2023 because:
- 5 independent experts mentioned it in their “best VR headsets” rankings.
Tom's Guide
The best VR gaming headset / Editor's Choice
|
Easy to set up
Great controls with haptic feedback
Gorgeous display
Overall excellent VR experience
|
Costs more than a PS5
Controller straps are awkward
|
PCMag
Best for PlayStation 5 Gamers / Editors' Choice
|
Excellent graphics and sound
Strong launch library
Useful eye-tracking tech
Lightweight build
Easy to set up
|
Not compatible with PlayStation VR games
|
TechRadar
The best VR headset for consoles
|
Superb image quality
Simple setup
Comfortable in-game experience
Pin-sharp responsiveness
|
Expensive
Occasional image ghosting
Poor controller battery life
|
We ranked HTC Vive Pro 2 #6 in September 2023 because:
- 5 independent experts mentioned it in their “best VR headsets” rankings.
PCMag
Best for the Highest-Resolution VR
|
The best resolution for VR gaming
Smooth motion tracking
Works with Valve Index controllers
|
Expensive
Doesn't include necessary base stations or controllers
|
TechRadar
The best high-resolution VR headset
|
Very high resolution
Wide field of view
Access to great games
|
Expensive
Can get hot
Lots of cables
|
PC Gamer
The best display on a VR headset
|
Awesome display
Precise tracking
Mature tracking
|
Ridiculously expensive
Takes time to setup
Gets hot in use
|
Pocket-lint
Best VR headset for PC
|
Amazing display
Nice and comfortable
Plays nice with most games
|
You'll need a fancy PC
|
Forbes
Best VR Headset For PC
|
Big library of SteamVR content to play
Wireless option
Very high resolution
|
Wireless mode limits the resolution considerably
LCD screens don't offer the contrast of the first Pro's OLED
|
We ranked Varjo Aero #7 in September 2023 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best VR headsets” rankings.
Tom's Hardware
Best VR Headset Image Clarity
|
Ultra-clear display
Adjustability
Automatic IPD
Standard USB-C cable
|
Headphones, base stations & controllers not included
Expensive
A little heavy
|
Pocket-lint
Premium PC VR headset
|
Incredibly clear display
Comfortable and immersive fit
Excellent features
Useful software
|
Very costly
Requires additional purchase to work
No built-in speakers
|
We ranked HTC Vive Focus 3 #8 in September 2023 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best VR headsets” rankings.
Tom's Hardware
Best Standalone VR Headset for Business
|
Widest FOV in a standalone headset
Well-balanced weight
|
Expensive
Mediocre controller ergonomics
|