BEST VR Headset Tier List 2024

Summary

In this comprehensive review, the top 20 VR headsets of 2024 are ranked based on various criteria like visual quality, comfort, and price. The Big Screen Beyond tops the list for its stunning OLED display and lightweight design. Microsoft HoloLens 2, despite its high price, is considered average due to limited field of view. Apple Vision Pro impresses with its advanced features, landing in the 'god tier.' The Valve Index VR Kit and Meta Quest Pro also make the cut, with the latter being a mixed reality powerhouse. The list includes a mix of high-end and budget-friendly options, catering to different user needs and preferences.

Takeaways

• 🏆 The 'Big Screen Beyond' headset is ranked number one for its stunning OLED display, high contrast, and 32 PPD, offering an incredible visual experience despite some issues with reflections and edge clarity.
• 🤖 Microsoft HoloLens 2 is placed in the average tier due to its limited field of view and high price, making it more suitable for enterprise applications than mainstream use.
• 🍎 Apple Vision Pro earns a spot in the 'god tier' for its top-notch build quality, Dual 4K displays, and advanced features like eye tracking and IR scanning, despite its high cost and average battery life.
• 🎮 Valve Index VR Kit is still considered one of the best VR experiences with phenomenal audio quality, increased field of view, and accurate tracking, landing it in the 'god tier'.
• 💼 Meta Quest Pro is praised for its mixed reality capabilities and color pass-through, but its high price and poor battery life place it in the 'great tier'.
• 🎮 Oculus Rift S is an 'oldie but goodie' with comfort and crisp visuals, but its discontinued status and potential replacement part issues put it in the 'good tier'.
• 🔥 HTC Vive Pro 2 offers a 5K display and wide field of view but is hindered by its price and complexity, earning it a spot in the 'good tier'.
• 🌟 Meta Quest 3 is a 'game changer' with high resolution, mixed reality features, and comfort, making it a 'god tier' contender.
• 🎮 PlayStation VR2 impresses with crisp visuals and haptic controllers, but its requirement for a PS5 and growing game library place it in the 'great tier'.
• 🛡️ Del Vior has a solid build but suffers from a smaller field of view and high price, resulting in an 'average tier' ranking.

Q & A

What is the top-ranked VR headset according to the script?

The top-ranked VR headset is the Big Screen Beyond, which is praised for its stunning OLED display, high contrast, and 32 PPD for an incredible visual experience.

What are the main issues with the Microsoft HoloLens 2 as mentioned in the script?

The main issues with the Microsoft HoloLens 2 are its limited field of view, average display quality, enterprise focus that limits its use for gaming or everyday purposes, and its high price of $3,500.

How does the Apple Vision Pro stand out in the list of VR headsets?

The Apple Vision Pro stands out with its top-notch build quality, Dual 4K displays, mind-blowing eye tracking technology, and advanced features like IR scanning and spatial facial audio.

What are the key features of the Valve Index VR kit that make it highly ranked?

The Valve Index VR kit is highly ranked due to its phenomenal audio quality, increased field of view, adjustable IPD for comfort, spot-on tracking, and impressive visual quality despite some screen door effect.

Why is the Meta Quest Pro considered a great choice for VR enthusiasts with deep pockets?

The Meta Quest Pro is considered a great choice for VR enthusiasts with deep pockets because it offers impressive mixed reality experiences, color pass-through, and is suitable for work and productivity tasks, despite its high cost and average battery life.

What is the main advantage of the Oculus Rift S according to the script?

The main advantage of the Oculus Rift S is its comfort for long gaming sessions and crisp visuals, making it a solid choice for PCVR despite being discontinued.

How does the HTC Vive Pro 2 compare to other headsets in terms of visuals and price?

The HTC Vive Pro 2 has a 5K display for crisp visuals and a wide field of view, but it is expensive and not user-friendly due to its complexity and the need for a high-end PC, making it more suitable for hardcore VR enthusiasts or professionals.

What makes the Meta Quest 3 a game changer according to the reviewer?

The Meta Quest 3 is considered a game changer due to its high resolution, impressive mixed reality features, increased comfort compared to its predecessors, and the ability to do both standalone and PC VR.

