Best VR Headset Review – Complete Reviews with Comparisons

Best VR Headset Review – Complete Reviews with Comparisons
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If you are a hardcore gamer, you might want to consider getting a virtual reality headset.

Instead of playing and watching games from the outside, it makes it feel as though you are directly immersed in the game. 

It’s definitely a cool experience to say the least. With that being said, there are many VR options for various consoles and systems out there, which can make coming to a final purchasing decision a nightmare.

So, today we are here to help you find the best VR headset out there right now.

Comparison Chart

Oculus Rift + Touch Virtual Reality System

HTC VIVE Virtual Reality System

PlayStation VR

Pansonite Vr Headset with Remote Controller

Samsung Gear VR w/Controller

Best VR Headset Reviews

1. Oculus Rift Virtual Reality System

Undoubtedly, the Oculus Rift Virtual Reality System is one of the absolute best headsets for VR out there right now. It does come in at quite the high price, but it comes with unparalleled optics and immersion, a high level of comfort, and killer controls too. It’s a nice choice for PC gaming indeed.

Product Highlights

The Oculus Rift Virtual Reality System comes with an absolutely fantastic display, one with awesome resolution, head tracking, and low latency tracking. Simply put, you really won’t be able to find a more immersive and clear display system for VR than this. It really looks like you are right inside of any game you are playing. On that same note, the Oculus Rift Virtual Reality System comes with its own set of headphones, ones that have pretty good audio quality to say the least.

What is also nice here is that you get Robo Recall, Luckyʼs Tale, Quill, Medium, Dead and Buried, and Toybox, all for free, when you buy the Oculus Rift Virtual Reality System, not to mention that Steam has hundreds of other VR ready games for you to play as well. However, do keep in mind that you need to have a pretty new and high functioning computer for this to work really well.

Another nice aspect of the Oculus Rift Virtual Reality System is that it is very comfortable, it is fully adjustable in terms of size, plus it comes with a lot of support systems. The straps can be fully adjusted to fit you securely, and they have a decent amount of padding too. The padding around the facial area is particularly nice. Although this item is somewhat bulky, it’s not that heavy, so it is pretty comfortable to wear.

The controllers included here are pretty darn nice as well. They allow for really intense gaming action and work just as well as any other video game controllers out there, not to mention that they are ergonomically designed too. Now you can play with both hands for a fully immersive gaming experience.

What's to like about the Oculus Rift Virtual Reality System

We have to say that more or less everything about the Oculus Rift Virtual Reality System is great. It’s comfy to wear, it has great graphics and audio, is easy to connect to your PC, and the controllers are top notch too.

What's not to like about the Oculus Rift Virtual Reality System

Yes, the Oculus Rift Virtual Reality System is a bit bulky, plus your PC needs to be pretty high quality, but other than that, there is nothing bad to say here.

PROS

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    Great audio
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    Superb visuals
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    Nice controllers
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    Comfortable to wear
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    Easy to use

CONS

  • PC specs need to be very good
  • A little bit bulky

2. HTC Vive Virtual Reality System

The HTC Vive Virtual Reality System is another stellar option to go with. It is a little more expensive than the Oculus, around $100 more expensive, but it also works really well for PC. It does come with some really nice features that definitely make it worth the investment, especially if you are a serious gamer. Here you get a two month subscription to Viveport, plus access to nearly 3,000 Steam games.

Product Highlights

The HTC Vive Virtual Reality System comes with a nice room scale system, which means that you can easily play in a space up to 15 by 15 feet. If you do not have that kind of space in your home, you can use VIVE instead in order to play in a space roughly 6 by 6 feet. It’s definitely a convenient option whether you have lots or little room to work with.

The HTC Vive Virtual Reality System has really stunning graphics for a top notch immersive gaming experience. It comes with a headset that is virtually unrivalled by any others in terms of visuals. Here you get a full panoramic view along with 360 degree roaming capabilities. The head tracking is super low latency, so your game is not going to lag.

The HTC Vive Virtual Reality System does require you to have a really good computer with top notch specs in order to run properly, which is a bit of a drawback. On that same note, it also does not come with headphones or its own audio system, another definite drawback. However, the visuals are still great.

We do like how the HTC Vive Virtual Reality System comes with many supportive straps that are highly adjustable for a comfortable and secure fit. With that being said, it does appear to be a bit heavy and bulky, especially when wearing it for a prolonged period of time. What is quite nice is the dual high quality controllers that are included, so you can play with both hands and have enough buttons for all of the most important gaming actions.

What's to like about the HTC Vive Virtual Reality System

The fact that the visuals and tracking are so great is one definite bonus. Moreover, the HTC Vive Virtual Reality System is pretty comfy to wear, especially in terms of padding and support. Also, the controllers included are top quality, not to mention that you can play in a small or large space.

What's not to like about the HTC Vive Virtual Reality System

For one, the HTC Vive Virtual Reality System is quite expensive for what it is, especially considering that it is pretty heavy and bulky, not to mention that it does not come with its own audio system.

