The best VR headset for PC is measured by those who possess experiential knowledge of VR kit great and small. Most VR experiences are fleeting, and even if your introductory foray into virtual reality is courtesy of the $1,000 Valve Index, you’ll probably be shouting “Jesus wept” just as often as someone wearing Samsung’s Gear VR. It’s only once you get home, convinced VR is the future and thirsty for more, that you might get bogged down in the breadth of options, features, and prices in the VR market.
As you start to become accustomed to traipsing through digital worlds that you’ll start to notice the flaws, drawbacks, and limitations of any VR headset – and realise why some choose to spend so much. That’s where we come in. We’ve spent hours, nay days, in virtual reality – often forgoing personal well-being and hygiene in the name of science – to come to a definite conclusion over which VR headset for PC is best right now… and just in time for Half-Life: Alyx.
Oculus and HTC have long been the brands associated with VR and PC VR headsets. Oculus went from acclaimed virtual reality startup to Facebook subsidiary pretty darn quick due to its smart tech, and HTC joined along not long after with arguably the best PC VR headset for much of the tech’s nascent life: the HTC Vive.
Since Oculus first burst onto the scene in 2012, heaps of VR headsets have reared their heads – all hoping for a slice of the virtual reality market slowly but surely growing into something resembling a sizeable and invested user base.
So which VR headset for PC is best? Scroll down to find out.
What is the best VR headset for PC in 2019?
Depending on how you feel about the Steam Controller – and how much you heard about the elusive Steam Machine – you may or may not be surprised to hear that the best VR headset for PC is the Valve Index.
There are, however, other weird and wonderful VR headsets out in the wild, many of which are deserving of your time. Some of which are not. We’ve put together our top picks for immersive gaming below to help you find one that fits the bill perfectly.
Best VR headset
Valve Index
Approx. $999 | £919
What we like
Fantastic audio Knuckles controller Minimal screen door Accurate tracking
The Valve Index makes the most compelling argument for high-fidelity, tethered PC VR. And it does so by breaking the mould in a few ways. The off-ear speakers – while one of its most questionable features pre-launch – turned out to be one of the Index’s strongest once we got our hands, er, ears on it to test. They’re somehow both immersive and comfortably distant from the ear without any sound leakage… witchcraft.
Aside from glorious audio, the Index offers dual 1440 x 1600 RGB LCD screens, fitted with a greater number of subpixels than their AMOLED alternatives. They’re also a touch wider when it comes to field of view and capable of running at up to 144Hz. The end result is a display with greater sharpness, clarity, and eye comfort for longer periods. All that, and we’ve barely scrapped the service of the Index. We haven’t even touched on the controllers yet and I’m already running out of roo—
Read our full Valve Index review.
Great for standalone VR
Oculus Quest
Approx. $399 | £399
What we like Standalone and tethered Simple setup Lightweight Great resolution
The Oculus Quest isn’t exactly in our PC VR remit. Technically, it’s a standalone VR device, powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835. That means there’s no need to carry your gaming PC everywhere you go. Great if you don’t demand the utmost fidelity.
However, with the introduction of Oculus Link, a (beta) proprietary rendering tech included with the Oculus PC app, you can now tether this bad boy to your PC to access the full Oculus Rift S library. It’s two for the price of one. The Quest’s resolution is actually greater than that of the Rift S, and just a touch slower at 72Hz to 80Hz. Overall, there’s a lot to love about the equally-priced Quest compared to its tethered PC VR sibling.
Great for a quick and easy setup
Oculus Rift S
Approx. $399 | £395
What we like Insight tracking Comfortable Touch controllers Decent upgrade to Rift
While we recommend the Quest for a taste of both worlds, if you’re resolutely a PC gamer then you’ll find no headset more fitting for your cranium than the Oculus Rift S. The Facebook-owned company has once again tweaked its original Rift formula, adding inside-out tracking, a new panel type, and increasing the resolution. It does, however, cut the refresh rate from 90Hz with the original Rift to 80Hz with the Rift S.
So it’s not all improvements for the headset following the initial Rift a few years on – and the Rift S does feel somewhat of a stop-gap solution to bolster sales as Valve and HTC release impressive high-end kit. Still, for what it’s worth, the Oculus Rift S is an affordable entry point for high-end, tethered PC VR and a solid, enjoyable experience – so that’s a thumbs up from us.
Great for modding
HTC Vive Cosmos
Approx. $612 | £699
What we like Modular Inside-out tracking High resolution Compatible with Vive accessories
The HTC Vive Cosmos fits snugly between the Oculus Rift S and the Valve Index. While costly, you receive the best that HTC, originators of the all-mighty Vive, is able to offer. That includes inside-out tracking, a hearty 2880 x 1700 resolution across new LCD panels, and new and improved ergonomics to keep the headset stable and comfortable.
The new controllers are a redesign of the original Vive’s, and many of the extra add-ons for the original kit can also be reused with the Cosmos. Wireless connectivity powered by Intel WiGig, Lighthouse tracking support, and Vive Tracker support are all set for imminent rollout on the new and improved Vive.
Great for cost-cutting
Google Cardboard
Approx. $7 | £5
What we like Basically free Open-source It’s bad but we love it Can be recycled
How could we forget Google Cardboard, eh? It’s by far the worst VR experience going, at least in our experience, but I’ll be damned if it isn’t just enough to get you thirsty for more virtual reality gaming. Since Cardboard relies on your mobile phone’s screen, gyroscope, and accelerometer, your experience may vary considerably. And, frankly, no matter how great your phone may be there’s very much a hard limit on just how immersive Google Cardboard can be.
It is, however, free and open-source. Just about anyone can make their own cardboard headset, buy a cheap third-party design for tuppence, or even develop an app for the platform via the newly-public SDK. So while not technically PC VR in any way, shape, or form, Google Cardboard is more than convincing enough to newbies in a pinch. One go in this lovably slapdash excuse for VR and you’ll come out the other side wondering what the $1,000 Valve Index can do.
With the technology maturing and flagship titles, such as Half-Life Alyx, on the way, there’s no better time to invest in a VR headset.
The Valve Index is a glimpse of what’s to come in terms of high-end tech, and the Oculus Quest offers a superb and flexible VR experience at an affordable price.
With more companies than ever looking towards VR as a potential revenue raiser – including a little ol’ company named Apple – it looks like the technology, and more importantly the wider platform, are here to stay. So indulge in VR with headset kit worth buying and lose yourself in fantastical worlds from the comfort of your living room – we promise you won’t regret the decision.
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