What are the best VR headsets in 2021? Which VR headset is best for console, PC, and smartphone gaming? The gaming market has many potential VR headsets for gaming. So, it is tough to choose a VR headset for gaming nowadays.
How to choose the best VR headset for different gaming demands?
Here is good news for you, gaming VR headsets now offer great features for both new and experienced users. The quality of VR headsets is rising with every new entry in the VR gaming market. So, it’s a perfect opportunity for gamers to invest in a VR headset and join the world of Virtual Reality.
| Platform | Rating (out of 10) | Link To Product |
| Oculus Quest 2 | 9.2 | Check the best price here. |
| HP Reverb G2 | 7.4 | Check the best price here. |
| Valve Index | 8.4 | Check the best price here. |
| Sony PlayStation VR | 8.8 | Check the best price here. |
| HTC Vive Cosmos | 8.2 | Check the best price here. |
| Oculus Rift S | 8.8 | Check the best price here. |
| Merge VR | 7.6 | Check the best price here. |
| HTC Vive Pro 2 | 7.8 | Check the best price here. |
| Pimax Vision 8K X | 7.0 | Check the best price here. |
| Samsung Gear VR | 7.8 | Check the best price here. |
How to buy the best VR headsets for gaming in 2021?
All VR headsets cannot provide the same experience in gaming. You also cannot play a VR game on a VR headset incompatible with the game. For example, if you want to play the latest VR games. Then you will need a VR head that is compatible with your PC.
VR libraries are not extendable to all devices, but some are wireless VR headsets. These gaming headsets are attachable to any gaming PC via a cable. So, your range of playable VR games can be increased easily.
The price of the VR headset is the second factor that helps one choose the best VR headset. This factor plays the most crucial role in your decision as it should not upset your monthly budget.
The quality of VR headsets is rising side by side with their prices. Are you looking for an exclusive VR headset for a console or PC? Or are you willing to buy an untethered standalone VR headset?
We have tested dozens of VR headsets for gaming. Let us discuss the best VR headsets for gaming. The selected gaming headsets are for different price ranges and requirements.
Here are the ten best VR headsets for gaming in 2021:
- Oculus Quest 2
- HP Reverb G2
- Valve Index
- Sony PlayStation VR
- HTC Vive Cosmos
- Oculus Rift S
- Merge VR
- HTC Vive Pro 2
- Pimax Vision 8K X
- Samsung Gear VR
| VR headset | General Price Structure | Amazon Customer Rating in 2021 |
| Oculus Quest 2 | Reasonable/Low | 4.5 |
| HP Reverb G2 | Mid Range | 4 |
| Valve Index | Expensive | 4 |
| Sony PlayStation VR | Reasonable/Low | 4.5 |
| HTC Vive Cosmos | Mid Range | 4 |
| Oculus Rift S | Reasonable/Low | 3.5 |
| Merge VR | Cheap | 4.1 |
| HTC Vive Pro 2 | Mid Range | 4.2 |
| Pimax Vision 8K X | Expensive | 4.4 |
| Samsung Gear VR | Cheap | 3.7 |
Oculus Quest 2
The Oculus VR is the biggest name in the VR headset market. Their VR headsets are still dominating the VR market. This company provides a large variety of quality VR headsets for VR gaming. Oculus Quest 2, followed by Oculus Quest, is their latest VR gaming headset. Quest 2 is an untethered standalone model of their VR headset. This standalone Quest 2 has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 chipset, considerably more powerful than the Snapdragon 835 chipset of Oculus Quest.
This headset is capable of doing different VR-related activities. Currently, Quest 2 provides a resolution of 1920-1832. Quest 2 provides the highest resolution for gaming than any other standalone VR headset. Quest 2 also supports head and hand motion tracking via two motion controls. You can also download the apps you want directly to the internal storage of this VR headset. You can connect Quest 2 to different PCs by using a USB cable.
This cable is expensive, but Quest 2 is 33% cheaper than its predecessor and provides more VR features. So, Oculus Quest 2 is an excellent option for gaming in 2021 if your budget is between 300 to $400.
Pros
- Quest 2 is a wireless VR headset.
- It has an exceptional touch-controlling system.
- It is comfortable and handy for gaming.
Cons
- Oculus Quest 2 requires a Facebook account to run.