Why does the reviewer place the PlayStation VR2 in the 'great' tier?

The PlayStation VR2 is placed in the 'great' tier because of its crisp visuals, next-level haptic controllers, comfort for long sessions, and suitability for console gamers, despite needing a PS5 and having a growing game library.

What are the main drawbacks of the Del Vior VR headset as mentioned in the script?

The main drawbacks of the Del Vior VR headset are its heavy weight after prolonged use, smaller field of view compared to other headsets, and higher price compared to better options.

What are the standout features of the Varjo AO that earn it a spot in the 'god tier'?

The Varjo AO earns a spot in the 'god tier' with its ultra-high resolution displays, aspheric lenses for visual clarity, comfort for long sessions, and automatic IPD adjustment, making it ideal for VR enthusiasts seeking the best visuals.

Outlines

00:00

🎮 Top VR Headsets of 2024 Ranked

The paragraph reviews the top VR headsets of 2024, providing a ranking and detailed commentary on each. The Big Screen headset is praised for its stunning OLED display and comfort, despite some minor issues with reflections. Microsoft HoloLens 2 is criticized for its limited field of view and high price, making it less suitable for mainstream use. Apple Vision Pro earns high marks for its build quality, 4K displays, and advanced features, though its high cost and battery life are noted. Valve Index VR kit is commended for its audio quality, comfort, and tracking, with a slight screen door effect mentioned. Meta Quest Pro is recognized for its mixed reality capabilities but criticized for its price and battery life. Oculus Rift S is appreciated for its comfort and visuals but noted as discontinued. HTC Vive Pro 2 is acknowledged for its 5K display but criticized for its user-friendliness and cost. Meta Quest 3 is lauded for its resolution, comfort, and mixed reality features, despite its higher price compared to the Quest 2. PlayStation VR2 is recommended for console gamers with a PS5, offering crisp visuals and haptic controllers.

05:01

📊 VR Headset Reviews and Ratings

This paragraph continues the review of popular VR headsets for 2024, offering personal ratings and insights. Del Vior is noted for its solid build and flip-up design but criticized for its weight and smaller field of view. HTC Vive XR Elite is recognized for its mixed reality capabilities and comfort but suffers from short battery life and a limited game library. Varjo AO is highly praised for its ultra-high resolution and comfort, though its price and PC requirements are mentioned. Lenovo Mirage Solo is considered dated with underpowered hardware and limited content. Pmax Crystal has stunning visuals but is let down by software issues and an unfinished feel. HP Reverb G2 offers a balance of quality and affordability, with great visuals and audio. Pico 4 is recognized for its performance and price ratio but is limited by its unavailability in the US. Samsung Odyssey Plus is applauded for its anti-screen door effect and comfort, with a vast game library. Acer Ojo 500 is seen as a mixed bag with unique features but a disappointing max IPD and questionable design choices. The paragraph concludes with a call for viewer engagement and a summary of the rankings provided.

Keywords

💡VR headsets

VR headsets are devices that provide immersive virtual reality experiences by displaying images directly in front of the user's eyes, creating a simulated environment. In the context of the video, VR headsets are the central theme as the speaker ranks and reviews various models available in 2024, highlighting their features and suitability for different uses such as gaming and business applications.

💡OLED

OLED stands for Organic Light Emitting Diodes, a technology used in display panels that offers high contrast ratios and energy efficiency. In the video, OLED is mentioned as a key feature of the 'Big Screen Beyond' headset, contributing to its stunning visual experience by providing sharp and vibrant images.

💡PPD

PPD refers to Pixels Per Degree, a measurement used to quantify the density of pixels in a VR headset. A higher PPD results in a clearer and more detailed image, reducing the 'screen door effect.' The video mentions 32 PPD as a significant attribute of the top-ranked headset, indicating exceptional visual quality.

💡Hololens

Microsoft HoloLens is a mixed reality headset that projects holograms into the user's physical environment. The video discusses the HoloLens 2, noting its limited field of view and high price, which positions it more for enterprise use rather than consumer applications.

