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
Show all brands

Price breakdown
As can be seen in the chart below, lowest high-ranking VR headsets start at $89 (Sony PlayStation VR) and go up to $2390 (HTC Vive Focus 3). Median VR headset costs $789.99 (HTC Vive Pro 2).
$89
$2390

At a glance - September Ranking

Scroll horizontally to browse this ranking table
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
-
-

; ; ;
#1 $499.79 Oculus Quest 2
#6 $789.99 HTC Vive Pro 2
#2 $995 Meta Quest Pro
#9 $2390 HTC Vive Focus 3

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.
Critic endorsements:
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

Go to ranking

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

Go to ranking

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

Go to ranking

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

Go to ranking

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.

Go to ranking

Tom's Hardware

Best VR Headset

Amazing resolution
Much more powerful than original Quest

White picks up dirt and grime
Poor controller ergonomics

Go to ranking

Pocket-lint

Best budget VR headset

Amazing value
Standalone
Comfortable

Not as impressive as wired headsets

Go to ranking

WIRED

Best Overall (With a Big Caveat)

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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

Go to ranking

CNET

Best (and still most affordable) VR headset

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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.
Critic endorsements:
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

Go to ranking

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

Go to ranking

TechRadar

The best headset for comfort

Comfortable for long sessions
Impressive performance
Sleek controller design

Short battery life
One of the more expensive options

Go to ranking

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.

Go to ranking

Pocket-lint

Best VR headset

Superb visuals and sound
Excellent inside out tracking
Comfortable fit
Flexible uses

Hefty price tag
Fiddly base station

Go to ranking

WIRED

The Luxury Pick

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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

Go to ranking

CNET

Work-focused pro tool

Go to ranking

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

We ranked Valve Index #3 in September 2023 because:

  • 6 independent experts mentioned it in their “best VR headsets” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
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

Go to ranking

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

Go to ranking

PC Gamer

The best tethered VR headset

Best in class hardware
Comfortable to wear
Virtually no SDE

Setup is awkward

Go to ranking

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

Go to ranking

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

Go to ranking

CNET

One of the best Steam VR hardware options

Go to ranking

We ranked HP Reverb G2 #4 in September 2023 because:

  • 6 independent experts mentioned it in their “best VR headsets” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
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

Go to ranking

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

Go to ranking

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

Go to ranking

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.

Go to ranking

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

Go to ranking

CNET

Best-looking PC VR headset

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We ranked PlayStation VR 2 #5 in September 2023 because:

  • 5 independent experts mentioned it in their “best VR headsets” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
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

Go to ranking

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

Go to ranking

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

Go to ranking

WIRED

Best for Console

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CNET

The best high-end console gaming VR headset

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We ranked HTC Vive Pro 2 #6 in September 2023 because:

  • 5 independent experts mentioned it in their “best VR headsets” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
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

Go to ranking

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

Go to ranking

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

Go to ranking

Pocket-lint

Best VR headset for PC

Amazing display
Nice and comfortable
Plays nice with most games

You'll need a fancy PC

Go to ranking

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

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We ranked Varjo Aero #7 in September 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best VR headsets” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
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

Go to ranking

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

Go to ranking

We ranked HTC Vive Focus 3 #8 in September 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best VR headsets” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Tom's Hardware

Best Standalone VR Headset for Business

Widest FOV in a standalone headset
Well-balanced weight

Expensive
Mediocre controller ergonomics

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WIRED

Best for Virtual Work

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