PROS

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    Stunning visuals
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    Great tracking
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    Good for large and small spaces
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    Very durable
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    Fantastic controllers

CONS

  • Quite expensive
  • A bit bulky and heavy
  • Need to have a really good computer
  • No audio system

3. PlayStation VR

The previous 2 VR headsets which we looked at were both for PC, whereas this one is for the PlayStation. The fact of the matter is that PlayStation has a whole lot of VR friendly games, and the console itself is one of the best in the business too. The PlayStation VR, while being a really awesome VR headset no doubt, is actually not even that expensive, but manages to fully immerse you in a world of gaming.

Product Highlights

One really nice aspect of the PlayStation VR is the fact that it is quite lightweight and compact. It’s not heavy or bulky, which is nice, because many other VR headsets are not very compact. With that being said, it does not have too many supports and is not that highly adjustable in terms of the fit.

However, because it is so lightweight, it really does not need that many support systems anyway. All of this considered, pretty much everybody out there would agree that this product is indeed super comfortable to wear.

What is nice about the PlayStation VR is that it has fully immersive 3D audio so you can easily pinpoint sounds from anywhere. On that same note, this headset has an impressive 5.7 inch OLED display that runs at 1200 frames per second. It you need an accurate and fully immersive gaming VR headset, one with excellent tracking, super low latency, and awesome resolution, the PlayStation VR is definitely a top notch option to go with.

Another beneficial aspect of the PlayStation VR is that it is very easy to use. Simply plug it into your PlayStation and it is good to go. What is also cool is that PlayStation already has hundreds of VR friendly games, plus several hundred more slated to come out in the next few years.

Now, the PlayStation VR does come with two controllers, and they do work quite well. They certainly have all of the necessary buttons you need for gaming. However, the controllers are a bit cumbersome, plus they don’t look all that nice either.

What's to like about the PlayStation VR

The good part about the PlayStation VR, for one, is that it actually does not cost all that much. Moreover, it works through plug and play, so no heavy installation is needed. Also, the visual and audio quality here are both top notch. All in all, it’s also quite a comfy VR headset to wear. There is also the fact that the PlayStation is just one of the very best consoles for high quality games out there right now.

What's not to like about the PlayStation VR

One of the only bad things that we can say about the PlayStation VR is that the controllers are a bit cumbersome and funny looking. It could also use some increased adjustment capabilities for a more secure fit.

PROS

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    Very durable
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    Low price
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    Awesome graphics and audio
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    Lots of awesome games to play
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    Great tracking capabilities
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    Plug and play
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    Fairly comfortable to wear

CONS

  • Could use some more fitting adjustments
  • The controllers are not the best

4. Pansonite Vr Headset

So, whereas the first two options on our list here today were for PC, and the third for the PS4, this one, the Pansonite Vr Headset, is specially designed for use with smartphones. What is nice here is that this product is compatible with almost all modern smartphones out there including newer iPhones, Samsung phones, OnePlus, Huawei, Nexus, and LG phones too.

Product Highlights

What is, of course, really neat is that you don’t need a computer, PS4, or other console to play, but you do need a high quality smartphone. With that being said, the fact that you don’t need a large console to use the Pansonite VR Headset is nice because it makes it so much more portable than any other type of VR headset out there right now.

Now, the Pansonite Vr Headset is made to be ergonomically friendly. It has a lot of padding for the face and is designed for comfort. It also comes with a lot of support straps, all of which are highly adjustable for a secure fit. With that being said, right out of the box, the straps can be a bit tough and hard, at least until they soften a bit, plus this whole headset is a bit bulky and heavy. It’s not the worst in the world, but you will feel some weight on the front of your face.

In terms of the visuals, you do get a great 120 degree panoramic view with 360 degree roaming capabilities. All in all, the resolution, which is thanks to the high quality lenses, is quite nice. No, it’s not as good as a PC or PS version, but still quite good. The 3D audio capabilities are pretty cool because it fully immerses you in the sound of the game or movie. However, the quality of the headphones and the audio is not the best in the world.

We do like the little controller which comes with the headset, as it is perfectly fine for watching movies and playing basic phone games. However, do keep in mind that the controller is very small, and therefore might not be ideal for large hands, plus it’s not the most durable controller either.

What's to like about the Pansonite Vr Headset

The great part about the Pansonite VR Headset is that it is so highly portable and can be used with pretty much any modern smartphone out there. Also, it does come in at a very low price, which is something that cannot be ignored. For the low price, it is surprisingly comfortable and has both good audio and video quality.

What's not to like about the Pansonite Vr Headset

The bad part is that the phone versions for VR headsets just don’t have that much high quality content to work with. Also, this product seems to be a bit heavy and bulky, the controller is not fantastic, and the audio quality is a bit lacking too, at least when compared to more advanced options.