💡Field of view (FOV)

Field of view in VR refers to the extent of the observable environment that a headset can display at any given moment. A wider FOV provides a more immersive experience. The script mentions the limited FOV of the HoloLens 2 as a drawback, suggesting it restricts the immersive potential of the device.

💡Eye tracking

Eye tracking technology in VR headsets allows the device to track the user's eye movements to improve interaction and reduce motion sickness. The Apple Vision Pro, as mentioned in the video, features 'mind-blowing' eye tracking, enhancing the user experience by providing more natural and responsive interactions within the virtual environment.

💡Mixed reality

Mixed reality combines elements of both virtual reality and augmented reality, overlaying digital content onto the real world. The video discusses the Meta Quest Pro's capabilities in mixed reality, highlighting its color pass-through feature, which allows users to interact with both virtual and physical elements simultaneously.

💡Screen door effect

The screen door effect is a visual artifact in VR where the gaps between pixels are visible, resembling the look of a screen door. The Valve Index VR kit is praised for its reduced screen door effect, indicating a higher quality display that provides a more immersive visual experience.

💡IPD adjustment

IPD stands for Interpupillary Distance, the distance between the centers of the pupils of the eyes. Adjustable IPD in VR headsets allows for a customized fit, ensuring the display is correctly aligned with the user's eyes for optimal visual clarity. The Valve Index VR kit's adjustable IPD is highlighted as a comfort feature in the video.

💡Battery life

Battery life is a critical factor for portable VR headsets, as it determines how long a device can be used before needing to be recharged. The video critiques the Apple Vision Pro for its poor battery life, suggesting it limits the headset's usability due to the need for frequent charging.

💡Resolution

Resolution in VR headsets refers to the number of pixels displayed, which affects the clarity and detail of the virtual environment. The video mentions the 'insane resolution' of the Meta Quest 3, indicating high visual quality that contributes to a more realistic and immersive experience.

Highlights

Big Screen Beyond headset offers stunning OLED visuals with 32 PPD and is incredibly light and compact.

Microsoft HoloLens 2 is limited in field of view and display quality, with a high price tag making it less suitable for mainstream use.

Apple Vision Pro features top-notch build quality with Dual 4K displays and groundbreaking eye tracking technology.

Valve Index VR kit stands out for its phenomenal audio quality, increased field of view, and accurate tracking.

Meta Quest Pro excels in mixed reality experiences with impressive color pass-through but suffers from high cost and subpar battery life.

Oculus Rift S is praised for comfort and crisp visuals, despite being discontinued, making it a good choice for PCVR at a good price.

HTC Vive Pro 2 boasts a 5K display and wide field of view but is hindered by a high price and complexity.

Meta Quest 3 is a game changer with insane resolution, mixed reality features, and comfort, despite being more expensive than its predecessor.

Meta Quest 2 is a great entry point for VR with a solid price point and no need for a PC or console.

PlayStation VR2 offers premium VR for console gamers with crisp visuals and haptic controllers, though it requires a PS5.

Del Vior has a solid build quality but is let down by its weight and smaller field of view compared to other headsets.

HTC Vive XR Elite attempts to do it all with mixed reality capabilities and comfort, but its high price and limited game library are drawbacks.

Varjo AO impresses with ultra-high resolution displays and aspheric lenses, offering the best visuals for VR enthusiasts.

Lenovo Mirage Solo, once innovative, now feels dated with an underpowered processor and limited controller tracking.

Pmax Crystal has stunning visuals but is plagued by software issues and reliability problems, feeling unfinished.

HP Reverb G2 offers a balance of visual quality, comfort, and price, making it an excellent choice for PCVR on a budget.

Pico 4 delivers crisp visuals and accurate controller tracking at an impressive price-to-performance ratio, but its US availability is limited.

Samsung Odyssey Plus is praised for its anti-screen door effect and wider eye box, offering a great visual experience with Steam VR support.

Acer Ojo 500 has unique features but is let down by a low max IPD and a feeling that Acer missed the mark in its design.