HP Reverb G2
If we talk about the resolution, HP reverb G2 is at the top of the list. The resolution and graphic quality of Reverb G2 are pretty impressive compared to other VR gaming headsets. The Reverb G2 reduces the SD (screen door) effect, so this VR headset improves immersion during gaming. This VR headset is less efficient and sharp than other pricy ones like HTC Vive. But Reverb G2 is much cheaper and easy to install than other VR headsets. Where other top-class VR handsets are focused on making money, the HP Reverb 2 is unexpectedly pushing the features of VR to a new level.
This VR headset has high-resolution lenses, which improve the overall gaming experience in VR mode. This new feature is a new revolution, and HP Reverb is the first to adopt it. This VR headset is a game-changer for gamers because of its high resolution. This VR headset provides a field view of 114 degrees and a resolution of 2160-2160 per eye. The low-resolution VR gaming headsets have SD (Screen Door) effect in gaming, but Reverb G2 has overcome this problem.
Pros
- This VR headset has the highest resolution.
- Its audio output is excellent.
- Its design is comfortable for gamers.
Cons
- The controllers of this VR headset are average.
Valve Index
I do not doubt that the Valve Index is one of the most incredible VR headsets for gaming in 2021. Valve Index has a high-quality resolution display and a reasonable refresh rate. This VR headset provides a resolution display of 1400 x 1600 per eye and a 120 Hz refresh rate. These two specs make Valve Index the best choice for VR gaming in 2021. Moreover, this VR headset removes the SD (screen door) effect, a common problem in older VR headsets. The Valve Index also has a slider and a dial to adjust the VR lens better.
These features help in the proper deployment of Lenz, increase the comfortable gameplay, and improve the Field Of View (FOV). This VR headset is popular among gamers because of its superior controllers. These controllers work like hand gloves and are sensitive to pressure. The only downfall of the Valve Index is that it does not have wireless support. This VR headset is quite expensive and is the best choice if your budget is $1000.
Pros
- Its controllers can detect all 5-fingers of your hand. This feature makes it a next-level VR headset for gaming.
- Valve Index is compatible with Vive hardware so it can operate on many different systems.
- This VR headset provides a high-resolution display and better refresh rates.
Cons
- Valve Index VR Headset is one of the most expensive VR headsets.
- It is not wireless, and a tethering cable is required to connect it.
Sony PlayStation VR (PSVR)
We cannot keep Sony out of the market if we talk about gaming. Sony’s PlayStation VR (PSVR) is almost five years old since its successful launch in 2016. This VR headset is most popular among gamers because of its availability on consoles. PSVR is easily adjustable with any PS4, which is the reason for its successful release. Approximately there are about 45 million PS4 gamers worldwide. A PlayStation 4 gamer can use PSVR with his hardware with minor upgrades. Although PSVR is an old VR headset, its display for console games still provides unexpected immersive gameplay and is still unbeatable. Sony is still working on the next version of PSVR for the Playstation 5, and its launch is expected in 2022.
The PSVR is still one of the most comfortable VR headsets, despite not being that lightweight. This VR gaming headset is easy to set up and only takes 5 to 10 minutes to install with your PlayStation 4. Its VR mode offers motion and spatial tracking and provides these fantastic features at a much lower price. Moreover, you can run more than 500 PlayStation 4 games with this VR gaming headset. Sony is continuously releasing new VR games, which is good news for gamers.
Pros
- PSVR is the most convenient and budget-friendly VR headset in the market.
- This VR headset can run all the new VR games of Sony PlayStation 4.
- It works well will almost all PlayStation 4 controllers.
Cons
- PSVR has a single tracking camera which can be laggy in some VR games.
- Its resolution is good but not the highest in the market.
HTC Vive Cosmos
HTC Vive Cosmos is continuing the legacy of HTC Vive by offering high resolution and gameplay experience. This VR headset has cameras with an outward direction instead of external base cameras for motion tracking. Vive Cosmos is a complete VR headset for a large-scale VR environment. But these advanced features come with a price, and this VR headset is pretty expensive than Oculus Quest 2. HTC Vive Cosmos Elite version returns to external base cameras to improve the motion tracking, but its price is slightly higher than Vive Cosmos.
This feature improves overall control and head movements. The Vive Cosmos has its own VR app store known as Viveport and is also compatible with Stream VR. You have to buy a subscription to access the VR content of Viveport instead of purchasing every software individually. Connecting an external base station to HTC Vive Cosmos is no need. The controllers need more improvements, but this VR headset is easy to set up.
Pros
- Vive Cosmos has six tracking cameras and offers broad FOV (Field Of View) for tracking.
- This VR headset offers a resolution of 2880-1700 per eye and a refresh rate of 90 Hz.
