Best VR headsets for PC gaming 2023

2022 proved to be a properly good year for VR gaming, with plenty of big and long-awaited hardware announcements such as the Meta Quest Pro and the PSVR 2, as well as the arrival of some excellent games from devs both big and small. If 2022 was anything to go by, then 2023 may just be an even bigger and better year for the world of VR. As a result, grabbing the best VR headset may well be vital in order to get the optimal VR gaming experience you can.

This article we've curated is designed to make choosing the best VR headset for PC titles as simple as possible, giving you all the relevant information you need to find the headset that fits your needs, at a price you can afford. A lot of headsets have come and gone in this particular sector, but there are still some excellent choices you can grab right now - let's get into it!

With different physical designs, screens, tracking solutions and price points, there's plenty to discuss about each option. Thankfully, once you get to know a little about each of them you'll quickly be able to narrow in on the right one for you. That makes choosing the best VR headset for games like Half-Life Alyx and Beat Saber fairly straightforward - as long as you're equipped with our recommendations.

Of course, these recommendations will also be more widely applicable to other VR games, like Star Wars Squadrons, Tetris Effect, Superhot and so on. In general, fast-paced games will benefit from a higher refresh rate, while slower-paced games and VR experiences will benefit from a higher resolution and field of view.

If you're in a hurry, here are our rapid recommendations:

• We think that the Valve Index is the best option on the market, thanks to its excellent display, great tracking and finger-accurate controllers. However, it does require setting up tracking stations and is more expensive than other options.
• The HP Reverb G2 is a good mid-range option that offers excellent performance and no icky Facebook, but is a little hard to find in some regions.
• If you're not interesting in investing nearly a grand on your VR habit, the Meta Quest 2 stands out as the best value choice thanks to good controllers and excellent tracking with no base stations required, with both wired, wireless and standalone operation modes. However, it does require a Facebook / Meta login.

For the full details, click on the links below or scroll on!

• Valve Index: Specs, Info and Best Deals
• HP Reverb G2: Specs, Info and Best Deals
• Meta Quest 2: Specs, Info and Best Deals
• HTC Vive Pro 2: Specs, Info and Best Deals

Valve Index: Specs, Info and Best Deals

2880x1600 LCD screen ● 130° field of view ● 80/90/120/144Hz ● Base Station tracking

The Valve Index is the best way to play Half-Life Alyx, as the game has been developed to take full advantage of the Index's hardware. The 130-degree display has a combined resolution of 2880x1600, and uses a true RGB subpixel arrangement that makes for a sharper image than you'd find on the AMOLED Pentile screens commonly used for VR. The Index's screen is also capable of higher refresh rates than other headsets, topping out at 144Hz, making for a much smoother experience but requiring a more powerful PC to realise its potential. If you already have a powerful rig, then the Index is a natural choice.

The Index relies on base stations to operate, allowing for excellent tracking but requiring some setup, while the Knuckle controllers are the best available at the moment thanks to their per-digit tracking. Audio is a strong suit too, with the built-in speakers providing a convenient and immersive experience. All of that means the Valve Index is the VR headset to get for Half-Life Alyx.

• HMD only: £459/$499 on Steam
• HMD + controller: £689/$749 on Steam
• HMD + controller + base stations: £919/$999 on Steam

HP Reverb G2: Specs, Info and Best Deals

4320x2160 LCD screen ● 114° field of view ● 90Hz ● Inside-out tracking

The HP Reverb G2 is a Windows Mixed Reality VR headset that deserves its own section. It was produced in cooperation with Valve, who contributed lenses and Index-style near-field speakers to the design. The high resolution display (2160x2160 for each eye) should offer excellent clarity, although the 90Hz refresh rate here doesn't quite compare to the Index's 120Hz or 144Hz modes. The controllers have been redesigned from the previous generation WMD designs, removing the trackpad in favour of two extra face buttons to more closely resemble Oculus Rift controllers. These upgrades should make this the best Windows Mixed Reality headset ever.

For $445 the Reverb G2 look like a promising alternative to the Valve Index at a substantially lower price.

• $445 from HP
• £622 at HP Store UK

Meta Quest 2: Specs, Info and Best Deals

3664x1920 LCD screen ● 90° field of view ● 120Hz ● Inside-out tracking

Interestingly, the Meta Quest 2 (previously known as the Oculus Quest 2) replaces both the original Oculus Quest and the Oculus Rift S. By default, it's a standalone VR headset with a (fast) mobile phone processor inside, allowing it to connect to the internet and download apps or games. Playing VR untethered is a great experience, even though the graphical fidelity of mobile titles doesn't quite measure up to what you can produce with even a mid-range gaming PC. For wired PC play, you'll need to buy a high-spec USB-C cable - either the official fibre-optic Meta Link cable (£89/$79) or one of several (much cheaper) traditional USB-C cables (eg £33/$26).

So: how does the Quest 2 compare to the original? Well, the screen is dramatically higher resolution (3664x1920 versus 2880x1600) and it supports a refresh rate of up to 120Hz. It's also more powerful, with a Snapdragon XR2 chipset paired with 6GB of RAM and either 64GB or 256GB of storage. More importantly, the comfort of the unit has improved substantially, solving the only major issue with the headset. That's accomplished through a lower weight and an improved optional head strap that make it much more comfortable for long play sessions. Another key differentiator is price - the Quest 2 is $100/£100 cheaper than its predecessor, making the cost of entry to premium VR lower than ever before.

Overall, if you can stomach signing in with a Facebook / Meta account, this is a great VR headset that opens the door to some truly exceptional experiences, whether in tether-free, standalone games running direct on the Quest 2 or when attached to a gaming PC with a Link cable.

• £299/$299 (128GB) on Amazon
• £399/$399 (256GB) on Amazon

HTC Vive Pro 2: Specs, Info and Best Deals

4896x2448 LCD screen ● 120° field of view ● 120Hz ● Base Station tracking

The Vive Pro 2 is another hi-fidelity option, and the full system can be easier to find online than Valve's Index. The high-res LCD display is a bright point, with a resolution of 4896x2448, and the refresh rate of 120Hz is great too.

Tracking is accomplished using base stations, which require setting up but can offer more accurate tracking. The Vive Pro 2's controllers aren't as advanced as that of the Valve Index, but it is possible to buy Valve's Valve Index controllers separately (£259/$279) to use with this system if you want that individual finger tracking. Overall, a strong option for most people, despite its high price.

• HMD only: £599 on Vive (no longer available in US?)
• HMD + controllers + base stations: £899/$1199 on Vive and Amazon, respectively

With that, we reach the end of the PC VR headset deals and all-around best prices for the VR headsets for PC gaming. We'll keep this page up to date ensure we recommend the best deals for these headsets as they appear, so check back soon!

If you find a VR headset at a better price than we've listed here - or if you'd like to know how these headsets compare in another way - then please let us know in the comments below! Should we be covering other options too, like the Pimax 8K+? Get in touch. We'll also be checking tweets to @wsjudd or @digitalfoundry.

For more on VR headsets, we loved 2kliksphillip's take on VR headsets on YouTube here. There's also a handy comparison spreadsheet for specs and feature comparisons.

Finally, why not read more about Half-Life Alyx in articles by Eurogamer? So far, we've covered our first look at Half-Life Alyx and also why Half-Life Alyx is a VR exclusive. You can also hear Digital Foundry's John and Alex discuss the reveal in video form above.