Transcripts

I tested many VR headsets recently and

now I'm going to rank the 20 most

popular VR headsets of 2024 least all of

these best VR headsets will be listed in

the description below number one big

screen Beyond this headset is seriously

impressive the displays are absolutely

stunning OLED contrast and 32 PPD make

for an incredible visual experience it's

also ridiculously light and compact

almost like wearing goggles rather than

a full VR headset the Comfort took some

tweaking but once dial in it's pretty

good there are some nice issues with

Reflections and Edge Clarity but overall

it's a solid choice for VR enthusiasts

who prioritize visual quality and

comfort I'm putting this one in great

tier it's not quite perfect but it's

definitely up there number two Microsoft

Holo lens 2 all right so this was a bit

of a mixed bag it's cool that it

overlays Holograms in the real world but

the field of view is pretty limited and

the display quality isn't amazing the

Enterprise Focus means it's not really

meant for gaming or everyday use it's

got some interesting potential for

business applications but at $3,500 it's

way too expensive for most people I'm

sticking this in average deer it's got

some neat Tech but it's just not there

yet for mainstream use number three

Apple Vision Pro this thing is insane

the build quality is topnotch with a

curved glass display and aluminum frame

the Dual 4K displays look absolutely

incredible and the ey tracking

technology is mind-blowing it's got some

seriously Advanced features like IR

scanning and space facial audio sure

it's expensive as hell and the battery

life isn't great but the technology

packed into this thing is just unreal

I'm definitely putting this in godier is

just pushing the boundaries of what's

possible in mixed reality number four

valve index VR kit this headset is still

an absolute Beast the audio quality is

phenomenal with those offe speakers

providing incredibly immersive sound The

increased fov and adjustable ipd make

for a super comfortable experience and

the tracking is spot-on yeah there's

some screen door effect in certain

situations but overall the visual

quality is great the controllers are

amazing too with individual finger

tracking this is going straight into God

deer it might be a few years old but

it's still one of the best VR

experiences out there number five meta

Quest Pro this headset is a beast when

it comes to mixed reality experiences

the color pass through is pretty

impressive making it great for work and

productivity tasks but here's the thing

it's crazy expensive and the battery

life is kind of a let down I mean who

wants to be Tethered to a charger all

the time still if you're a VR Enthusiast

with Deep Pockets this might be your jam

for me it's Landing solidly in the great

tier number six Oculus Rift s this was a

bit of an oldie but goody it's super

comfortable to wear which is a huge Plus

for those long gaming sessions the

visuals are pretty crisp too but let's

be real it's discontinued now so finding

replacement parts might be a pain plus

the audio isn't exactly mind-blowing if

you can snag one for a good price though

it's still a solid choice for pcvr I'm

putting this in the good tier mainly

because it's still holding its own

despite its age number seven HTC VI Pro

2 this thing's got some seriously crisp

visuals with its 5K display the wide

field of view it's pretty sweet too but

man it's not exactly user friendly with

all those wires and it'll cost you an

arm and a leg for the full kit it's

definitely more for the hardcore VR

enthusiasts or professionals I'm

slotting this into the good tier amazing

specs but the price and complexity

knocks it down a peeg number eight meta

Quest 3 this thing is an absolute Game

Changer the resolution is insane the

mixed reality features are mind-blowing

and it's way more comfortable than its

predecessors plus it's Standalone but

can also do PC VR it's like they took

everything good about VR and crammed it

into one headset sure it's pricier than

the Quest 2 but for what you're getting

it's a steal I'm absolutely putting this

bad boy in the god tier it's just that

good number nine meta Quest 2 this

little Standalone Powerhouse really

surprised me it's got a great price

point and doesn't need a PC or console

to run which is awesome for VR newbies

the resolution is solid and there is a

huge library of games but Ben those

controllers eat through batteries like

crazy and you'll need a shell out extra

for a decent head strap overall though

I'm putting this in good tier it's a

great entry point for VR that won't

break the bank number 10 PlayStation VR2

Sony knocked it out of the park with

this one the visuals are insanely crisp

and those haptic controllers are Next

Level plus it's super comfy even for

long sessions the only real downside is