PROS

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    Great price
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    Portable
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    Works with most newer smartphones
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    Highly adjustable and ergonomic
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    Good audio and video (for the price)

CONS

  • Comparably bad audio (when compared to consoler VR headsets)
  • A bit heavy and bulky
  • Controller could use some improvement

5. Samsung Gear VR

This final option on our list is the Samsung Gear VR and it is specially designed to be used with most modern Samsung smartphones. Keep in mind that it is not compatible with other smartphone brands, but for newer Samsung phones, it definitely works quite well, and it does not even cost all that much either.

Product Highlights

The Samsung Gear VR has some pretty good visual quality. It can fit most newer Samsung smartphones and it uses special lenses to provide you with a fully immersive experience. With 360 degree roaming and a 120 degree panoramic view, you really can’t go wrong. Now, for a smartphone VR headset, the visuals here are quite stunning, but of course, it really does not compare to console or PC versions.

Also, the Samsung Gear VR does not come with its own audio system, which is a bit of a drawback. Moreover, while the controller included is quite durable, and is ideal for basic video watching and controlling, it really is not ideal for gaming.

The Samsung Gear VR does come with great straps that are fully adjustable in order to provide you with a very secure fit. At the same time, this product is quite lightweight, a little bulky, but fairly lightweight. It also features an ergonomic design for the face with quite a bit of padding. All in all, it is quite the comfortable VR headset to wear.

What's to like about the Samsung Gear VR

The good part about the Samsung Gear VR is that it is compatible with pretty much all newer Samsung phones. Moreover, it is quite comfortable to wear, simple to use, and for the low price it comes in at, has some pretty good visual effects.

What's not to like about the Samsung Gear VR

The downside is that the Samsung Gear VR is not compatible with any other phones beside newer Samsung models. Also, it does not have an audio system, and the controller simply is not cut out for gaming.

PROS

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    Inexpensive
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    Comfortable
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    Compatible with most modern Samsung phones
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    Good visual quality for the price
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    Easy to adjust

CONS

  • No audio system
  • Bad controller
  • Comparably bad visuals (when compared to PC or PS)

BUYER'S GUIDE

Before you go out and buy any kind of VR headset, there are a few main things that you need to look out for. Don’t make a purchase before you take a look at these five main buying considerations.

Headset Type

There are a few different types of VR headsets out there, or in other words, ones to be used with different devices. The majority of the options out there right now are for PC or computers. This means that you do need to have a computer, quite a good one at that, and this can end up being quite pricey.

There are also virtual reality systems for gaming consolers, which tend to be moderately priced and have lots of games to play. There are also cheaper VR systems for smartphones, which tend to be the cheapest, but also have the least content and functionality.

Connections

Generally speaking, most VR headsets will have two connection types, which include USB and HDMI. Those which are played on computers most often use USB, which is nice and simple, but some also offer HDMI capabilities. Ones used with consoles and TVs tend to have HDMI connections.

Display Resolution

In terms of display resolution, you do want something that is going to offer you a fully immersive and realistic gaming experience. Simply put, the higher the resolution, the better, but this will also come with a higher price tag. If you can get something like 1280P @ 1200 FPS, you should consider yourself very lucky.

Controls

In terms of controls, you do want a good pair of controllers. Yes, the VR systems for phones tend to only come with a single controller, and this can be quite lackluster for gaming. If you want a truly realistic experience, a VR headset for PC or for consoles is recommended, as they often come with dual controllers for two handed play.

Platform

Finally, you also want to look at the platform which you will be playing on. PS4 tends to have the best games all around, while PC has a ton of games, especially on Steam, and phones have the least options to work with.

F.A.Q.

How to use a VR headset?

For the most part, VR headsets for phones only require you to insert a compatible smartphone. Options for PC and consoles are usually pretty simple to use also. For PC versions, you probably have to install some software, but in most cases, simple plug and play capabilities are available.

What is a VR headset?

A VR headset is a device that takes a flat screen or 2D game and makes it a fully immersive 3D experience. Instead of watching a game from the outside, it makes it feel as though you are inside of the game.

What VR headset works with iPhone?

Besides the Samsung Gear VR, most smartphone compatible VR headsets will work with modern iPhones.

Which VR to buy?

It really comes down to what you want. Like we mentioned in this article, phone versions tend to be the cheapest, but also have less content and functionality. Video game VR systems, like the one for PS4, tend to have the best function and awesome games. The PC versions tend to be very pricey, but they also have a whole lot of games you can play.

Do you need a VR headset to play VR chat?

Yes, this is one of the requirements to be able to use VR chat.

FINAL VERDICT

When it comes down to it, it is a bit difficult to make one solid recommendation here. As you can see, we covered two VR headsets for smartphones, one for the PlayStation, and two for PC. So, it really depends on what console or platform you want to use the VR headset with.

Once you figure this out, you can then move on from there. With all things being said, due to the awesome gaming quality of the PlayStation, we would probably recommend the PSVR as the go to option.

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