- This VR gaming headset also offers an IPD dial (Interpupillary distance) for comfortable gameplay.
Cons
- This VR headset requires tethering to connect to your PC.
- Vive Cosmos is quite expensive compared to other VR headsets.
- Its controllers are mediocre and require more improvements.
Oculus Rift S
Oculus Rift S is currently on sale in some channels worldwide. Last year, Facebook announced it to stop selling Rift S. So, this VR headset is limited in stock, and this is a perfect opportunity to get one for you before they are out of the market. Oculus Rift S was the best and unbeatable VR headset of its time, but now it has been replaced by Oculus Quest 2.
This VR headset is the best choice if you want a mid-range VR headset for PC gaming. This VR headset has a low refresh rate and uses LCD lenses instead of new OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) lenses. Rift S has a vast library of VR games and high resolution than any other low-price VR headset.
Pros
- Oculus Rift S gives detailed motion tracking for both VR displays and controllers.
- Rift S headset is easy to set up with your hardware.
Cons
- Rift S requires a cable to connect to a PC.
- Its resolution is lower than other headsets of Oculus, like Quest 2.
Merge VR
There are many options in the market when we talk about VR headsets for smartphone gaming. But Merge VR is the best option regarding its accessibility and affordability. Merge VR is compatible with a massive list of Androids and IOS. This VR headset is comfortable to wear due to its durable foam texture. This VR headset also has an extensive library of entertainment and gaming content.
Merge VR uses the pre-built sensors of your smartphone. This VR headset offers 3 DOF (Degree Of Freedom) and helps you to move and rotate your head during gaming. Merge VR is the best VR headset for you if you want to enjoy VR on mobiles at a low price.
Pros
- Merge VR is comfortable to wear for long-term mobile gaming.
- It also provides a better FOV (Field Of View).
Cons
- Merge VR is limited to high-end smartphones.
HTC Vive Pro 2
The latest version of HTC Vive is the HTC Vive Pro 2, which provides one of the highest-resolution displays in 2021. This VR headset can quickly kill the SD (Screen Door) effect, which is a significant problem in other VR headsets. This VR headset offers a resolution of 2448- 2448 per eye and a refresh rate of 120 Hz. It uses an LCD instead of an OLED to increase its overall specs.
HTC Vive Pro 2 is also compatible with your HTC Vive Pro or Vive hardware. So, you can easily upgrade your VR setup without spending extra money. This VR headset is ideal for high-end VR gaming. It is also compatible with Valve, Valve Pro, and Valve Index controllers.
Pros
- HTC Vive Pro 2 provides next-level graphics, especially for VR gaming.
- This VR headset is comfortable to wear for a long time, and its audio quality is exceptional.
Cons
- It’s a relatively expensive VR headset.
- Sometimes this VR headset can cause problems in its setup.
Pimax Vision 8K X
The Pimax Vision 8K X is the best VR headset for ultra-high graphics if you have a high-end graphics card to extend gameplay limits. This VR headset offers a FOV (Field Of View) of 170 degrees which is massive for VR gaming. This beast VR headset also provides a resolution of 3840-2160 per eye with a refresh rate of 90 Hz for 4k resolution.
Moreover, there is no Screen Door Effect. Hence, you will enjoy comfortable gameplay. Primax Vision 8K X is a premium choice if you have an extreme-level budget. You can also tune this headset for every game to experience the best performance.
Pros
- Primax Vision 8K X is excellent for 4K resolution VR gaming.
- It provides a wide Field Of View (FOV) for a better user experience.
Cons
- This VR headset requires a high-end GPU like RTX 3000 or above for a 90 Hz refresh rate.
Samsung Gear VR
Samsung is also ready to jump into the VR market by launching its own VR gear known as Samsung Gear VR. This VR headset is the best if you want to enjoy VR gaming on a Samsung Smartphone. This headset is also compatible with motion controllers to increase immersive gameplay. This VR gear also has wireless controllers for gaming.
Samsung Gear VR is the best and most affordable option for VR gaming on Samsung Smartphones. It uses USB-c connectors to connect with any latest model of Samsung smartphone. This VR gear has a controller similar to the HTC Vive with good triggers and a high touchpad.
Pros
- For immersive gameplay, Samsung VR gear has a high touchpad, triggers, and motion controls.
- This VR headset is light in weight. So, it is easy to wear for a long time.
- It can support a large variety of smartphones.
Cons
- The controllers of Samsung VR gear use batteries that are not rechargeable. So, you cannot reuse them.