you need a PS5 to use it and the game

library is still growing but for console

Gamers wanting premium VR this is it I'm

sliding the psvr2 into great here it's a

fantastic piece of Kit if you've already

got a PS5 number 11 Del vior okay so

this one's a bit of a mixed bag the

build quality is really solid and I love

the flip up Des design for quick breaks

but man it's heavy on the face after a

while and the field of view is

noticeably smaller than other headsets

it's also pricier than some better

options out there I'm putting the Del

visor in average deer it's not bad but

there are better choices for most people

unless you really need that rugged build

number 12 HTC vxr Elite this headset is

trying to do it all and it mostly

succeeds the pass through for mixed

reality is awesome and it's super

lightweight and comy but the battery

life is pretty short short and the

controllers feel a bit flimsy for such

an expensive kit the biggest issue is

the limited game library right down I'm

placing the Vive XR Elite in good tier

it's got some great features but the

high price and small Library hold it

back from greatness number 13 varjo AO

this headset is seriously impressive the

visual Clarity is mind-blowing with its

ultra high resolution displays and

aspheric lenses I love how comfortable

it is to wear for long sessions too the

automatic ipd adjustment is super

convenient sure it's pricey and you need

a beefy PC to run it but for VR

enthusiasts who want the absolute best

visuals this is as good as it gets right

now I'm putting this bad boy in gottier

without

hesitation number 14 Lenovo Mirage solo

this Standalone headset had some cool

ideas but it feels pretty dated now the

Snapdragon 835 processor and 4 GB of RAM

are pretty underpowered by today's

standards the controller tracking is

limited and the Content Library is

pretty sparse it's not terrible but

there are much better options out there

these days for Standalone VR I'm

sticking this one in average year it was

decent for its time but has been

surpassed number 15 pmax Crystal I had

high hopes for this one but it's a bit

of a mixed bag the visuals are stunning

when it's working properly with an

incredibly wide field of view and sharp

resolution but man the software issues

and reliability problems are frustrating

it feels unfinished and overpriced for

what you get the all-in-one mode is

pretty underwhelming too I I wanted to

love it but I've got to put this in

average here it has potential but needs

more work number 16 HP Reverb G2 and now

we're talking this headset strikes a

great balance of visual quality comfort

and price the 2160 to 2160 per ey

resolution looks fantastic especially

for simulators and productivity apps the

audio is stop Notch do sure the

controller tracking could be better but

it's good enough for most games for pcvr

on a budget this is an excellent choice

I'm confidently placing this in the

great tier it delivers a premium

experience without breaking the bang

number 17 Pico 4 the Pico 4 is packing

some serious heat with his crisp visuals

and that sweet Snapdragon xr2 processor

I'm loving the cute controller design

and the accurate tracking it's like they

read my mind the price to Performance

ratio is off the charts making it a

solid Contender for entry-level VR but

here's the kicker it's not available in

the US which is a total bummer for our

American friends for what it offers

though I'm putting this in the good tier

it's got potential but that availability

issue is holding it back from brightness

number 18 Samsung odys plus this headset

is like the cool kid on the Block that

everyone wants to hang out with the anti

screen is a game changer folks say

goodbye to those pesty screen door

effect the wider eye box and built-in

Bluetooth H sure the Comfort might take

some fiddling but once you get it right

you're in for a treat steam VR support

means you've got a buffet of games and

your fingertips for the visuals alone

I'm slapping this bad boy in the great

TI it's not perfect but hot damn it's

close number 19 Acer Ojo 500 now where

do I start with this one the Acer Ojo

500 is like the weird cousin and family

gatherings you're not sure what to make

of it it's got some cool features like

being able to remove the screens and

lesses without taking off the headset

but why the max ipd is disappointingly

low at about 65 mm which is a real head

scratcher it's it's got potential but it

feels like Acer missed the Mark here I'm

tossing this one in the average tier

it's not terrible but there are better

options out there so there you have it

these are my personal ratings for all of

the most popular VR headsets of 2024

links to all of these products will be

in the description below do you agree

with me on these rankings or not leave a

comment down below and I will see you

guys on the next video peace out