The Ultimate VR Buying Guide

Whether your interests lie in sim racing fast cars down a track, playing table tennis without a table, or dogfighting space pirates from the comfort of your couch, 2022 may just be the best year to pick up a VR headset. To help you pick the right one, we've put together this ultimate VR buying guide for 2022.

This VR buying guide is good for those interested in buying their very first VR headset or anyone looking to upgrade from an older unit. You will learn all the need-to-knows about VR, starting with terminology, the top models available, and finally our recommendations based on some of the most popular uses.

2022 is the year for VR

In just a few short years, the popularity of VR gaming grew from acute novelty to triple-A titles adding post-launch support for the technology. But what's the best VR headset to enjoy these titles? It depends on what type of content you plan to consume, along with the type of environment you have in mind.

In broad strokes, there are three typical environments for VR headsets: open areas with some space for movement, an at-desk experience, and a cockpit simulator. We will dive into the recommendations for each of these, but first let's get to know some basic terms.

VR headset glossary

Most gamers will already be familiar with terms such as refresh rate and field of view, but for VR they make a giant impact on the experience.

What is Interpupillary Distance (IPD)?

IPD measures the distance between your pupils, and most VR headsets can be customized to fit a range through either hardware or software adjustment. Poorly adjusted IPD can mess with depth perception and lead to eye strain and possibly headaches. Hardware IPD adjustment physically shifts the position of the lenses and allows your eyes to stay at the center of the lens. Software IPD adjustment, meanwhile, shifts which pixels are used. Generally, physical IPD adjustment offers a better experience than software-based adjustments.

What is outside-in tracking?

Outside-in tracking refers to the method used in tracking the position of the VR headset and user in a fixed space. This method relies on external trackers or base stations (typically two) to create the outer boundaries of the play area. The pros of outside-in tracking include increased accuracy and lower latency, and additional base stations further improve accuracy. The cons include more involved setup and calibration after sensors are placed.

What is inside-out tracking?

This type of VR setup eschews externally placed sensors and instead relies on sensors built into the VR headset itself. While typically not as accurate as outside-in, some models equipped with inside-out perform very well. The biggest advantage of inside-out tracking is that it does not require expensive base stations or sensors to get started with VR.

Why does refresh rate matter in VR?

Players familiar with first-person shooters or fast-twitch reflex games may already know that refresh rate can impact gameplay, since reaction times depend on the frame count. For some users, the refresh rate impacts immersion, and higher refresh rates lend themselves to creating a better experience. Generally, a higher refresh rate means that your VR experience will have less blur and hand movements will appear smoother.

What does Field of View (FOV) mean in VR?

Increased FOV on a VR headset can increase immersion and promote a stronger sense of presence, or the feeling of being within a VR environment. Some genres of games benefit from increased FOV, such as racing games or flight simulators. FPS players looking for a competitive advantage can also benefit from increased FOV, as it means more visual information for the player. One of the biggest downsides of increased FOV is motion sickness, and individuals prone to motion sickness will have a better experience with lower FOVs.

What is the Screen Door Effect (SDE)?

The screen door effect is the appearance of a mesh-like artifact in the VR display where players can see the space between pixels as lines. It resembles looking through a screen door, hence the name. The best way to mitigate the screen door effect is a higher-resolution display, which has increased pixels per square inch. In other words, the higher the resolution of the VR headset, the less noticeable the screen door effect will be for users.

Ultimate guide to VR headsets

With the lingo out of the way, let's get into the actual headsets.

Meta Quest 2 (formerly Oculus Quest 2)

The Oculus Quest 2 offers great value for anyone looking to get started with VR gaming without a heavy investment in system hardware. There are no base stations or sensors to set up, and the low price point makes it an ideal entry point. On top of that, the Oculus-exclusive game library gives another reason to go with the Meta device compared to its competition. While the Quest 2 can be connected to a PC, the big advantage is that it packs all the hardware necessary to play games in the headset itself. It uses inside-out tracking with four integrated cameras, and hand tracking without the controllers is an option. The audio experience is a bit on the low-end side, as the earphones are placed on the headset and are far forward from your ears. The display specs put it fairly high on the totem pole in terms of resolution, though the field of view is a bit lackluster. At $299, the Oculus Quest 2 makes a great value for a wireless VR experience.

Valve Index

The Valve Index is now a nearly two-year-old design, but it still offers one of the best controllers on the market. The Index controller can track hand and individual finger position, motion, and pressure for extremely accurate tracking. Compared to all other VR controllers, the Index allows for much greater immersion with VR content. They can even be held with an open palm, as they are strapped to the hand instead of the wrist. On the display side, the Valve Index has a decent resolution, though lower than the Oculus Quest 2 and most other headsets on the list. However, it boasts an excellent field of view and even has a 120Hz refresh rate (144Hz experimental). It utilizes outside-in tracking, so there is some setup involved, and it requires a cable for use. If you have a good gaming PC, however, visuals are top-notch.

