8 Greatest VR Headsets of 2024

For those who’re available in the market for a VR headset, the Meta Quest 2 (previously referred to as the Oculus Quest 2) is probably going already in your radar. So far as standalone {hardware} goes, it’s dominant within the area proper now with out a lot severe competitors, and it’s a superb VR expertise that builds on the muse laid by the Oculus Rift.

After spending months with the Quest 2 and its appreciable software program library, we’ve acquired loads of ideas on who it’s for, what its weaknesses are, and what to bear in mind whenever you’re prepared to purchase.

Proper out of the field, it’s clear that this can be a high quality product, sturdy and properly designed. However getting it arrange correctly is essential, and also you’ll need to concentrate on what you’re stepping into. In my view, I put on glasses (my imaginative and prescient is exceptionally poor), I’ve very lengthy eyelashes, and I’m not typically keen on Fb as a social media platform.

When you get by way of a short however annoying setup course of (you’ll must make a Meta account when you don’t need to hyperlink it to your Fb), the Quest 2 is pretty snug to make use of. It comes with a skinny plastic “spacer” that you simply’ll need to set up instantly when you put on eyeglasses. The froth cushion the place your face meets the headset snaps off simply. You then insert the spacer in between the 2 items, distancing your corrective lenses and those used for VR. Take the additional three or 4 minutes to put in the area; you’ll be glad you probably did.

By way of carrying round a big piece of {hardware} in your face, the Quest 2 is extremely adjustable and comfy to have on. However the considered utilizing one incessantly, for years, makes me need to take into account switching again to contact lenses. It doesn’t matter what you do, it merely isn’t accommodating to folks with glasses, lengthy lashes, or each.

Relying on the form of your frames and the thickness of your lenses, although, your mileage might fluctuate. At about $80, it’s most likely price it to simply order a pair of VirtuClear Customized Lens Inserts from Frames Direct.

For a further $100, Oculus presents a model with 128GB of additional storage, on high of the same old 64GB. The corporate additionally sells a particular carrying case for $59, an Elite Strap for “enhanced consolation” ($59), and different odds and ends. For those who purchase immediately from Oculus, they advocate Anker’s third-party charging dock in addition to a pair of Logitech earphones made particularly for the Quest 2.

For $199, the inventory Quest 2 presents a charging cable and two movement controllers—every with three buttons, two triggers, and a thumbstick. I didn’t really feel as if I used to be ever lacking out by not having any of these different gadgets, however audiophiles and frequent fliers might discover them helpful.

The Meta library is filled with riches. Amazon’s Prime Video VR app lets me watch stuff like The Massive Lebowski, David Gilmour: Reside at Pompeii, and the primary act of The Rise of Skywalker in a spacious, old-timey movie show—all with out leaving my dwelling.

I particularly loved Vader Immortal (obtainable at Oculus) and the favored rhythm recreation Beat Saber (obtainable at Oculus), which runs at 90 Hz. I additionally examined video games like Superhot (an previous favourite) (obtainable at Oculus), Job Simulator (obtainable at Oculus), and Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge (obtainable at Oculus).

For those who’re all in favour of a brand new sort of filmmaking, immersive experiences like Vader Immortal, or video games that use movement controls and participant motion, the Quest 2 is a worthwhile funding. We’ve even seen bundles drop as little as $160 on sale, although that may stem from Meta clearing out its stock because the Quest 2 is discontinued.

One step up from the Quest 2 is the highest of the road Meta Quest Professional for $999 (or beneath $900 on sale). The Professional is a mixed-reality headset with improved internals, elevated pixels-per-eye on the screens alongside quantum dots, and passthrough cameras for overlaying digital content material with the actual world.

Learn our full evaluate of the Meta Quest 2.