4 Best VR Headsets Available Today

Finally, getting into VR for the first time? Maybe your friends have already given you a demo, and now you want to shop for one for yourself.

This guide goes over the 5 best VR headsets you can buy in 2022. We ranked them based on applications, field of view, image resolution and overall user experience.

Let's check them out

Top VR Headsets

Oculus Quest 2 - Best Overall

Wireless - Facebook's Oculus Quest 2 is one of the most mainstream VR headset. The most special feature it has is wireless connection so it allows the user to enjoy room scale VR experience without being tethered.

No PC Required - User can do a wide range of activities previously unable simply due to the redesign of the cable system, and NO PC is required.

Faster Setup - Anyone can jump into the Quest 2 with minimum setup. This is extremely helpful to demo an experience to a friend or family member

Customizable - Can add aftermarket headstrap for better comfort, and some have built in battery to make the headset run longer

Specs:

• System: Android source code
• Memory: 6G
• Position Tracking: 
• Field Of View: 104°
• Weight: 126g
• Hard Drive: 128Gb or 256Gb 
• Screen Resolution: LCD 1832 X 1920 per eye
• Refresh Rate: 120 Hz
• IPD: Manual (1, 2 and 3)
• Graphics: Adreno 650
• Connection: Wifi, USB-C and blutooth 

Varjo Aero - Best Image Clarity

Varjo Aero is the best consumer grade VR headset launched in late December 2021 that has reached the highest image resolution up to date. It has checked the box for offering users generational leap in visual fidelity for gamers and VR developers in 2022 and beyond.

Human Eye Sight Resolution - Now up to 35 pixels per degree, and up to 2880 X 2720 per eye. Any blurry images from the past is no more with the Varjo Aero.

Top Training Quality - Train pilots in VR with the highest resolution possible for maximize realism and immersion

Built For Future Metaverse - Future proofed for high fidelity VR experiences to merge with the ever expanding metaverse

Content Streaming - Stream VR content from the cloud as Varjo Reality Cloud becomes available

Specs:

• System: Android source code
• Position Tracking: SteamVR
• Memory: 6G
• Field Of View: Horizontal: 115°, Diagonal: 134° at 12 mm eye relief
• Weight: 487g
• Hard Drive: 128Gb or 256Gb 
• Screen Resolution: LCD 2880 X 2720 per eye
• Refresh Rate: 200 Hz
• IPD: Automatic 57 - 73mm
• Connection: Wifi, USB-C and blutooth 

PIMAX 12K - Best Field Of View

PIMAX 12K is the industry's widest field of view VR goggle to have near human alike vision. This means you can see peripheral vision and move your eye balls around and see more that other headsets can't.

200° FOV - Up to 12K resolution using QLED display with a whopping 200 Hz refresh rate. Whatever VR environment you're in will be 10X the experience using the bionic lens system

Auto IPD - Eliminate the need to manually adjust IPD. Automatic interpupillary distance sensor will center the lens to the position of your eye on its own. It saves time putting it on yourself and setting it up for others

Tobii Eye Tracking - Foveated rendering helps focus on what your eyes are looking at and sharpen the image to reduce graphics computing power

Legs Tracking - Two built in cameras track facial features and 3 more cameras pointing down to capture lip and leg movement

Specs:

• Position Tracking: SteamVR
  
• Optics: Bionic lens system
• Field Of View: 200° Horizontal, 135° Vertical
• Screen Resolution: QLED 12K per eye
• Refresh Rate: 200 Hz
• IPD: Automatic 57 - 72mm
• Connection: Wifi, Fibre Optic Cable

HTC VIVE Pro 2 - Best For Creators

Step into a whole new world with the HTC Vive Pro 2. Whether you're looking to immerse yourself in a digital universe or take your gaming experience to the next level, this VR headset has everything you need to enjoy stunning visuals and immersive sound. Plus, its intuitive controls make it easy to navigate your virtual environment.

2X Visual Clarity Than Oculus - Up to 2448 X 2448 pixel per eye, and delivers 5K resolution for a truly realistic and immersive experience with minimum screen door effect

Comfortable Head Strap - Comfortable with eyeglasses and fits any kind of users right out of the box without having to buy additional accessories

Specs:

• Position Tracking: SteamVR
  
• Optics: Bionic lens system
• Field Of View: 200° Horizontal, 135° Vertical
• Screen Resolution: QLED 12K per eye
• Refresh Rate: 200 Hz
• IPD: Automatic 57 - 72mm
• Connection: Wifi, Fibre Optic Cable

What To Look For

Comfort

Comfortability is a huge concern for VR users. The first thing to pay attention to is the weight of the headset, and the second thing is the headstrap. 

The lighter the headset, the easier it is to wear and experience VR for a long period of time. The heavier it is, the faster the user will strain the neck and may also lead to motion sickness.

As far as headstrap goes, the 4 headsets we have recommended above all have better headstraps that offer adjustability than anything released back in 2016. 

Learn more: How to reduce VR motion sickness

Resolution & FOV

As VR technology improves, field of view and resolution will continue to improve. The biggest concern for VR users today is screen door effect and clarity.

Most VR headsets use Fresnel lenses, and only the center of the lens will give the user the highest clarity. Therefore proper IPD setting is important for both eyes to see the highest quality image as much as possible.

IPD

The days of manual IPD is over. New VR technology is pushing towards automatic IPD adjustment as soon as the user puts on the headset.

This means easier adjustment for yourself or when setting up VR for others.

Foveated Rendering

Foveated rendering will be the future for all competitive VR goggles. It will sharpen the image according to where the eye is looking while reducing computing power on rest of the screen.

This will make VR headset run a lot efficient and also provide depth of field experiences for user who may wear bifocal or non-progressive corrective lenses

Refresh Rate

Anything at around 90 hz, 120 hz or 200 hz is a good start for modern VR headsets. The higher refresh rate helps VR developer to design content to run at 90FPS or higher to reduce motion sickness. 

The lower the frame rate, the worse the experience. In addition, a powerful computer can support the hardware is also helpful.

Sound System

Built in immersive sound system is great, and most serious VR users will use their own audio system to enhance the experience more than what the headset will provide.