HTC Vive Pro 2

HTC's follow-up to their 2018 Vive Pro knocks it out of the park when it comes to display quality. Boasting a 120Hz refresh rate paired with 5K resolution and a 120° field of view, you'll be hard-pressed to find a better visual experience. Due to the high resolution and supported refresh rate, however, you'll need a decent PC to power it at maximum in-game settings. The Vive Pro 2 does come with a hefty price tag, starting at $799 for the headset alone. And if you want the full wireless VR experience, you'll need to fork over an extra $349 for the wireless adapter. On top of that, the wireless adapter limits you to 3264 x 1632 resolution at 90Hz. The included controllers are fine, though they don't offer the same level of immersion and comfort as the Valve Index controllers. It should be noted that the Valve Index base stations are fully compatible with the Vive Pro 2.

PlayStation VR (PSVR)

If you have a PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 5, you can enjoy VR through PSVR. Though it released years before the next-oldest headset on this list, it remains the only way to enjoy VR on your PlayStation console. PlayStation 5 users will need to pick up a camera adapter so that the PSVR's single camera can be connected to the system. Once you have the adapter, you can enjoy PSVR on your shiny new PlayStation 5. The PSVR's display has a fairly low resolution, however, so the screen door effect may be a bit more noticeable for some players. On the controller side, you have your choice of DualShock 4 or dual PS Move controllers. Unfortunately, the new DualSense controllers do not work with PSVR.

HP Reverb G2

Players that want a high-resolution VR experience with no need to set up base stations might want to consider the HP Reverb G2, which boasts a 2160 x 2160 resolution per eye. However, the 90Hz refresh rate may be on the lower side for some users, and the 98° field of view puts it on the lower end.

Pimax Vision 8K Plus

Looking for the ultimate in VR display? Look no further than the Pimax Vision 8K Plus. It features a 4K display per eye, along with a 110Hz refresh rate and a jaw-dropping 200-degree field of view. The Pimax 8K Plus started off as a Kickstarter, and the product bundling has that feel of being from a small yet passionate team. It comes with Valve Index controllers and base stations, as Pimax does not offer their own at the moment. Before deciding based on the resolution, however, do note that the Pimax will require a fairly powerful PC to drive the dual 4K displays. Also, users report that the Pimax software may require a bit more tinkering compared to the other headsets on this list.

Which VR headset should you get?

Now that you know which VR headsets top the list for 2022, it's time to discuss which one best suits your use case. Each headset has its own strengths, and it's best to match them with your needs. Below, we cover some of the most common scenarios and environments.

Standalone first VR headset — Oculus Quest 2

If this is your first VR headset and you don't know if you want to invest in a top-of-the-line setup or don't have a powerful computer, go with the Oculus Quest 2. It does not require a PC or even a console to use. Simply log into your Meta account and start downloading games. There are no base stations to set up, and you can get playing in minutes. If you do want to play Steam games on your Oculus Quest 2, it can be a bit tricky and you'll have to use Virtual Desktop. Still, it can be done in well under an hour.

Simulation racing and flying — Pimax 8K Plus

If you plan to speed down the Mulsanne Straight at ten-tenths or shoot down the Luftwaffe in the Battle of Britain, the Pimax 8K Plus fits the bill better than any other option. The dual 4K resolution puts it at the top of the hill, but more importantly the 200-degree field of view will fully immerse you in the experience. The $1,199 bundle with the Valve Index controllers is a good value, but if you plan on playing simulators, we recommend a full-on cockpit setup with either a wheel and pedals or a flight stick.

Best controllers — Valve Index

After using several controllers, it became obvious the Valve Index performed head and shoulders above the competition. The Index's display may not be top of the line anymore, but the controllers remain the number one choice even for users of other VR headsets. The Pimax 8K includes Valve Index controllers instead of proprietary ones for a reason.

Our all-around pick — HTC Vive Pro 2 with Valve Index controllers

For a do-it-all VR setup, we choose the HTC Vive Pro 2 bundled with Valve Index controllers. In the end, you get the best VR controllers on the market along with one of the top displays for less than the price of a Vive Pro 2 headset, controller, and base station bundle. The HTC Vive Pro 2 headset comes in at $799, two Steam Base Station 2.0s at $149 each, and Valve Index controllers at $279. The grand total comes out to $1,376. No matter which reality you're in, Newegg has the tech for you.